PAVE PAWS draft EIS draws two comments

July 16, 2008 6:00 AM

BOURNE — One critical comment and another in support, that’s all a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on PAVE PAWS generated at a public hearing last night.

Bernard Young, whose daughter died from Ewing’s sarcoma in January, said the results of health studies summarized by the Air Force report are flawed. Specifically, he said, data collected does not properly report peak emissions from the radar station. He called the conclusions of the impact statement disappointing.

Wayne Sellin, who served on the PAVE PAWS steering group, said the measurement standards used were “superb.”

Last December, a state Department of Public Health study concluded it was unlikely that PAVE PAWS was the main cause of 14 local cases of Ewing’s sarcoma since 1982. Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare bone cancer.

PAVE PAWS, on the Massachusetts Military Reservation near Sagamore, scans the eastern skies for missiles, satellites and space debris.

Written comments on the environmental impact statement will be accepted through Aug. 4. They should be addressed to: HQ AFSPC/A4/7PP, Attn: Lynne Neuman, 150 Vandenberg St., Suite 1105, Peterson AFB, CO 80914-2370.

— GEORGE BRENNAN