Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay:
An environmental gold mine.

Nature at its glory.
Peace and quiet.
Birds and trees.
Kayaks and bikes.
Vacation wonderland.

Then the bombs and destruction came.
A full scale building project.
Current residents being kicked out.
Temporary residents, lots of them.

Sales pitch: JOBS from stimulus money
Jobs for who?
Not the current residents.
Not the current vacationers.
Jobs for temporary residents.

Yes, we need protection from terrorists.
Yes, we could use a consolidation of these military groups.
There's lots of abandoned property in desolate parts of this country.
There's lots of government owned property that can be used.
Why do they need to be so close to Washington, DC?

Is the purpose of this project the destruction of the awesome environment of the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay?

I see no other result of this project.

Please save the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Thank you

This 'recommendation' from the EPA is perfectly reasonable considering this ill-conceived proposal is next to Tuckahoe State Park and surrounded by environmentally sensitive lands. Why on earth the Government would want to have a training facility that uses explosives training next people's houses and horse farms is beyond explanation. There are other less costly alternatives (like closed BRAC bases), and taxpayer dollars ought to be used in the most meaningful, yet cautious way possible.

It looks like the EPA just gave the State Departmant and the GSA a way out of this mess. Good cover for Krativil and Mikulski too!

No one ever said that GSA was smart. I'll bet this goof ball was thinking hey now I can build a new Gov't facility and move to the Eastern Shore away from all of the DC traffic and crime and live just minutes away from work. What a great idea for me!

I hate to say it, but that is the mind set of many Fed Gov workers --- what's in it for me!! They don't really care about the tax payers. I've seen it every August and September. It's the end of the budget year and money is left over. What do you do? SPEND IT on JUNK!!

they have got a bad idea and it will only kill the peace and quiet of the eastern shore
but they are trying to find a way to make it right.
IT IS A SIMPLE ANSWER....TAKE IT ELSEWHERE!!!!

Many do not realize how many individuals who proudly served this nation in many capcaties such as the armed services, federal police, even special ops agents decided that of all the places they had been in, the eastern shore is where they would retire to - right here in Queen Annes and Caroline Counties. I know because I have spoken to them personally; guess where, Tuckahoe State Park.

Do you know that not one of them is in support of this facility being located here and they cannot understand WHY this location would be a prefererred site when there are so many other places that the people have already bought and paid for available. They make suggestions such as AP Hill, Aberdeen, and have even mentioned that there are lots of covert areas that are unknown to you and I.

These honorable men and women are opposed to the FASTC being placed here in this location. They are opposers and I am sure that no one can accuse THEM of not being patriotic.

GSA was trying to push this project under the radar. Every effort from them regarding this project has lacked transparency and been rushed.

It is no secret to them that their "preferred location" is next to the Tuckahoe State Park which has tributaries to The Chesapeake Bay (declared a national treasure by President Obama).

The fact that they want to put a hard skills training facility with 3000+ explosions per year, high speed driving tracks, and multiple indoor and outdoor shooting ranges on 2000 acres in such an environmentally sensitive area is incomprehensible.

Your blog confirms that participatory government is alive and well in Queen Anne's County at least at the local level.

If we are truly serious about healing the Chesapeake Bay, the last thing we need is for more Eastern Shore rural landscape to be torn asunder, replaced by impervious surface and besieged by air/water pollution. The downsides of locating this FASTC on pristine, environmentally sensitive land in Ruthsburg far outweigh any purported advantages.

Common Sense finally! Anyone that has studied information the GSA has provided, researched the internet for other such type facilities and information, attended all the meetings GSA has held and who has actually visited the proposed site soon come to a conclusion without expensive testing and studies that this is not the place for such a facility. So called jobs are being touted but how many jobs will be lost with the 2000 acres coming out of agricultural production.....equipment dealers, seed dealers, fertilizer plants, hunting guides, Tourism dollars...just to name a few...and they dont cost 500 million to bring jobs to the area! 2000 acres will be lost in the tax rolls...Federal Government doesnt pay taxes! Come visit the proposed site see for yourself why those in the area LOVE their community and why many have moved here to find the peace and quiet without rifle ranges, detonations and added traffic! Visit Tuckahoe Park its a great place (as of now) to bring the kids and enjoy what the Eastern Shore of Maryland is famous for! Rural Integrity at its finest!

I live approximately one mile from where this proposed site would be located. As a farmer, I have invested years with agencies studying the effects of farming practices on the Chesapeake Bay. I currently have over 500 acres of organic ground in production, trying to make a difference in the Bay region. Why can't the government see what an enviromentally sensitive area this is.....or don't they care?

Another farm family in the Ruthsburg area, chiming in.......................farmers are already regulated half to death in compliance with "green" policies to reduce agricultural run-off , etc., to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Shouldn't GSA and other federal agencies be held AS, accountable, if not more? Thank God someone is stopping and thinking! (EPA) GSA and State trying to sneak this in under our radar is despicable!!!!!!!

Here we go again with the lies and the harm it will do to the land. It amazes me that before all this drama, nobody gave that land a thought until someone wanted to come in and really bring in real meaningful economic development and really good paying jobs, especially for those of us who where born and raised here and not some transplant who has a really nice pension or savings and does not have to get out and work and only make $8-$10/hr. and pray that it covers all the bills!!!! I fully support GSA and the facility.

Mr. Mason -

It is too bad that the business community is making farming out to be an environmental problem for the Bay so they can justify building FASTC, more houses and more businesses which they think will be better for the Bay.

Anonymous: I, for one, thought of this land everytime I took my kids to Adkins or Tuckahoe and I am not willing to loose our quality of life so a few people in the county can make a buck. If you want a government job go work for the census in Easton.

Dear Anonymous,

For those of us who are also born and raised here and work hard for what we own, and strive to provide the best environment for our children to grow up in even though we might have to sacrifice the finer material things in life. I ask you this question. Do you have a security clearance? Do you have any idea what is involved and how expensive to obtain a security clearance can be? The so-called high paying jobs will be not for the "local" people but for those transfering in . Not once have the GSA stated how many Queen Anne's County residents will be hired. As far as anyone knows not a single Queen Anne's County Resident could get a job out of this facility....Cafeteria Workers and janitorial staff was mentioned as possible jobs that would be hired locally...wonder if those jobs will pay more than $8 or $10 and hour? Listen to the people who are going to be most affected by this facility....many of them have also been born, raised and lived there their entire lives.....They adamently DO NOT want this facility and have been lied to by GSA with its double talk. They also are not afraid to say who they are. Do you enjoy sitting in your backyard and hearing repeatedly gunshots and detonations day in and day out? Do you want your family to be subjected to that type of lifestyle. The Local people will continue to fight for the life that they choose to live... They dont want to live across the bridge and have a different lifestyle than what this area is known for. Every single PROponent who has stood up for the proposed facility has a agenda of putting money in their own individual pockets not for the so-called benefit of the area! Maybe you already have a security clearance and would like to live the congested lifestyle so many move away from.....if so Good luck in your job search!

Anonymous:
I certainly feel you are entitled to your opinion of the FASTC, but your comment concerning how this will effect the land is hardly justifiable. I can only assume that you have no idea of the scrutiny the agricultural industry has been under concerning the clean-up of the bay and the studies we have been a part of over the last 10 years. Like you, Bill and I are also lifetime residents of Queen Anne's County and understand the need for sound economic development. However, the government is not guaranteeing this county any jobs through this facility. So my question to you is, " does the total destruction of an agricultural community deeply routed in this area for over 100 years justify the POSSIBILITY of MAYBE a job?"

The propsoed FASTC in Queen Anne's County made no sense from the very beginning for environmental and fiscal reasons. That area of the Eastern Shore provides necessary green space that enhances the entire region including the Chesapeake Bay. It is also a very productive family farming area that the state of Maryland is trying to preserve for farming. The local environment is far to valuable to us all as it is to allow it to be ruined for a facility that could easily be located elesewhere. It was identified as the "preferred" location, but given the cost of procuing 2000 acres of private land at a relatively high price, is it an adequate solution solution at the lowest price? Given all of this and also given the poor way in which GSA has opened the process to the public, some deeper scrutiny of the entire affair may be warranted.

Well look at this this way, Mr Ashley has a proven track record of developing property on Md Rt 304 around Ruthsburg. I know that the Sheriff who lives near this site is pushing hard behind the scenes to make the site happen.

One has to be careful what they wish for since Mr Ashley has the legal right to develop this parcel into 2,000 1 acre home sites or 4,000 1/2 acre home sites. Hmmmmm I wonder which project would affect the environment more?

For those not familiar with zoning in Queen Anne's County, you can only get 1 house every six acres on agriculturally zoned land and half of it must remain open space if you use every developement technique available.

It was such good news to read the letter from the EPA to the GSA. Maybe common sense will prevail. The State Government has, over the years, spent much in taxpayer dollars to purchase land and develop Tuckahoe State Park. And now the Federal Government wants to explode bombs next to it! Makes no sense!

I live 2 miles away from the proposed facility - I have started looking for property in North Carolina because I don't want to see if or hear it! Anyone interested in buying my property??

To anonymous
Sorry for what ever has made you so angry and bitter but I can bet it was not the people of Ruthsburg. I to was born and raised here and my family for over 100 years. Its is sad to think that you have such little respect for where you live and the family and friends I am sure you have in this community. It is not fair for your bitterness to destroy the health, safety ,peacefulness and children . If you were following everything that has been said from the beginning of this mess you would know that it is not going to help the county. If you were really listening you would know that it is about so much more then just saving the land! It's about saving our heritage for many,its about the health and safety of our families and the future for our children, it's about saving what the Eastern Shore is all about, its about the park and the wildlife, its about our horses ,for Gods sake its about our Quality of life. I feel sorry for you.
For those of us in Ruthsburg maybe we need signs that say all of this. Maybe then others would get the message.

Hey - it is YOUR MD Senators that wants this and dropped it on the State Dept! The IDEAL location State wanted is in southern MD near PAX or Indian head or central VA or nearby WVA! Call your TWO DEMS in the Senate!

I am very thankful to the EPA for their letter. I think an Environmental Impact Statement will find that the costs to Tuckahoe State Park and the other neighbors to this site far outweigh any potential benefits that might exist from this center. I have no doubts that this center would have significant negative effects on this still mainly rural part of Queen Anne's County. I think it is also important that the EPA wants the GSA to show that the impact would be more damaging at other potential sites, before proceeding with this site. I can't be happier that someone involved in this process is taking seriously the very real concerns that we have. I hope this is the first step in the government deciding to look for another more suitable location for their center.