Stop the State of Connecticut from Building a 100 acre/55,000 square foot Firearm Facility in Pachaug Forest in Eastern Connecticut

I am writing as a concerned citizen of Griswold, Connecticut. We recently purchased and moved into the Hopeville Pond and Pachaug State Forest Area. I am devastated to learn of the proposed gun range facility on Lee Road. I have spoken to many neighbors and we are all concerned of the environmental, health, and community impact this would have on the town of Griswold. I would also like to say that I support the training of police and state troopers but I have an issue of the choice of a pristine location chosen for this practice. There are obvious concerns for traffic, noise and light pollution, property value devaluations, and the questionable use of budget. There is no guarantee that the forest will remain accessible to the public, as the state can possibly appropriate further land for safety reasons leaving no public access.

To reiterate this is not saying we do not support out troopers or are against the 2^nd Amendment. The private gun range members will themselves be kicked out, hunters and sportsmen will not be able to use the forest since all the animals will be pushed out.

This part of the state forest includes many trails such as the Nehantic trail which I often hike with my kids and family, it is close to the campgrounds and horse stables. Further, I am saddened that the State has chosen this area which seems to be less financially stable and thus easily taken advantage off due to lack of gathering funds to fight the impending proposition. There are many sites in the entire state which would be a better match for the criteria to absorb noise and light pollution. Industrial areas, or existing gun ranges can be expanded and partnerships can be formed with other state, federal, local or private existing gun ranges. This would indeed even strengthen the ties of communities and their local state enforcement agencies.

Noise Pollution and Light Pollution

This land parcel is a flat land located at one of the highest points in the area. This means that the sound will be carried further than a lower elevation area. A pistol, rifle and other firearms register for decibels of 152-164 db. Even if there is a supposed buffer zone the noise can be carried to residential areas. The impact to local bird and wildlife population is obvious. On a clear day a shot be heard anywhere from a few miles to more than 15 (now mulitply that by 3,000 rounds going off daily). The noise pollution has been proven to have negative impact on health, everyone from veterans suffering from PTSD, to simply everyday noise and stress imposed on humans, their pets and domestic animals. This would be 8 am to 4 pm, with possibly 9 pm and constant night training facility!The light pollution is problematic for migrating birds, aquatic wildlife, and human circadian rhythms. The facility would have to be lit up all day, all year round for security.

I am able to hear the local private ranges on the weekends from my house very clearly. I cannot imagine the magnitude and scale of noise the proposed range would produce. I believe the decision makers for this project need to come to the actual site and visit the people who's property is in the forest. You need to physically come to our house, to our neighbors house, those further down and see how the private gun range carries.

Lead Contamination

According to studies conducted on soil samples in shooting ranges throughout the United States it was found that high amounts contaminates in the soil. The contamination included lead, other metals as well as a significant change in the pH of the soil. The average lead and other toxic leaching materials from the samples were significantly elevated with lead being 1.27 to 4.84% in berm soils. This exceeds the USEPA's critical level. In some samples even the subsoils contained significant amount of lead. This type of contamination also had a great impact on surface water in the area. (Cao, Ma, Chen, Hardison, Harris) It is long been established that lead and other metal toxicities in the soil has deleterious impact on the environment, agriculture, and health. This is a snow ball effect for the environment as it has long reaching impact staring on the local biomass. Aside the obvious concern for water contamination there are other impacts of lead and heavy metal pollution. Local crop and agriculture would be affected as lead is easily absorbed and accumulated in plants which would be found in our food as well as local wildlife that depend on the plant environment for their diet. Adverse impact of lead contamination is well known to human health. Mental retardation, stunted growth, accumulation of lead in bones and the list goes on. This has the potential to get into the sewer and water sources.

Gun Range as a Crime Deterrent

It has been argued that the existence of a gun training facility at this scale would reduce crime. There would be no State Trooper presence as they would be off duty and are coming to train. They will get off 138 or 395 towards 201 and not even go through Jewett City and only drive to the Forest and back. Statistically it is shown that crime happens everywhere and there is no reduction in crime near police stations or other law enforcement facilities.

To help the drug epidemic and crime it is best to invest in prevention such as mental health care and training for professionals who can identify and help those in need to prevent such events as well as help our society to heal from the many problems we have faced as we continue to disintegrate as a community. There have been many programs that have attempted to help those involved with the heroin epidemic, yet most of them continue to fail. The one program that stands out is the active involvement of our police force with the community and drug offenders. The city of Glauster has been a leader in creating programs that are shown to decrease crime and drug trafficking by providing treatment and working with families and communities to educate. Building a gun range in the middle of the woods will not deter crime.

Economic Disadvantages

It has been argued that this facility would bring more money into the local economy. The state troopers would not be using local restaurants because they will have a cafeteria facility on site. They will not be going to gas stations because we pay for their cars and gas elsewhere so they fill up at specific sites. The negative economic damage would be that this will drive the annual campers away who stay all summer long and pour money into the local economy, the equestrian club and other horse riders will no longer use the facilities. The property values will come down, causing depression in the rest of the town and Jewett City. The extra maintenance needed for roads and creating access will also be paid with our tax money. The State is in deficit, how can they afford to choose a project of this magnitude of 30 million dollars or more when the existing facility's drainage could be fixes for a fraction of the cost. There have been many existing federal, and state facilities eager to provide services such as the Navy Yard and training facility in New Haven. Further, the state troopers themselves would have to drive from all over the state to south eastern Connecticut – this should be a centralized location and not use Griswold as a dump site as all other towns with clout and economic wealth were able to push them out!

I feel like the state has been able to go through different channels that are not accessible to the public by soliciting private land owners to put up their parcels for sale. Making this transaction a private land transactions puts a block to people's choice and voice even thought it is using our tax money to purchase and build the facility.

Thank you for taking your time to read my letter. As I continue to research this topic I will keep in contact and hope that you will continue your role as the leader who represents people like us and our community. We have faith in the system, please don't let us become jaded and angry and show the next generation that we are capable of doing what is right and fair. Thank you.

keepgriswoldquiet.com