Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 2:53 PM

Updated Mar 11, 2015 at 2:55 PM

To the editor:

While some of the Silver Maple Forest Alliance and friends were unable to muster further legal representation to press the future discharge issues at Alewife because of costs, some stalwarts retain the option of filing to protect the wetlands in line with illegal and damaging storm water discharges to Cambridge wetlands and watershed when the pending Uplands building is constructed.

On Monday, March 2, at the Belmont ZBA board, it approved condition 32, which discusses a sewage pump (holding tank issue) with some emergency pumps that are supposed to be further tested, but ZBA has not required it. This was of great concern in 2007 when the tank was proposed, because it was noted with a likely flooding event on the watershed, the Acorn Park Drive would be impassable and the holding tank capacity would prove difficult for 50 thousand gallons for a few days with trucks carting away the sewage.

No one challenged it, and the outdated rain data of 2004 is still being used in Cambridge and by MA DEP, not updated 2011 data, as do many places on the coastline. We understood from those that attended, a permit for the building was likely, and so was issued four days after owner/manager sue threats were made against the ZBA.

The Oct. 28 environmental hearing policy orders of Leland Cheung were passed in December 2014, but have not yet been implemented. It calls for recent figures of precipitation to be used before issuing permits near the 100-year floodplain of the three municipalities.

Consider that just as the forest was cut down rapidly on a weekend to "outrun" the Superior Court judge's decision to render an injunction verdict on Monday, the building permit now issued before city management will bring together the towns and Cambridge to discuss the importance of the regional protections afforded by the floodplain and former forestland.

And the building permit is provided just before Cambridge presents its climate vulnerability assessment March 17, which impacts heavily at Alewife sub-watershed. As a result, extremely valuable wetlands and rich soils could be lost forever to yet another building at Alewife (5,000 units are expected in the quadrangle and triangle).

Daniel Factor, as conscientious objector for the forest of 13 trespassers, will be given a trial April 13 at 9 a.m. at Middlesex Court in Medford to present his reasons for the Silver Maple Forest arrests. Public can attend. For more information, call 617-415-1884.

-- Ellen Mass, President, Friends of Alewife Reservation