Historic preservation ruling delays Nantucket site permitting
Posted on November 9th, 2009
Greenwire: A Massachusetts historic preservation officer held yesterday that two American Indian tribes’ claims to Nantucket Sound needs more study.
The decision by Brona Simon, executive director of the Massachusetts Historical Society, will delay final approval for the Cape Wind project by up to a year, according to federal and state officials.
In a 21-page explanation, Simon explained that her office found “considerable archeological, historical, and ethnographic information that substantiates Nantucket Sound is historically significant” to two Wampanoag tribes.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D) criticized the decision yesterday.
“I respect the Wampanoags, but this decision is ridiculous,” he said. “We are going to have to get serious about alternative energy installations where they make sense, and every environmental and regulatory review has concluded that Cape Wind makes sense.”
Simon’s decision will send the claim to the National Park Service, which has 45 days to issue its own ruling (Beth Daly, Boston Globe, Nov. 6). – JK