Barnstable Town Council Moves Shooting Range Decision to July

BARNSTABLE – The decision to swap land with the state that would allow the West Barnstable Shooting Range to re-open has been moved to July.

Barnstable Town Councilors approved the recommendation from Council President Jessica Rapp-Grassetti to move the decision to their July 21^st meeting.

The town is still in discussions with state environmental officials about swapping 16 acres of land, but the extent of the lead contamination in the shooting range area went to 27 acres, and now the state wants the same amount of acreage in the transaction.

“It’s been determined that, that expansion could include the Breed’s Hill parcel as well as an additional 10 acres can be several parcels put together,” said Rapp-Grassetti.

Rapp-Grassetti asked town officials to assist her in identifying some parcels of land to put forward for the swap.

“We’re still in the process of gathering information from the state and some clarification from the state,” said Rapp-Grassetti.

The Cape Cod Commission released their report recently on lead contamination in the shooting range area, which found that there was little transport of lead into the subsurface soils.

Water quality tests also indicated that the groundwater is unimpaired by activities at the shooting range.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter