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Queen Anne's residents question training center

Project would bring jobs, explosives to the Eastern Shore

By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer

Capital Gazette Communications

Published 01/07/10

In a public hearing that turned testy at times, Queen Anne's County residents this week were given a preview of a federal project that would bring hundreds of jobs to their area, along with a firing range and explosives storage.

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The U.S. General Services Administration and the State Department want to use a 2,000-acre property in Ruthsburg - just south of Route 304 and intersected by Route 481 southeast of Centreville - to create a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center.

The facility would be used to train about 10,000 students annually in law enforcement and security disciplines for the State...

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In your backyard - 2010-01-20 16:15:27

For anyone who feels that this security site would be beneficial to the Ruthsburg community and to Queen Anne' s County, would you feel the same way if it was built across the road from your property or community?

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Kathryn Heller - Marlton, NJ - Karma: Neutral

Gun noise too much? - 2010-01-18 20:45:30

I feel as though I am neutral on this subject, since I can understand the need for jobs and development to a certain extent. But at the same time I would probably not want to have it in my back yard either. But while we are at it why not outlaw hunting in the county? I can hear the shotguns going off and I live in more of a housing division. Can I at least get a new law against hunting within three miles of my house? Probably not, and I think such a request would be ridiculous. Just trying to put a little perspective in the discussion.

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Russ Patterson - Stevensville, MD - Karma: Neutral

FASTC - 2010-01-09 22:36:01

I live on a farm that abuts the hunt-ray farm "prefered site" for FASTC.After attending 2 meetings that the GSA held i was very dissapointed at the lack of conciese answers provided by concerned citizens. Jeffery Culver (U.S State Dept.)said "this is phase 1",is phase 2 going to be our farm?i have a bad feeling it is.The "best fit" plans show the bomb blast area less than 2000ft. from where my young children play.Should my children grow up in fear of the govt. that is supposed to protect them?I agree that we need to increase our efforts in protecting our embassy staff abroad and in the U.S.,but at what price? Is destroying a quiet rural community worth that price when bases closed by B.R.A.C.could handle it with little objection of nearby residents?The construction jobs would likely go to an out of state firm that has high security clearance.Most of the jobs except for custodial,cafeteria,and landscaping staff would go to the fed workers who are being relocated from closing the 19 other FASTC sites.

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Andrew Eastman - Centreville , MD - Karma: Neutral

This is my HOME - 2010-01-09 20:57:02

I live in Caroline County,(for those of you from A.A.,it borders Q.A.). I'm about three miles from the sight of this proposed facility. I have a family that enjoyes the quiet of the country, my oldest son goes to school not far down the road. I attended both meetings and was told they would be setting off 3 lb. bombs, do you not think this will be affecting everyones life around this area, not to mention children attending school in the area? Lets also mention the State park that borders the proposed sight, alot of people camp and use the facilities there. I also own a small business in Q.A. that may or may not benifit from this, but I can tell you my way of life and my neighbors life is more important than more money! I don't believe anyones opinion who does not live in this area amounts to much, would you want it your back yard? The few jobs they say it would generate most likely will not help most people in this area,they will be transfering most people from other facilties. I belive our country needs a facility like this, but to save us tax payers alot of money, why not use sights already available that are currently sitting empty?

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Kimberly Myers - Ridgely, MD - Karma: Neutral

Patriots or aids to terrorism? - 2010-01-09 12:45:54

I am shocked that Storm and other neo-cons are against such a great and patriotic facility. Anyone against this sort of thing is not willing to sacrifice their own selfish needs and desires in the name of our nation's security should simply renounce their united States' citizenship and leave our Great Country. All People like Storm have a duty and a responsibility to support the defense of our country and should be ashamed that they are giving the terrorists comfort by resisting this Great Patriotic Project.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

Diplomatic Security training Site - 2010-01-09 11:34:15

As one of the residents affected by this project I would ask those of you in AA Co that have commented to consider a few things before making your minds up that this is a good thing and we should jump on the band wagon. Ever seen the military or a paramilitary group such as the State Dept in this instance come to an area and fire weapons, explode ordnance, and set up test tracks and leave the environment better off than when they got there? Not sure look at Fort Meade (mostly closed not fit to build on), Aberdeen Proving Ground, (buried munitions and mustard gas). Is a wise choice to place something like this next to a state park with play areas for children? They do, Tuckahoe State Park. I won't even go into the jobs issue because lord knows we need them but lets be honest if the government already has 19 other facilities that are going to be consolidated into one do you really believe there are going to be many "good" jobs that will provide a living? They are also touting that this will be state of the art facilities, and since we don't have many large construction firms here on the shore doing anything state of the art other than housing how many contracts do you think we will see? How about that bridge traffic that we all complain about....well now were going to add approximately 1000 vehciles each day to the 301 corridor, and they (GSA)have said that they need the facility to be cloce to DC so it only makes sense to assume that the bridge is going to get busier. Sure seemed like a simple issue at face value didn't it... Thanks for reading and be safe.

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David Gough - Centreville, MD - Karma: Neutral

Few jobs, Great Harm - 2010-01-08 23:44:46

We now have over 3000 (yea that's right, three thousand) pages of documents related to this proposed hard skills training facility the State Department wants to force us to accept in a peaceful, environmentally sensitive farm community. Over 2500 of those pages come from requests under the Maryland Public Information Act. They clearly show that this whole process was intentionally hidden from area residents. Those documents also clearly show the incredible harm that would come to the people in the Ruthsburg community. When we showed our county commissioners how deleterious it was, they unanimously withdrew their support for the project. Despite many repeated requests from the citizens of Queen Anne's County for our congressman, Frank Kratovil, to conduct the business of the people in front of the people, he has yet to communicate with us. State Department documents claim there will be only a total of 500 jobs at the facility with the majority of those positions being filled with existing transferring employees. We would get a few janitorial and cafeteria jobs in exchange for our own "little Aberdeen". We are a rural community by choice. We are not about to sacrifice the right our friends and neighbors to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes for a few empty promises from the federal government. We have survived recessions before and we will survive this one as well. We do a pretty good job of looking out for one another here. We have gone to the trouble of doing the research and informing ourselves and it was a pretty easy decision for most of us. We have spoken loudly that we have no interest in a plateful of Kratovil's pork. Democracy is alive and well over here in Queen Anne's County.

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Sveinn Storm - Centreville, MD - Karma: Neutral

New jobs a good thing - 2010-01-08 17:54:20

Congressman Kratovil was a key proponent in bringing 500+ new jobs to the eastern shore. This considered a primary industry, and will have a multiplier effect in job market. Given levels of oversight faciliity will be a substantial long term asset.

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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent

We need more jobs! - 2010-01-08 11:24:51

I am glad to see the 1000 full time jobs added to the State. I do feel for the local residents and I understand their NMBY. However, we need jobs. As long as it does not harm the environment, then we need to support them.

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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent