The special exception hearing will be continued on March 10, 7pm at the County Bldg. There were so many folks that wanted to make “public” comment, that the meeting had to end.
Take a POLL… CLICK HERE to take the Nanjemoy Cyber Poll !
Public Hearing Part 2 - March 10, 7 PM
Frankly, the information presented by the applicant was cogent, and well thought out, the graphics were pretty..
Citizens brought up some very good points, and it was quite hilarious at times. Nanjemoy keeps its sense of humor. We will try to summarize some of the points made in the next few hours.. on the super secret Nanjemoy Homeland Defense BLOG. (note, thats a joke.. this IS the blog)
TWO MORE weeks to DIG for information,and gather FACTS. Get to IT!
ONE MORE GREAT POST from the DUCK provides a pretty accurate SUMMARY - Im gonna RE POST here to make it a little more Readable…. thanks #70 //
# 70. · God-I was so impressed and applaud the citizens of Nanjamoy at last nights hearing. Bravo!!Bravisimo!!
The swearing in procedure of the citizen speakers this time worked in their favor as it placed a more serious note to the personal testimonies.
Ms.Mary Sandy of Nanjamoy was great-while WSG had first almost laughingly presenting their project as totally harmless in every respect [noise, environmetally,water, chemically, air,security, etc.] even with the stripping of the forested wetland natural resource and impervious pavement and various structures, ranges of = about 3/5 its land mass- even as Mr. Shank pointed out-very likely filling in a feeder creek to beaver creek.
Further, most of the time the top WSG point man answered lobbed scripted softball questions from their attorney Mudd-one would think an animal and environmental sanctuary was being petitioned for instead of the very dangerous facility Ms Sandy showed us as it was in its application for contract to GSA where it described itself as an expert entity capable of instruction of all phases of biological and chemical and other terrorist/anti terrorist warfare to include storage facilities etc. She also had record of a permit of some sort being already given to WSG by the county for this project that had not even began the formal legal process.
WSG presented themselves to us as merely being able to occassionally land the smallest of air craft on a small grass field runway that they had no intent to change as they had no plans to use it anytime in the near future and they would be shooting a fews small hand guns and rifles-never automatically and possibly a shot gun on a special occassion-but in their applications to GSA for contracts they explained themselves as already in business and operating with ‘Washington field’at Nanjamoy- an airport with a 2400 hundred ft runway and that they had the capability to do just about any type of activity concerned with counter-terrorism; chemical biological, explosives etc at the facility-is how i understood it.
They presented their planned project to GSA as already a done deal with the county. ????? Navy seals are a great assett to the US military when fighting hostile foreign enemies for the ‘ US military’-they are trained in all sorts of killing/survival techniques in clandestine operations and subversion and misinformation needed to achieve a mission…takes a real special type to carry on so clandestinely under all sorts of pressures..
So soon after purchasing the property-and immediately to the special exception process, in a Ag/con zone with critical wet land overlay to ask for this as former planner Mr.Tom Saxton a former member of the planning board for 8 yrs said-is beyond all credulity. On any planning board he was on this ridiculous [paraphrase]waste/exception/abomination of zoning law and wetlands would not even get considered. What is going on here?
Many people were there and not one citizen in the auditorium supported this proposal by WSG - And, when compared to the information that the prepared and viligiant Ms. Sandy offered, the WSG presentation was disengenious at best[many times bringing choruses of laughter for its outrageousness-we were waitin for the next expert witness to present Mr. Whipple and offer us to squeeze the charmin as he was folowed by a chorus or chirping birds and playful squirrels..Puulease!]- and very possibly even fraudulent in its presentation.
If indeed this abomination proceeds with the -5 seriously ethically and environmentally challenged blessing-[CCC,and more} and the planning boards blessing -in light of WSG representing to the GSA that they are presently in operation at Washington field in Nanjemoy–If this is true?
Then - I would have to conclude -this is the closest -most apparent-evidence to date that our county govt process in Chas county has been seriously corrupted and its legitimate operation/function taken away from the people and the meeting last night was indeed a Sham- and like Sam the Sham and the Pharos-if this is the case we might all as well have been singing Wooly Bully in the shower of our ever under assault homes.
Another question not asked was who are the owners, not just the Point men -CEO- and opeators -the big backers of all their massive land holdings-are there other people behind the curtain? And, in the services they provide to US citizens-do these elite group of US citizens have the ability to then provide/offer it for/to other govts and groups-thus eliminating a major hurdle of that line of questioning but still staying in bounds with a major ommission?
Fort AP HIll as one lady said had much more acreage and facilities to rent and is much better suited for this type of paramilitary activity-not the middle of a wetland rural neighborhood. And, it was closer down I95 from WSG headquarters in Sterling Va. What are WSG reasons of not utilizing AP Hill with plenty of space to rent-maybe because the US military may put some limitations on the private for profit paramilitary-maybe even mercenary business?? WSG left a LOT unsaid.
If this total misuse of land overides all logical thinking-I am hoping the eloquent and fiesty lady from Laplata who stated we are ready to dig in and fight …will take it to the streets as we march down Charles street in the thousands exposing the cozy murky nest of players that Chas county govt has become in its arrogant dismissal of the citizens at large.
IF this totally misplaced WSG project proceeds-
We need to take our govt back -and when’pro forma’govt hearings which only allow us to think that we participate in the proess wont legitimately work for us anymore-we need to take it to the streets and the ballot box really looking at a candidates credentials and all of his/her associations…the time is now.
Let us hope that our county planning board kills this plan immediately….and restores a bit of our faith
#1 by root on February 25th, 2009 - 12:22 pm
well said #70 from the duck board… I too was amazed and proud to be a nanjemite at the turnout. however a couple of points of clearification as i understand it.
1. There was ONE supporter that spoke, and he deserves his opinion, as much as ALL the other Citizens do that opposed it. I was ashamed there were some boo’s after he spoke, that was totally inappropriate. His right to speak, as a nanjemoy resident and citizen deserves respect, and is as much the reason we are all here.
2. The land records indicate that Mr. Moran Still OWNS this property, and I understood that WSG holds a LEASE.. with Option to BUY contract.. I’d assume contingent upon approval of this application - but that is private information citizens cant see right now.
3. I will give Mr. Sean Miller, the benefit of the doubt that his intentions are honorable - especially given hes ex navy (caused im biased that way) - However, ONCE the Special exception is granted.. it sets precedense.. and all of those statements he made that started with.. “We do not intend to… blah blah - is lawyer speak.. for not saying.. No.. We wont Do blah blah blah…”
4. Your right, the PROCESS itself is broken, and lends to SUPPORT the applicant with the scripted, and well practiced “testimony” from their OWN lawyer to themselves.. to the Board - as Citizens are not supposed to make “Speeches”.. and CAN NOT ask questions to the Applicant.. according to the Board Chairman. I think I heard him say only present Evidence… Well thats kind of HARD when we had JUST HEARD.. the applicants evidence and testimony.
5. At Worst - If this is NOT withdrawn before March 10th - or better yet, outright Denied — this Special Exception Request deserves a 90-120 continuance, so citizens can organize, and get a Lawyer - and take this on with a LEVEL Playing Field.
6. NOTICE the word terrorism, or Anti-terrorism was not spoke once.. they learned from the 2006 (withdrawn without comment) application how to morph this to navigate the process - though there is no evidence its related, you can bet by March 10 there will be if its out there.
TWO MORE WEEKS could be a good thing for data mining and evidence.. gathering for Citizens.
#2 by john Swann on February 25th, 2009 - 4:43 pm
So here comes another kevlar clad carpetbagger looking to pull cash from the anti-terror ATM at the expense of a bunch of unassuming hayseeds.
Phooey
This proposed mallcop playground pales in comparison to ALL of the facilities, military and civilian surrounding it. The SOLE single advantage offered by this site lies in its ability to provide cash to the lessor(s) and cash for the contractor.
As a former DoD employee that continues to work with DoD installations and its employees, I am unimpressed by the techno milspeak littering the WSG presentation.
What was not lost on me is their BLATANT failure to mention that the property is within a stone’s throw of a public managed hunt property. This is state owned land, purchased by and through the tax dollars of state and county residents as augmented by the contributions of hunters through the purchase of licenses and ammunition.
A deer can hear a twig snap underfoot at better than 100 yards- don’t tell me they won’t hear tires squealing, engines revving, plans and helicopters landing and shots fired. Don’t tell me that that noise occurring potentially six days a week from dawn till dusk will NOT affect the movement and habitat of wildlife.
These folks came to this neck of the woods with their plan with the full knowledge of the zoning. They are the ones asking for change yet not ONE of them live here.
This proposal brings no jobs to the area (a fact they testified to Tuesday night).
This isn’t about national security folks- it’s all about the dollar.
I like my swamp water- I don’t need Blackwater.
#3 by john Swann on February 25th, 2009 - 4:58 pm
Interesting thing here…
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:3t80ZBUd848J:www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/ARI/list-of-companies-contacted-by-hsus.pdf+%22Washington+Security+Group%22+Pennsylvania&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
It appears that our would be neighbors (WSG) have contacted the Humane Society regarding the use of CHIMPANZEES for research…
#4 by john Swann on February 25th, 2009 - 5:12 pm
WSG is amongst the contractors awarded a piece of this solicitation. Pay close and carefull attention to the SURVEILLANCE component of the sysnopsis and keep in mind that trainees are to be surveilled (to include still and video photographic methods) essentially AROUND THE CLOCK for a period of 5 days prior to their classroom activities.
Just a little creepy, huh? Remember, there are no dorms proposed at Washington Field. This means we will have spooks and spook equipment everywhere…
Synopsis:
Added: Dec 03, 2008 4:06 pm
The Mission and Installation Contracting Center intends to procure for Surveillance Detection training services for the The United States Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization (USASATMO). The contractor shall conduct a five-day training and orientation course designed to prepare DoD and contracted personnel for Security Assistance missions (Security Assistance Team Training Orientation Course-SATTOC). The focus of the training is on Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP). The current global threat situation requires that additional training be offered to further ensure that deployed personnel are better prepared to protect themselves. Throughout the world, kidnappings and assassinations are increasingly more popular as terrorist operational choices. A key aspect of each of these operations is conducting a thorough surveillance of the target. Detecting that surveillance is critical to upsetting the operational schedule of the terrorists and preventing the action from taking place. USASATMO will add this training to SATTOC. The goal of the Surveillance Detection Training is to ensure that deploying personnel can understand, recognize and defeat or counter the tactics, techniques, and procedures terrorists, kidnappers or assassins use to conduct surveillance. The realism of the surveillance experience should sensitize each trainee to the circumstances of hostile surveillance and heighten the trainees awareness of hostile surveillance.
The contractor shall develop and provide counter-surveillance instruction and practical exercise: Develop materials for the training. These materials will list enabling and terminal learning objectives, enemy TTPs trainees must detect and counter friendly counter surveillance TTPs and the general scheme for the surveillance practical exercise. Present a two-hour block of classroom instruction on surveillance detection tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) including Surveillance Detection Routes-SDRs, that instructs the trainees in these TTPs and establishes as their objectives to defeat or counter those techniques during the ensuing week, and to accurately report surveillance they have detected. The contractor shall have already begun surveillance the previous day. As a practical exercise, conduct surveillance on trainees for five days beginning Monday of each SATTOC week. Times of surveillance shall not conform to the normal duty day, but shall engage the subjects during their activities before 0800 and after 1600 daily. Observers shall document trainee activity with written reports, still photography, and video. As a result of this training, deploying USASATMO personnel understand and have practiced terrorist surveillance TTP, detection techniques, and understand the weaknesses to correct and skills to enhance in their Individual Protection Measures (IPM). The surveillance experience has sensitized them and made them more alert to hostile surveillance.
The Period of Performance will be 12 months after date of award with four option periods.
The designated NAICS code is 611699 for this effort, the size standard is $7 mil.
This is a total business set aside procurement.
Solicitation Number will be W911S0-09-R-0003. The entire solicitation package will be available via the Army Single Face to Industry (ASFI) website https://acquisition.army.mil/asfi . All amendments to the solicitation will be posted on the ASFI website. Interested parties are advised to check the website periodically for amendments.
Point of Contact: Anthony Ciccariello. Phone: 757-878-3166 ex 3238. Email: anthony.ciccariello1@us.army.mil
Contracting Office Address:
ACA, NRCC, Mission, Building 2796, Fort Eustis, VA 23604
Place of Performance:
MICC Building 2796, Fort Eustis VA
23604
US
Point of Contact(s):
Anthony Ciccariello Jr, 75787831663238
#5 by john Swann on February 25th, 2009 - 5:55 pm
Search of web reveals this as a sole contract awarded since 2006.
http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?company_name=Washington+Security+Group&sortby=r&detail=4&datype=T&reptype=r&database=fpds&fiscal_year=&submit=GO
I suspect this operation is more hype, smoke and mirrors then actual substance. I’m gonna sniff around…something tells me that the other “facilities” they claim to have in operation may be every bit as operational as our Washington Field.
#6 by Bigoleboy on February 26th, 2009 - 5:48 pm
Yeh, I was proud to be a Nanjemoy boy that night too. Another point about the proposal is that there is such a thing as mission creep. That is, the mission increases dramatically due to wants and needs of the Govt. What they say today may not be what is going on a year from now and whom would ensure that they are performing as noted in their proposals if approved???ANSWER: NO ONE. Once approved they can do a they please and no one will know the difference until something catastophic occurs. Thanks everyone for the great support.
#7 by concerned on March 3rd, 2009 - 1:17 pm
There have been a lot of explosions down in Nanjemoy on weekends lately. Has WSG already started operations?
Last year we wondered where all the Blue Heron had gone. Could WSG have a part in the disappearance of the flocks of Blue Heron? Where’s the Dept. of Natural Resources on this?
WSG’s chemical and biological activities would certainly affect the water we draw from our wells. Has the EPA been involved? Who is conducting the environmental studies?
Has WSG misrepresented itself to GSA & obtained its contract fraudulently by making the Nanjemoy location appear more than it is? Or is the Nanjemoy location already more than WSG makes it appear to the Charles County Board. Either way, someone’s gettin’ snookered - question is what laws have already been broken & who’s aiding and abetting? Where are the Inspector Generals when we need them?
Has anyone taken a look at the WSG website? The WSG promotional video alone is scary enough:
http://www.pvcmedia.net/wsg/wsg_video.htm
#8 by citizen X on March 5th, 2009 - 10:34 am
wait till you discover on march 10th… WHO made that video.. its just too bizarre !!
irt the GSA claims - thats being vetted out by the citizen contracts review tiger team - LINE by LINE.
#9 by peteysmom on March 10th, 2009 - 7:47 pm
If WSG wants a special exception to the AC zone as a “research” facility, then they can’t have “training” as a primary or even ancillary function. That would fall under a completely different permissible use, and is prohibited under zone AC, no special exception.
ALSO- I looked up “private airport” versus “public airport” under the code- private airports are permitted by special exception, but only for the OWNER - not the “manager” or “operator” - and by Charles County Code definition (we CAN beat ‘em at their own game!) “private airport” excludes ANY commercial use. Last time I looked, doing anything where money changes hands is “commercial”
Here is what I came up with so far:
CODE OF CHARLES COUNTY, MARYLAND Updated 09-17-2008
PART II GENERAL LEGISLATION
Chapter 297, ZONING REGULATIONS(L)
297-49. Word usage; definitions
AIRPORT, PRIVATE USE — Any airport for personal use of the property owner,
which includes no commercial uses.
FAA ID 70MD is a private airport.
WSG states on its website that
“It is the only airport in the Greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area
that is exclusively controlled and operated by a defense contracting
corporation for the sole purpose of supporting government operations and
national security.”
——————-
I’ve got news for them, that’s a commercial use, and it is PROHIBITED, even
by Special Exception, in an agricultural zone. If their Nanjemoy operation
depends on the availability of this airport, they might as well withdraw
their application right now. But if they don’t:
Charles County Zoning Code also states:
CODE OF CHARLES COUNTY, MARYLAND Updated 09-17-2008
PART II GENERAL LEGISLATION
Chapter 297, ZONING REGULATIONS(L)
ARTICLE IV, Permissible Uses
ARTICLE IV, Permissible Uses
§ 297-61. Use of designations P, PC and SE in Table of Permissible Uses.
When used in connection with a particular use in the Table of
Permissible Uses, the letter “P” means that the use is permissible in the
indicated zone with a zoning permit. The letters “PC” mean a use is
permitted in the indicated zone, subject to the conditions outlined in
Article XIII. The letters “SE” mean a special exception permit must be
obtained from the Board of Appeals and that there are additional regulations
applicable in Article XIII. A blank means the use is not permitted in the
zone.
§ 297-62. Permissible uses and specific exclusions.
A.The list of permissible uses set forth in the Table of Permissible Uses
are all inclusive; those uses that are listed shall be interpreted by the
Zoning Officer to include other uses that have similar impacts to the listed
uses.
B.The Table of Permissible Uses shall not be interpreted to allow a use in
one zone when the use in question is more closely related to another
specified use that is permissible in other zones.
————-
I humbly suggest that WSG is primarily a “service oriented commercial”
business, coded 5.00.000 in the table of permissible uses. The only
commercial operations which can exist in AC zones, even with Special
Exception, are funeral homes and nursery schools/daycare.
If they INSIST that they will do research primarily at the Nanjemoy site,
then I suggest the Planning Board learn the definition of “process” - if the
County doesn’t define, it, then my favorite is from the OSHA Process Safety
Standard, 29 CFR 1910.119.
“Process” means any activity involving a [material], including any use,
storage, manufacturing, handling, or the on-site movement of such
[materials], or combination of these activities.
But the typical definition is, subjecting something to one or more operations that cause it to be altered. Like processing milk to kill bacteria. Or processing gravel to wash it and size it. In WSG’s case, they propose to subject personal protective equipment to a research process thatwill put holes in it, dent it, burn it, or otherwise alter its original form. That’s ‘processing’ that equipment.
I can’t access all of the definitions for the zoning code. We need to see if these words are there:
‘process’
‘research’
‘personal service’
‘commercial’
I’m not a lawyer, though I do have lunch with the occasionally, but this proposal is DOA as far as I can determine.
On top of having GSA pull their contract and go after them criminally for waste, fraud and abuse for listing training sites that don’t even exist and airports they can’t legally use.