29 April 2009
Local Opposition to New Boy Scout Jamboree Site
Posted by admin under: jamboree .
There are a few news reports about how the “Friends of Maury” (Friends of the Maury River) are a Goshen, Virginia local group who are opposed to the relocationi of the Boy Scout Jamboree from Fort A.P. Hill, the site since 1981, to Goshen. WDBJ says
Opponents have concerns over pollution, increased traffic, as well as sewage and waste water treatment. “I think the Boy Scouts of America have made a snap judgment on whether they like to have it and now they’re trying to make it fit and I think they’re going to come to their senses,” says opponent Dave Buckner.
…
Opponents question how much of a impact the jamboree will really have. “I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of money that will stay locally. I think what they’re talking about is big enough that they’re going to be bringing people in from elsewhere to do the work,” says opponent Linda Larsen.
Before moving forward, the boy scouts have to get a number of state and local permits.
That process could take two years and opponents plan to fight it every step of the way.
Courtney Cutright shares more residents’ concerns
Dave Condon, a North Carolina man whose family owned a farm adjacent to the camp site for 130 years, said he is concerned about how crowds would be evacuated if there were a major forest fire or flood in the area, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides.
“It is going to take one incident, gentlemen, and there are people who are going to die,” Condon said to the panel. “The motto of the Boy Scouts is ‘Be prepared,’ but this is one thing I have yet to hear.”
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Under the proposal, the Goshen site also would be home to a year-round National Scouting Center, creating about 80 full-time jobs and an unknown number of part-time positions. The anticipated capital investment is $100 million.
“What we are trying to do is convince the Boy Scouts of America Goshen Pass is an inappropriate place for this development,” Gilliam said. A major concern of Friends of the Maury is the potential impact of treated wastewater polluting the Maury River.
Keith Fowler of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality said a “very carefully engineered” wastewater treatment plant would have to be built to accommodate the jamboree crowds. Because of the high volume of visitors in a short period of time, Fowler said there would have to be large holding tanks to allow adequate time to properly treat the wastewater before releasing it downstream.
“Wastewater treatment and disposal will probably be set up to take a much longer time for processing and discharge,” he said. He estimated the volume of wastewater could be as much as 3 million gallons per day for a crowd of 240,000 visitors.
A concern that was not addressed Tuesday evening was the safety of the dam at Lake Merriweather, which is located on the camp’s grounds. Earlier this month, Gary Waugh of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation said the dam has been operating under a conditional permit since 2005 because of a deficiency: The spillway of the dam, which was built in 1996, is not of adequate size. As a result, it has been designated as a high-hazard dam.
“If there was a failure, there would likely be loss of life and substantial property downstream,” Waugh said.
There are some additional comments from WSET
Dr. Linda Larsen, Save Goshen Pass – “It would ruin the rural character of this community.” Every four years, the event would bring $250,000 people to the region. Dr. Linda Larsen and her group, Save Goshen Pass, have researched the impact that would have. Larsen – “We figured out it would be 7,600 round trip bus trips.” They believe buses could do some major damage to the area’s rural, secondary roads. Larsen – “To put more stress on an already stressed situation, just doesn’t seem to be fiscally responsible to me.”
There is another public meeting scheduled in a couple of weeks at Rockbridge County High School according to RockbridgeWeekly.com
6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Poster Session Preceding Informational Forum on the Proposed Boy Scout Jamboree in Goshen. Informational Maps Will Be Posted. RCHS Auditorium Lobby
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Public Forum and Update on the Status of the Boy Scouts of America Proposal to Locate the National Jamboree and Other Activities in Goshen Pass with BSA Representatives 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with poster session starting at 6 p.m. beforehand. Sponsored by RACC at Rockbridge County High School. Contact Lee Merrill at 463-6096 or merrill@rockbridge.net for additional information.
Dr. Linda’s Larsen has a website for protecting the Goshen Pass and has included the Jamboree on the list of things that need to be opposed. Sounds like a NIMBY group to me. They even have opposition statements from Eagle Scout according to this post on their site: http://www.savegoshenpass.com/2009/04/eagle-scouts-oppose-jamboree-in-goshen.html. The group also has a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=6fee811ed7c124f1c87891c34f6c33b2&gid=77969326030&ref=search
Well, I think the move is good and I’d be thrilled to have the Jamboree in my back yard. Sounds like the Boy Scouts need to get some support. I hope they get it.
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7 Comments so far...
Scoutsigns Says:
29 April 2009 at 2:47 pm.
Welcome to Virginia…I suspect I-81 causes more damage to the local environment.
Scott Waller, Eagle Scout Says:
29 April 2009 at 3:45 pm.
250,000 scouts ??? I was on staff for the 2005 jamboree and we had 40,000 scouts attending, with staff it was 48,000, over 60,000 were in attendance for the presidents speech, this is hardly the 250,000 stated by oponents…
Local Cub Parent Says:
30 April 2009 at 10:47 am.
I spoke with a local Scout Executive in the Shenandoah Valley about the attendance figure. His take was that they added all the days at AP Hill together to come up with the 250K figure. He believes the last jamboree could have come close to 250K total if there were different visitors each day, but that there probably would not be as much visitation at Goshen because it is so much further from DC than AP Hill is.
The Council covering Rockbridge County does not have any interest in that property, as it is presently owned by the DC Council. There is concern, however, that local backlash may affect FOS donations coming from the area.
ScoutingMouse Says:
30 April 2009 at 4:10 pm.
I have to admit that I still wish the Jambo would move around like it used to. I think it would reach more kids that way. I know there are infrastructure concerns but I figure they were there int he past too. I know… you can’t go home again. But I can dream about it, right? LOL
Jacks Girl Says:
1 May 2009 at 1:21 pm.
My family lives on brattons run in Goshen. I have a personal connection to the BSA. this jamboree coming to our town is welcomed by the majority of the towns people those opposing this are ignoring what we want and what is best for us. And they need to get their facts straight they are saying and printing alot of half truths. starting with the jamboree will be in GOSHEN, NOT GOSHEN PASS. Goshen is the town, Goshen Pass is a byway connecting Goshen and Lexington. they need to look at the good the boy scouts have already done in Goshen and the surrounding areas especially how they already take care of Goshen Pass by picking up trash. those opposing this need to stop being selffish and think about building up a already impoverished community instead of tearing it down further.
Clarke A Green Says:
1 May 2009 at 2:28 pm.
I am a Planning Official and it sounds like there are some serious and valid concerns. Proponents are usually too quick to accuse the opponents of NIMBY syndrome Opponents are usually overstate the detrimental effects.
Any good planning process will investigate all claims and work towards some sort of resolution. The application and hearing process for a project of this scope is usually exhaustive and exacting. I imagine that the BSA will be required to do substantial environmental impact study and mitigation as well as roadway improvements.
It is all too easy to sensationalize stories like this. Every large project has its supporters and protesters both will make unsubstantiated claims. What wins the day is the science (environmental, traffic etc.) and the law.
2013 Boy Scouts Jamboree Site Aborted Due to Local Restrictions | BoyandGirlScouts.com - News, Opinion, Advice Says:
6 August 2009 at 7:23 pm.
[...] too many restrictions being put on the BSA due to the local citizen opposition I reported earlier here and here. ScoutingNews.org has a copy of the press release here which reads in [...]
