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[ Originally published on: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 ]
TURNERS FALLS -- Work to revamp the Turners Falls Airport has stopped after a sub-contractor excavated in an area declared off-limits for work.
The area in question was flagged for further investigation by the archaeologist on site and representatives of the Native American tribes, said John Brown, tribal historic officer for the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office. The Aquinnah-Wampanoag and Mashpee-Wampanoag tribes are also working on the project.
Brown said he didn't know how much of the area was disturbed or what was disturbed as he has been unable to get to the site and representatives from the tribe who have been at the site are away at a conference.
''The work has stopped until the Airport Commission, our consultant, Gale Associates, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Mass Aeronautics, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the tribes meet to go over the issue and try to resolve it, and ensure the proper safeguards are in place to prevent a recurrence,'' said Peter Golrick, chairman of the Turners Falls Airport Commission. ''It is too early to speculate on a time frame for the work to resume, but we are doing everything necessary to get the project back on track as soon as possible, keeping all the concerns in mind.''
Work stopped on Oct. 16.
Before any work can continue, representatives from all three tribes need to investigate what happened, how it happened and the extent of the damage, Brown said. ''It's too early to address blame. It's too early to address what will happen.
''We have to do a basic reconstruction of what happened. We're going to do our best to do this as quickly as possible. The delay is costing us, too.''
All work on the project needs to be stopped all over the site so no further damage is done, he said. ''We don't want other people going on the site and disturbing what has already been disturbed.
For the full version of this story, you may purchase The Recorder electronically, by returning to the home page and clicking under ''E-Edition'' on the right side of your screen, or you can purchase the print edition, which is available throughout Franklin County, Massachusetts.
