Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C. NorthWest
Washington, D.C. 20240


Dear Secretary Babbitt:

I am writing to encourage you to support the US Fisheries 
and Wildlife Service’s request to acquire the Fort Devens 
Sudbury Training Annex of Maynard, MA  as a National 
Wildlife Refuge.  The Annex, a National Priority List site 
under Superfund, is included on the most recent BRAC 
listing. The four affected communities have consistently 
expressed their strong desire that the Annex be reused as 
a wildlife refuge under the control of the US Fish and 
Wildlife Service.

The Annex is a local treasure to the surrounding towns 
of Maynard, Stow,Sudbury, and Hudson Massachusetts. Wildlife 
is abundant in the Annex, including several threatened and 
endangered species. The Annex is also located above the 
primary aquifers for the towns of Maynard, Hudson, and 
Stow. During a 1993 survey of the Annex by US Fisheries 
and Wildlife, it was determined that the Annex contained 
unique and valuable wetlands and species suitable for 
protection under numerous federal and state statutes.  
Preservation of these natural resources is absolutely vital 
to our communities.

The proposal to transfer the Annex has been approved in 
numerous ways:

- The initial request in 1992 and continued support for 
transfer to US Fish and Wildlife by Four Town FOCUS, a federally 
funded public interest group overseeing the remediation of 
the Annex Superfund site.

- A Town Meeting resolution to endorse the Annex transfer 
by voters at the 1994 Maynard town meeting.

- A Town Meeting resolution to endorse the Annex transfer 
by voters at the 1995 Stow town meeting.

- A petition with over 1,000 Sudbury residents’ signatures 
supporting the Annex transfer to US Fisheries and Wildlife.

- Endorsement by other community interest groups such as 
OAR (Organization for the Assabet River), Sudbury Valley 
Trustees, the Lake Boon Association, and other groups.

- The endorsement by numerous local government agencies 
including the Conservation Commissions of Maynard and Sudbury,
the Maynard Board of Selectmen, and the Hudson Board 
of Selectmen.

- The support of State Senator Bob Durand and State 
Representative Pat Walrath. And the ongoing support of 
the individual citizens of the surrounding communities. 

We ask that you support the designation of the Annex 
as a National Wildlife Refuge so that today’s and tomorrow’s 
citizens are able to enjoy this valuable resource in perpetuity. 


Sincerely,




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