LETTER TO FRANK R. WOLF FROM JOHN L. HELGERSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89-00244R001804460003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 24, 1988
• Content Type: LETTER

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STAT
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Central Intelligence Agency
STAT
Washington. D. C. 20505
The Honorable Frank R. Wolf
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Mr. Wolf:
0C.p. 8E? 04 4 5
2 4 FEB 1989
? in re ?onse to your letter of 25 January 1988
to Chief of the Agency's New Building
Project, requesting that we seek to reach an accommodation with
your constituent, Mr. Robert Shortley. You will recall that
Mr. Shortley had written you to express his concern about the
removal of mature trees, ranging in height from 20 to 30 feet,
from the back of his home during construction of a concrete
barrier along Route 193.
H
it
Let me review for you the events as they have transpired,
and summarize the efforts the Agency has made to resolve
Mr. Shortley's complaint.
As you are aware, the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) was
formed to develop a design for modifications to Route 193 and
Route 123 which would be acceptable to all concerned parties.
The TAC membership included representatives from the Agency,
other federal departments, state and local governments, local
citizens' groups, and elected officials. During the lengthy
discussion and review process, the Committee considered several
options for design along Routes 193 and 123. The option
selected called for a precast concrete wall (at the insistence
of the Evermay community) and retention of existing vegetation
to the maximum extent possible along Route 193 bordering a
section of the Evermay community.
In July 1987, Mr. Shortley contacted the Agency to
complain that the area behind his house had been stripped of
all vegetation. On 17 July 1987, an Agency representative met
with Mr. Shortley at his house to discuss his complaint. Also
present were Mr. Hasty, President, Evermay Citizens Associa-
tion, and Mr. Silies, Virginia Department of Transportation
Project Manager for the Route 123/193 modifications.
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Mr. Silies explained to Mr. Shortley that the contractor
removed the existing vegetation, including several mature 20 to
30 feet trees. Mr Silies informed Mr. Shortley that the
removal was essential in order for the contractor to perform
the required work. We also noted that the contractor had not
removed all vegetation. In those areas where the distance
between the shoulder of the road and the wall was wider, the
existing vegetation was left untouched.
Nonetheless, Mr. Silies and the Agency representative
advised Mr. Shortley that they were sympathetic and could
understand his disappointment when he discovered that the
trees had been removed. In order to accommodate Mr. Shortley,
Mr. Silies agreed to increase the number and size of new
vegetation to be planted in the area behind Mr. Shortley's
house. Mr. Silies explained that the Virginia Department of
Transportation could not plant trees taller than eight feet in
that area with any reasonable expectation of long-term
survival. (Mr. Shortley wants fully mature 20 to 30 feet
trees.) Mr. Silies also agreed to provide Mr. Shortley with
the opportunity to review the final layout of the area behind
his house prior to planting the new vegetation. And finally,'
Mr. Silies modified the Route 193 design to provide additional
trees in the island dividing the westbound lane of Route 193
from the lane merging from westbound Route 123. The objective
to this modification is to keep the headlights of traffic
merging from westbound Route 123 from shining into the Evermay
community. This merge area is directly across from the rear of
Mr. Shortley's house.
On 10 February 1988, we again inspected the area behind
Mr. Shortley's house. We noted that while new vegetation has
been planted along the wall west of Mr. Shortley's house, none
has been planted in the area behind his house and further
eastward. Mr. Silies has advised that planting has been
temporarily halted due to weather and ground conditions. He
emphasized that planting will resume as soon as it is practical
and will be in accordance with the commitments made to
Mr. Shortley on 17 July 1987 He also indicated that the
Virginia Department of Transportation's on-site project
superintendent had made Mr. Shortley aware of this in
mid-January 1988.
In summary, while we appreciate Mr. Shortley's concern
regarding the removal of the trees, this action was necessary.
And, I believe that the Virginia Department of Transportation,
through Mr. Silies, is making every reasonable effort to
accommodate Mr. Shortley and other Evermay residents in the
affected area. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to plant
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trees in the 20-30 feet range in that area. Such trees would
be unlikely to survive.
We very much appreciate your support and the help that you
have provided the Agency in working with the community. I want
to assure you that we have done all we can reasonably do to
satisfy Mr. Shortley. If we can be of further assistance,
please do not hesitate to call upon us.
STAT
,
STAT
STAT
Sincerel
Jo n L. Helgerson
Director of Congressional Affairs
- OCA Recorc
(-12 Feb 6:?=7)
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