When It Comes To Athletic Fields Decision, Respect The Process

To the editor: As this community continues to discuss the future of athletic facilities at Nantucket Public Schools, it is important to keep the conversation rooted in process, context, and trust earned over time. At the same time, a few clarifications are essential in response to a previous letter that called into question the role of Weston & Sampson.

Weston & Sampson was hired by Nantucket Public Schools to conduct an independent evaluation of the proposed turf field only after concerns about PFAS were raised publicly and discussed openly at a workshop. That decision was made by the elected School Committee as a responsible and transparent step, and at the time, there was broad agreement that bringing in an outside engineering firm was the right course of action.

Weston & Sampson does not financially benefit from whether a turf field is installed or not. Their role is advisory and technical, not promotional or advocacy-based. Their compensation is tied to providing analysis and findings, not to a particular outcome. This distinction matters.

The town of Nantucket has relied on Weston & Sampson for decades on projects that are central to environmental protection, public health, and long-term planning. Their work on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan helped guide how our community thinks about recreational spaces responsibly and sustainably. They have played a pivotal role in the Tom Nevers cleanup, one of the most significant environmental remediation efforts on the island. They have also been deeply involved in sewer system improvements and other infrastructure projects that directly protect groundwater and drinking water. The town continues to engage Weston & Sampson because of their reputation for objectivity, technical rigor, and independence.

Questioning the integrity of their findings solely because the results are uncomfortable or unexpected sets a troubling precedent. Independent studies are commissioned so decisions can be informed by data rather than fear or speculation. Disagreeing with conclusions does not make them untrue. One conclusion reached in 2021 is that there is PFAS in the soil, and that soil has no containment system. Testing has shown that PFAS levels in the existing soil are higher than those found in the proposed turf, which tested non-detect for PFAS and includes a groundwater containment system.

Groups such as Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) are environmental advocacy organizations that exist to raise concerns, challenge assumptions, and encourage caution through public advocacy. PEER’s funding comes primarily from grants and, in some years, from litigation-related outcomes. Advocacy organizations operate with a mission-driven lens, while Weston & Sampson was engaged specifically to provide neutral, technical evaluation.

Nantucket is at its best when it listens to multiple perspectives while respecting the process it put in place. We all share the same core goals: protecting our children, safeguarding our water, and making thoughtful decisions that serve the community both now and in the future. Upholding trust in independent expertise—especially when it was sought collectively and in good faith—is part of honoring those goals.

Sincerely,
Kate Garrette