City seeks Navy promise of no live fire in exercise
Boston officials said they need assurances from the Navy that no live fire or ammunition will be used in proposed war games on the South Boston Waterfront next month before they will give the go-ahead.
The Navy had applied for the city's permission to practice hostage rescues, sea landings, and urban warfare techniques June 8-18. But city officials said yesterday that they declined to immediately sign off on the plans because of dangers posed by live ammunition and explosives. City officials plan to meet with Navy brass in the next 10 days to hammer out an agreement that would allow the exercises to go forward.
''We need to wipe the slate clean and start fresh," said Boston's homeland security director, Carlo Boccia. ''There was confusion about what they wanted to do, where they wanted to do it."
The exercises would be conducted near the harbor in vacant buildings on Dry Dock and Kennedy avenues along industrial sections of the waterfront. Navy Commander Jeff Bender said live fire was never part of the plans.
Bender, a Naval Special Warfare public affairs officer based in San Diego, said about 50 Navy SEALs taking part in the 10-day exercise would use paintball ammunition, not bullets. The Navy has conducted similar training exercises in other cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, and New Orleans in recent years, Bender said.
''This is a routine training for us. There is very rarely any interaction with the public," Bender said.
The Navy has the backing of South Boston politicians, including US Representative Stephen F. Lynch and Councilor James M. Kelly.
''I don't see any downside," Lynch said. ''We're trying to prepare their Navy SEAL units for actual rescue operations under realistic conditions."
The city's concerns could still derail the plans, however. Bender said the Navy will need city approval within 10 days in order to deploy the seamen and equipment in time.
Boccia said city officials plan to meet with naval officers within the next 10 days to draw up more specific guidelines for the operation. He said the outcome of the talks will determine whether the city signs off on the plans.
''They told us their timeline is tight. But quite honestly so is ours," said Boccia. City officials also want to know whether parts of East Boston and the Boston Inner Harbor will be used in the exercises, he said. Bender said plans have not been finalized yet, so he did not have complete information.
''We would like to cooperate," Boccia said. ''We just want to ensure the security and safety of our citizens and property."
