Groups Plan Demonstrations To Protest MATEP Decision

Opponents of Harvard's controversial Medical Area Total Energy Plant (MATEP) said yesterday they have planned a series of actions to publicly demonstrate that their fight to block installation of the power plant's diesel engines will continue despite the recent state decision in Harvard's favor.

Community spokesmen yesterday refused to elaborate on when or where the demonstrations would be, but Charlotte Ploss, a member of the NOMATEP coalition, said last week's ruling by David A. Fierra, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) was "a bought decision" that her group would fight through public demonstrations.

Attorneys for the town of Brookline filed a petition to overturn Fierra's decision, but Dr. John G. Hermos, spokesman for the Brookline opponents said yesterday he is not optimistic about the appeal's chances. He said that although the petition is "an excellent document," he is "not particularly hopeful" that it will succeed, given DEQE's "track record."

Fierra yesterday refused to comment on whether he would allow a rehearing of the case, adding that he hoped to make a decision on the appeal by Christmas. If he rules against the petitioners, their only recourse to prevent the full operation of the $230 million plant would be a court action.

MATEP, which is designed to provide electricity, chilled water and steam to 13 institutions in the Medical area, will not be cost-and energy-efficient until the installation of the diesel engines, but the community opponents object to the possible environmental threats the plant poses.

Fierra's decision addressed the potential danger of the plant's nitrous oxide emissions, but spokesmen from Brookline and the NOMATEP coalition called this threat only one of many environmental issues surrounding the project.

Lewis M. Horiwitz, co-chairman of the NOMATEP group, said yesterday there are a minimum of 28 points that a "fair-minded judge" could use to reverse the DEQE decision. He added that the town of Brookline and NOMATEP are committed to take the necessary legal measures to block the installation of the engines if the petition for a rehearing fails