by Sherry Hamilton
Thanks to a grassroots effort by concerned Mathews residents and the intervention of Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01), the U.S. Coast Guard has decided that Station Milford Haven will remain a year-round Coast Guard station.
Wittman announced the decision on Monday, saying that the Coast Guard had reversed its previous decision to cut the station back to seasonal status, which would have suspended operations during the “off-season” winter months.
The Coast Guard did not advertise its original decision to cut back station operations, but local residents became aware of it in July, when the public comment period on the issue was almost at its end, and reached out to Wittman’s office. The Congressman immediately went into action, scheduling a last-minute public meeting with Coast Guard officials and residents of Mathews and other Chesapeake Bay communities.
During the meeting, Wittman asked the Coast Guard to extend the public comment period, something that’s usually reserved f...