READING - Reading officials have registered a protest to the draft recommendations being made by the I-93/I-95 Interchange Transportation Study Task Force while Woburn officials are withholding comment until a final draft report is issued in a few weeks.

"As I look through this report, (remembering comments made by many people in the past) noise is the ultimate concern and it is not getting the recognition that it deserves," Reading Selectman and Task Force member Camille Anthony said. "I don't feel that our concerns are being recognized.

"Noise has been a concern since day one," Anthony said.

Woburn City Planner and Task Force Member Ed Tarallo said, "I want to see the final document before I have a comment or the City Council has a discussion."

When advised that a final document would not be ready until the comment period is up by the middle of next month, Tarallo said, "I want to see a final draft before I comment. If we are not comfortable with the document or with the other's positions than we will have to take a position."

However, Executive Office of Transportation's Manager of Statewide Planning Bob Frey, the Task Force Coordinator reminded the group that last night's meeting was just the start of the comment period on the draft report.

He also noted that more input will be taken when the study moves into the next phase after the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been filed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

"We will take comments on the draft report until the end of the month or a little longer," Frey said. "We can still make changes over the next few weeks."

He added, "There will be more opportunities for comment and more opportunities for participation during the environmental studies."

According to Frey, the next step will be the completion of the report from the Task Force. This will be a significant part of the ENF and will be a basis for the resulting Environmental Impact Study that will be carried out by DEP.

That environmental study will include several public hearings as well as input from a Citizens Advisory Committee.

Frey noted that it was his wish that members of the Task Force apply to be on the citizens committee, thus insuring an understanding of the four-year process that is now being completed by the Task Force.

The environmental study phase is expected to take about two years.

During this time, or just following the study, feasibility and design studies will be done by Mass Highway to determine costs and the project then has to go through a cost analysis and funding phase.

The last page of a three-page statement, voted on by the Reading Board of Selectmen states the Town's objections to the draft report as it stands.

They wrote: "The Town does not endorse either of the Alternative plans because they do not meet the goals of the study.

Specifically these alternatives:

* Do not eliminate all property takings;

* Do not minimize noise impacts; and,

* Do not minimize visual impacts;

on properties in Reading. The Town believes that all of these impacts can be reduced or eliminated through additional design work."