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Learn about two proposed sand mining projects in the Cedarville area
September 9 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
What: Two proposed mining projects in Cedarville threaten our drinking water, forests, biodiversity and community. This mining permanently alters the topography and removes the natural filtration for our underground drinking water aquifer. Ongoing mining is unregulated and requests from local residents to the Town Planner for enforcement have been denied.
Join us for a talk to learn more about the projects and what they mean for our community. Speakers and Q and A. Co-hosted by HPWA and the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance
When: Monday, September 9, 6:30pm
Where: SEMPBA Headquarters in the Center Hill Preserve,
158 Center Hill Road, Plymouth
Or participate by zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Who: Speaker Meg Sheehan, an environmental lawyer who has been studying sand mining in the region for over a decade.
Why: The full environmental impacts of sand mining operations have not been studied or evalulated. Local permitting is not adequate to fully study the operations and mitigate any impacts. Should we allow our land to be permanently altered or are there less destructive options for development?
About the two proposed projects in Cedarville:
1. 71 Hedge’s Pond Road. The Town of Plymouth through the “Plymouth Regional Economic Development Foundation, Inc.” has a purchase and sale agreement to sell about 42 acres of public land, known as the Cedarville Conservation Area, to a sand mining company. The agreement is with a limited liability company known as Standish Investment Group. Standish applied to the Town Planning Board for a permit to conduct sand and gravel mining for 350,000 cubic yards. This volume of sand is worth about $5 million in today’s prices. In 1992-93 Plymouth Town Meeting voted to put this land into conservation for permanent protection. Why is it being proposed for a mining operation? The proposal goes before the Plymouth Planning Board for a public hearing on Sept. 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.
2. 1929 State Road/Indianhead Resort. The fight to stop this 475,000 cubic mine started in late 2013 when the Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals announced the first hearing on Indianhead’s request to remove massive amounts of sand & gravel at the Indianhead Resort. So far opponents have won 3 of the 4 law \suits filed by the landowner against the Town of Plymouth trying to get the permit. One case went to the state’s highest court, the Supreme Judicial Court. The fourth lawsuit is now coming to a final showdown.
Active mining projects in Cedarville/South Plymouth:
1. 0 State Road, Sorrenti Brothers. The Building Commissioner denied a request for enforcement in April, 2024. The mining is ongoing.
2. 11 Cantor Court, off Hedge’s Pond Road, abutting Cedarville Conservation Area. CC Construction is mining the adjacent hillside, according to recent photographs. There is no permit for mining at this location.
About the speaker: Meg Sheehan is an environmental lawyer and community organizer with over 40 year’s experience. She is a Plymouth native and has played a leadership role in conservation efforts in the region. She represents local residents and groups pro bono in order to provide access to justice for all and to defend the environment against inappropriate projects such as sand and gravel mining. She is a co-founder of many campaigns, including Community Land & Water Coalition, a project of Save the Pine Barrens, Inc.