Carver-Plympton: Rickets Pond Sand Mining Site
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2026
Media Contact
Meg Sheehan
Contact:
meg@communitylandandwater.org
508-259-9154
Community Land & Water Coalition
P.O. Box 1699
Plymouth, MA 02362
www.communitylandandwater.org
Massachusetts Orders Full Environmental Review After Community Campaign Wins Major Victory
MEPA Requires Comprehensive Study of Proposed Development and Sand Mining Impacts on Ricketts Pond Site
PLYMOUTH, MA — The Community Land & Water Coalition (CLWC) today hailed a major environmental victory after the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) ordered a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Ricketts Pond Business Park expansion for a proposed 60-unit residential development in Carver and Plympton.
Get the MEPA Decision Here: 15883 EEA June 29, 2026 Ricketts Pond Business Park – Carver Plympton_SRT Signed
The June 29 decision rejects the developer’s request to bypass additional environmental review and instead requires a comprehensive analysis of groundwater protection, air quality, traffic, public health, climate impacts, and the cumulative effects of years of large-scale sand mining on the site.
“This decision confirms what residents, local officials, and environmental advocates have argued all along—that this project deserves a full and transparent environmental review,” said Meg Sheehan, coordinator of Community Land & Water Coalition. “The sand mining operation has destroyed every aspect of the environment that existed on the site — clear cutting Pine Barrens forests and hauling off the land itself in tractor trailer trucks for commercial sale since 2018. The public deserves answers before additional development moves forward.”
The decision follows years of advocacy by CLWC and local residents, including more than 1,600 people who participated in the MEPA process by submitting comments urging the state to require a full environmental review. The Town of Plympton Board of Health, Planning Board, and Open Space Committee also participated in urging a full environmental review.
Key Findings
A two step environment study is required under the state’s MEPA law: a draft study for public comment, and a final study. Both must cover ways to avoid or mitigate damage to the region’s sole-source drinking water aquifer; air quality from dust, and diesel emissions, traffic, groundwater withdrawals and stormwater runoff, climate resilience, cumulative impacts, environmental justice, and open space.
The Secretary also rejected the developer’s request to waive the Environmental Impact Report requirement ruling that it did not meet the requirements.
Pine duBois of Jones River Watershed Association said “ Rickett’s Pond is a neglected but important environmental resource for this area. Already water use from wells has drawn down the pond and vanquished the adjacent vernal pool. Eradication of trees and denuding hillsides adjacent to the new highway has altered the landscape and resources forever, with no consideration or forethought. We’re destroying the natural resources we all rely on for health and safety, and sacrificing opportunities for future generations to thrive, for what?”
CLWC will continue to work with the community to participate in the MEPA Environmental Impact Report process to ensure the issues identified by state agencies, local officials, and residents receive the comprehensive review required under Massachusetts environmental law.
See CLWC’s March 2026 request to MEPA here
Since 2018 CLWC and a wide grassroots network has fought to raise awareness about this sand mine. It is an approximately 40 acre site in Carver and Plympton on Route 44 going East at the Spring Street exit. Read more here
This photo below from December 5, 2021 shows the last remaining stand of trees on the hill in the center of the site.
July 8, 2024: Third Request of enforcement of Earth removal bylaws is sent to the Town of Plympton and their Board of Selectmen. The letter asks their to be an investigation into unauthorized earth removal at the site. Read the letter here.
June 24, 2024: New evidence alleges the mining at the site on Lot 3 is illegal and violates stormwater regulations. Read the memo here. A DEP hearing will be held on Sept. 4, at 100 Cambridge Street Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114.
May 15, 2024: CLWC sent a second demand letter to the Town of Plympton demanding that it enforce the town’s bylaws against SLT Construction. Read the letter here. May 15 2024 SLT Letter Final
July 30, 2025: A group of 10 residents sent a notice of intent to sue letter to prevent and minimize damages to the environment. Read the letter here.
The letter asserts “The evidence that SLT is engaged in large-scale earth removal on the Plympton side of the Property is indisputable.” The letter contains updated drone surveillance photos and a demand to enforce the Bylaw.
If the Town does not enforce the Bylaw, the public can go to court to enforce it.
Go to CLWC’s You Tube Channel to see drone videos like this one from December 2021 showing massive deforestation in just one day: here
Some allege SLT is at the center of a public corruption investigation by the state Office of Inspector General
Read more about SLT’s wetlands violations here.
In January 2024, the Town of Plympton denied SLT’s request for a demolition facility that entailed removing 100,000 cubic yards. Read more here.
Read more about the SLT site’s archeological significance here.
In 2022, CLWC tried to enforce the Carver zoning laws against SLT. The Town refused to enforce the law and sided with SLT.
Read more about the public’s effort to enforce the Carver Earth Removal Bylaw against the illegal expansion of the mining operation onto the adjacent “Marob” property here.
Below: May 13, 2024. 0 Spring St.
The OADR from 2018 and 2022 don’t account for the impact on Rickett’s Pond and its Buffering Vegetative Wetlands (BVW) caused by sand and gravel deposits from the RPBP mining site, including Lot 3. These materials have been entering Rickett’s Pond since at least 2019. Since February 2018, the Project Site has undergone complete deforestation, alteration, and excavation to remove sand and gravel. These activities have significantly affected areas protected under environmental regulations. They could potentially change groundwater levels, which might affect the hydrology of nearby wetlands. Moreover, the changes in surface runoff patterns have redirected water flow from one sub-watershed to another, directly impacting the plant life and wildlife habitats in the surrounding areas. View drone footage of the site here.
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