Town of Carver
Sand mining sites:
0 Plymouth Street
Volume of Earth Removed: Unknown to date
A Carver Earth Removal permit was issued in November 2021 for 120,000 cubic yards (market value approximately $2 million).
As of July 2023, they are clearing upland forest for mining with no connection to agricultural use. Trucking operations are being conducted by SLT Construction.
Now they plan “floating solar” on cranberry pond – backed by state subsidies– and Plymouth Planning Board
Sign our petition here to to Protect Our Farms and Forests from Large Scale Solar
Here is a short video on the Franklin Marsh Cranberry mining operation: Wampanoag Rights v. Extraction of Sand & Gravel.
104 Tremont Street
Volume of Earth Removed: New earth removal permit issued in February 2024 to allow for an additional 1,533,706 cubic yards of earth removal on another 17 acres. This is worth about $15 million of sand and gravel. Total Removed will be 4,243,706 cubic yards.
On April 19, 2024, two residents filed a lawsuit to revoke the permit. See the lawsuit here.
about $15 million worth of sand and gravel. On April 19, 2024, two residents filed a lawsuit to revoke the permit. See the lawsuit here.
May, 2024: State refuses to stop illegal work. The state wetlands law prevents work when an appeal is pending. Pontiff has already started work at this site including clear cutting trees and hauling them off site. The mine is in active operation. Read more here about Ten Residents request for a cease and desist.
RELATED BLOG POSTS
Carver: Pontiff-Ryco Excavating Mining Site, 104 Tremont violates wetlands laws, more
Carver: Pontiff-Ryco Excavating Site, 104 Tremont St.
Carver: Illegal mining continues at EJ Pontiff-Ryco Excavating mining site at 104 Tremont Street
59 Federal Road
Volume of Earth Removal: An estimated total of 6,652,425 cubic yards of earth have been removed. A permit was issued by the Carver Earth Removal Committee on July 10, 2020, based on A.D. Makepeace’s claim that mining 4,045,000 cubic yards was necessary for cranberry bogs and a reservoir. Now in 2024, the project plans are being copied and submitted again to continue sand mining for another 5 years.
This site is one of six subject to a “Damage to the Environment” lawsuit brought by ten residents under the Citizen Suit law.
46 Federal Road
Volume of Earth Removed: Using a conservative estimate of 50 feet of removal, this report estimates up to 4 million cubic yards of earth have been removed as of 2023.
The Carver Earth Removal Committee has issued permits for 3,300,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel removal since 2003. In August 2023, Makepeace obtained a permit from the Carver Conservation Commission for the removal of an additional 1,000,000 cubic yards on the southern portion of the site. A new permit was approved in February 2024 for an additional 1,401,800 cubic yards. With this new permit, at least 5,093,293 cubic yards will have been mined since 2003.
This site is one of six subject to a “Damage to the Environment” lawsuit brought by ten residents under the Citizen Suit law.
In February 2024, the Community Land and Water Coalition (CLWC) filed to enforce zoning by-laws and shut down Read Custom Soils at 46 Federal Road, Carver, MA. On May 22, 2024, CLWC asked the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to enforce zoning by-laws. On May 29, 2024, CLWC and residents attended a public hearing on the zoning appeal. The hearing was continued until July 17, 2024.
About 52 acres have been actively mined for over 12 years. On August 16, 2023, Makepeace obtained a permit from the Carver Conservation Commission for the removal of an additional 1,000,000 cubic yards. The total parcel is approximately 534 acres, including the “Wankinko Bogs.”
0 Mayflower Road
This project is still being proposed to the Carver Earth Removal Committee. Check agendas here to see upcoming meeting dates.
RELATED BLOG POSTS
Carver: Fruit d’Or Cranberry seeks mining permit from ERC: October 2024
Green Park Way
Volume of Earth Removed: 478,000 cubic yards proposed
This project is still being proposed to the Carver Earth Removal Committee. Check agendas here to see upcoming meeting dates.
RELATED BLOG POSTS
Spring Street
Volume of Earth Removed: 764,854 cubic yards permitted by the Carver Earth Removal Committee.
There are two Earth Removal Permits that were granted by the Carver Earth Removal Committee:
- Permit 71: Issued on June 6, 2018, for 557,369 cubic yards. This permit expired on June 5, 2023.
- Second Permit: Issued in 2021 for 207,485 cubic yards to expand the mining operation on the north side of the pond on land owned by Marob Trust/Mary McGrath.
There is a legal challenge to SLT’s “stormwater plan” that claims it does not comply with the state Wetlands Protection Act. On May 2, 2024, the public’s expert professional engineer submitted testimony that SLT’s plan for Lot 3 “does not comply with the Stormwater Standards” as required by the Wetlands Protection Act. He says SLT “specifically manipulated the calculations” for determining how much water the system has to treat. This means the runoff would pollute Rickets Pond, wetlands, and drinking water. Read the group’s February 2024 expert testimony here. The May 2024 expert testimony is here.
RELATED BLOG POSTS
Carver-Plympton: SLT Construction Mining Site: Archeologically SigniÞcant
Carver: SLT Construction seeks state permit for facility in Plympton
Carver: Lawsuit to challenge ZBA and SLT Construction Spring Street mining site violations
Carver: SLT Construction Operating Illegally in Plympton Says CLWC
Carver: SLT’s mining site violates wetlands, water laws says expert
Off Meadow Street
Volume of Earth Removal: Unknown
In 2011, the Carver Earth Removal Committee issued Maki, the landowner a permit to mine 545,000 cubic yards by leveling a hill to make a cranberry pond. The operation ran for over a decade despite harming residents and the environment and even though the permit had expired. Unbelievably, even though the pond is built and the water is not being used on the bogs, on March 26, 2023 the corrupt Carver Earth Removal Committee issued Maki-G. Lopes Construction another permit to continue the mining indefinitely.
On March 28, 2022, Ten Residents of Carver filed an appeal with the state Department of Environmental Protection challenging Maki’s claim of an exemption from the Wetlands Protection Act. On May 4, 2022, at 11 a.m. the MassDEP and Environmental Strike Force did a site visit to view the wetlands. Bette Maki refused to let the local residents on the site. The DEP ruled on July 30, 2022 that the reservoir was three times the size needed for 12 acres of bog and was not exempt from agriculture but that the excavation did not harm the wetlands. All the DEP required was some erosion barriers. DEP is going along with this hoax.
A Notice of Intent to Sue letter was sent on Dec. 5, 2022 for damage to the environment.
On July 17, 2023, Judge Glenny in the Superior Court denied the residents request for help and to shut this down. The residents filed in the Appeals Court. Read the memorandum in support of their Motion for Preliminary Injunction here.
There are still active lawsuits for this site, you can follow the Appeals Court proceedings here on the docket.
Latest Carver Blog Posts
59 Federal Road, Carver MA: A.D. Makepeace Continues Mining, Residents Say Enough is EnoughAugust 24, 2026 - 1:19 am
Carver: Meadow Street Sand Mine: Jury Returns VerdictAugust 12, 2026 - 1:25 pm
Breaking News: State’s Highest Court Confirms Local Power to Regulate Industrial SolarJuly 17, 2026 - 4:06 pm
Carver-Plympton: Rickets Pond Sand Mining SiteJuly 2, 2026 - 12:38 pm
Carver: AD Makepeace Cranberry Smith Hammond Bogs: 24 Federal Road,January 5, 2026 - 6:03 pm
Carver – 0 Spring Street: CLWC’s Pro Bono Legal Services Step In Where DEP Won’t Enforce LawsNovember 12, 2025 - 4:35 pm- Carver – 0 Wareham Street – Solar Gone WrongNovember 7, 2025 - 2:41 pm
Carver Earth Removal Committee Must Deny Permits, Enforce BylawNovember 2, 2025 - 10:56 am
