PRESS RELEASE
July 24, 2024
For Immediate Release
Sand Mining at Halifax’s Wampanoag Native American Site on Whaleback Ridge Draws Community Opposition
Group Delivers Notice of Intent to Bring Damage to the Environment Lawsuit
Mining Threatens Native American Settlement Sites, Drinking Water
July 24, 2024: Community Members Gather for Standout In Front of Halifax Town Hall.
Halifax, MA — A statewide network of groups and individuals held a standout in front of the Town Hall in Halifax, Massachusetts, calling for a halt to destructive sand mining operations that are destroying known Native American settlement sites on the glacial esker known as the Whaleback Ridge overlooking Monponsett Pond in the Town of Halifax. The network delivered a Notice of Intent to Sue Letter to the Town Selectboard and state officials under the state’s Citizen Suit Law. The letter states a Ten Residents Group intends to sue the mining operators and state officials for Damage to the Environment, including damage to water and the Native American historic sites. Historical records confirm the existence of three Native American villages on the land the companies are mining.
July 24, 2024: Group Delivers Letter to Town Officials at Halifax Town Hall.
The Whaleback Ridge is an ancient esker towering over West Monponsett Pond. In addition to the known Wampanoag Native American archeological sites, it supports rich biodiversity. The ridge is made up of sand and gravel that plays a crucial role in safeguarding the well protection zone for the Town’s drinking water supply.
For decades, Morse Brothers Cranberry, Ryco Excavating, and Oiva Hannula & Sons Inc. have been extracting sand and gravel, leveling Whaleback Ridge, and digging up Native American artifacts and historic sites. Oiva Hannula & Sons, Inc. is a cranberry company based in Carver, MA. Its president and owner, Scott Hannula, is the chair of the Carver Earth Removal Committee, which grants permits for sand and gravel mining in the town.
July 16th 2024: Mining at the Whaleback ridge.
“The public demands that Governor Healey immediately halt all sand mining operations. Our Sand Wars in Cranberry Country report documents the silent environmental crisis happening here and the shady network of companies evading the law. This must stop”, said Meg Sheehan of CLWC.
“This is a failure on the part of the Town of Halifax and Maura Healey’s administration. Corruption has infected every nook and cranny of this administration and it is disturbing,” said Mary Dormer of Carver Concerned Citizens. “I would like to know when breaking the law became acceptable? The sand mining in Southeastern Massachusetts has to stop. Governor Maura Healey and Secretary Rebecca Tepper need to get their heads out of the sand (or their hands out of these lucrative pockets) and protect the residents and the environment. Enough is Enough.”
The groups say they will keep campaigning against industrial sand mining across the region until people and the environment are protected and the damage to the environment is stopped and remediated.
More information:
Read more about the Halifax mining site at the Whaleback
Sand Wars in Cranberry Country and 10 minute video
Community Land and Water Coalition website
Petition for a Moratorium on Sand Mining in Southeastern Massachusetts
Contacts:
Meg Sheehan, Coordinator, Community Land & Water Coalition
environmentwatchsoutheasternma@gmail.com
Tel. 508-591-5522
Mary Dormer, Carver Concerned Citizens
carverconcernedcitizens@gmail.com
Tel. 718-450-5600
I met this woman last night on the beach watching th sunset on East Monponsett pond. Amazing sunset. She told me to look this up.
This is aweful. Corporate greed.
Thank you so much for your comment. In southeastern Mass, entire forests, hills, and landscapes are being lost to sand mining. Sand mining is incredibly lucrative, there is huge incentive to dig up the sand, and no one is keeping an eye on this activity. This sand also provides the aquifer for our drinking water. The State must step in!