ROUTE 44 DEVELOPMENT LLC SEEKS STRIP MINE PERMIT
TAKE ACTION:
TELL THE CARVER EARTH REMOVAL COMMITTEE TO VOTE NO ON STRIP MINE PERMIT
ERC Public Hearing Continued to:
January 14th, 2025 at 3pm Carver Town Hall
TELL CARVER PLANNING BOARD
VOTE NO ON MONTELLO STREET STRIP MINE
Planning Board Public Hearing Continued to:
Jan. 14, 2025 at 7pm Carver Town Hall
Massive Earth Removal Threatens Carver’s Sole Source Aquifer and Local Community
Above: Route 44 Proposed Commerce Park, USGS Map and Site Map
A proposed 108-acre earth removal project in Carver, Massachusetts, could have serious consequences for both the environment and local residents. The plan, which involves the removal of 478,000 cubic yards of earth (valued at $7.7 million), includes 50 truck trips per day through a residential neighborhood and a busy intersection on Route 44.
This project is located within the Wetlands Resource Protection Overlay District, as outlined by the Carver Zoning Bylaw, where earth removal is prohibited. The removal of earth, particularly sand and gravel, isn’t just a matter of land development; it poses a direct threat to the Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer, the only drinking water supply for Carver and over 200,000 residents in the region.
December 3rd: The applicant appeared before the Carver Earth Removal Committee (ERC) to request the removal of 478,000 cubic yards of sand, with up to 50 truckloads per day. The ERC will conduct a site visit on December 28th, with a weather date of January 4th. The public hearing will continue on January 7th, 2024.
December 10th: The applicant appeared before the Carver Planning Board requesting three special permits. Residents and board members voiced several concerns regarding the applicant’s request to remove 478,000 cubic yards of sand, especially since the original proposal was to keep all sand and soil on-site, moving it to fill locations and distributing it across the site rather than removing it off-site. With ongoing water quality and quantity issues in Carver, there are concerns about removing such a large amount of sand and soil from a site already contaminated with PFAS, which has been capped on-site.
Other concerns raised by board members were related to the health and safety of pedestrians. This location was proposed as a green business park that residents could use and walk through. The applicant has proposed removing portions of the sidewalks, as well as introducing and increasing hazardous materials on-site, including 500 to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel stored on-site. See the proposed hazardous materials to be used on-site below.
Above: Hazardous Materials Inventory, Page 10 of 111 in the Plan Amendment and Special Permit Application.See full document here.
The Danger to Our Water Supply
Mining operations in Carver have already led to significant concerns about the contamination of this critical aquifer. Sand and gravel play a vital role in filtering and protecting the underground water system, which provides clean drinking water to thousands. However, mining permanently removes these natural filters, leaving the aquifer vulnerable to contamination from pollutants.
In 2024, the Earth Removal Committee (ERC) approved two new mining permits, which together total an alarming 2,935,506 cubic yards of earth removal over 110 acres. Read more about 104 Tremont Street Mining Site Here. Read more about 46 Federal Road Mining Site Here.
These new sites, along with the 50 mining operations already documented in Carver, will exacerbate the ongoing threat to the Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer. If the additional three pending mining applications are approved, the total earth removal for the proposed projects will be 2,894,200 cubic yards over 314 acres.
This massive earth removal project—along with the growing number of mining sites in Carver—underscores the need for stricter enforcement of local zoning bylaws and more transparent decision-making. The time to act is now before Carver’s water supply is permanently compromised.
Impact To Wetlands:
Above: Page 22/33 Site Plans.
The Mahutchet Brook runs through this site along with multiple other wetlands, river front area, and a potenial vernal Pool.
Take Action:
Attend the Planning Board Meeting and Tell them to vote NO
Stay informed, get involved, and help protect our vital water resources from further damage.
This property is under an Urban Renewal Plan and will require submission of a major plan change to MEPA. Route 44 Development LLC just completed a Fill Management Plan under MADEP so why do they need to REMOVE soil they were just required to put in? Furthermore, Route 44 Development LLC was the old Route 44 Sand and Gravel company that contaminated the soil originally, changed the company name, claimed the land to be blighted to get approval for an Urban Renewal Plan and they now want to put a soil processing plant on the site….you cannot make this up.