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Because of contaminated wells, state says Casella landfill review needs more work
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Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 8:53 PM
Updated Feb 2, 2016 at 9:13 PM
SOUTHBRIDGE – The environmental impact review for Casella Waste Services' proposed expansion of the town-owned landfill requires more work, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew A. Beaton said.
Mr. Beaton issued a certificate Friday stating that Casella will have to substantially complete testing to investigate the source of contamination found in private wells at homes in nearby Charlton.
The testing had recently been mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Mr. Beaton wrote that the final environmental impact review did not adequately and properly comply with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, and he required the submission of a supplemental final environmental impact report.
The Casella project entails the approximately 20-acre expansion of an existing 51-acre landfill, and creation of a new approximately 14-acre disposal area. The company does business locally as Southbridge Recycling and Disposal Park.
The project is proposed in multiple phases and is intended to expand the life of the landfill by about nine years, to 2026, based on a construction cycle that would begin in March 2017 and end in 2024.
Mr. Beaton said that based on a review of the final environmental impact review, consultation with state agencies and a review of comment letters, he determined that the project warrants the preparation of a supplemental review to assess potential environmental impacts and ensure that the project is designed to avoid, minimize and mitigate damage to the environment.
More than 2,000 signatures from Charlton, Southbridge and Sturbridge residents petitioning to stop the proposal were submitted to the MEPA office in Boston on Jan. 22, the deadline for offering comments to the agency.
My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
A Casella dump could still happen here in Templeton.
ReplyDeleteIt takes eternal vigilance to prevent these mega dumps in your community.
DEP doesn't care - they need a place for "solid waste"
EPA doesn't care - They need places for "solid waste'
Your local Board of Health is the department in charge of permitting and site assignments for dumps.
Stay aware of what is going on in the communities around Templeton. It CAN happen here! It almost happened HERE!