Casella NCES Landfill Violations, Leachate Test Reports In "Files" Section
Does This Look Like A Good Spot For A Landfill?
WHY WE FIGHT:
Contamination IMPACTS GENERATIONS! We Want To PREVENT THIS!
In The News: Years after discovery, PFOA looms over Bennington residents
BENNINGTON, VT — Sandy Sumner and his wife live in North Bennington in a mint green house he built in 1990, on a hill almost directly above the smokestack of the former ChemFab plant. They have lush perennial flower beds in their backyard overlooking Mount Anthony and used to have a large vegetable patch in front of their house.
But the Sumners have let their vegetable garden return to grass. They are afraid to eat anything grown on their property.
“When you look at my flower gardens, and my beautiful vegetable garden, you had to remind yourself that the soil and groundwater is for the foreseeable future contaminated with chemicals that are very harmful,” Sumner said. “We don’t eat our cherries anymore, we don’t eat our apples anymore.”
... “My wife and I, we were constantly sick,” he said. “We couldn’t keep our windows and doors open. We got headaches, migraines, sore throats, nosebleeds.” Click Here For The Entire Article
AND:
3M, Biosolid (aka garbage sludge) Fertilizer Company Sue NH DES over new PFAS regulations: Click Here
New Hampshire Safe Water Alliance Call To Action! News Report including SFL from WMUR: Click Here
From a website detailing Casella's LONG HISTORY as a bad neighbor and bad business partner: Click Here
It Stinks! Map of Odor Complaints from Casella-run Ontario County Landfill in NY: Click Here
Update: The September 14th Peaceful Protest At Casella's Coventry Landfill Was A HUGE Success! More protesters than ever! Many Groups Involved!: In The News (This story also made it into WasteDive, a national news organization!) Our Sept 28th protest in Bethlehem was also a well-attended success! Page 6 of Union Leader: Click Here
Bethlehem residents with odor/noise complaints relative to the NCES landfill are encouraged to send an email to the new watchdog hotline ReportOdor@yahoo.com with details and the location of the complaint for logging and mapping purposes!
3 recommended movies: Bag It!, Fed Up, and The Devil We Know. These movies will open your eyes!
Podcast Interview of Jon Swan and the Save Forest Lake movement: Click Here
Casella Waiver Request For NCES Landfill Expansion: https://www4.des.state.nh.us/IISProxy/IISProxy.dll?ContentId=4813404
We Got A Mention In The New Hampshire Legislative Committee Report on Waste, 2019: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/statstudcomm/committees/1476/reports/2019%20Final%20Report.pdf
Lowell, MA WWTP Stops Accepting Turnkey Leachate: http://lowellma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9503/PRESS-RELEASE-Wastewater-Utility-to-Suspend-Acceptance-of-Runoff-from-Turnkey-Landfill_11719?bidId&fbclid=IwAR2OrcWAy6p6VoSE1tEp7IkTEhruJaUvLNhMlzDtAtrH54idLdZvogkvaIw
NCES Landfill in Bethlehem tests high for 1,4-Dioxane, PFAS: https://www.nhpr.org/post/state-presses-casella-pfas-dioxane-contamination-bethlehem-landfill?fbclid=IwAR1UcfbAm4jxJyxyZ9SkkBaWVqvM1rq5ZYtBpeto7e1mJGWlVxsjUmUbxx8#stream/0
Please Save Forest Lake For Our Children!
The future speaks!
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Casella Pamphlet And 2nd Mailing For Dalton Voters Highlight Pattern Of Deceptive Lobbying and Misinformation Campaign-How Can We Take Them At Their Word? We Can't!
Note the capacity shortage over the next 20 years. Is that why you’re importing 34% of your Bethlehem trash from out of state? The claim to serve over 150 communities is unfounded as their permit application to DES for the NCES Bethlehem landfill cites only 28!
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50% Of Trash in NH Landfills Is From Out Of State
Above: Casella's 180 Acre Landfill is the size of Forest Lake, tip of the lake shown in blue, bottom right
Share YOUR Thoughts with DES:
Contact Tim Drew, Administrator/Permitting, timothy.drew@des.nh.gov and DES.CasellaLFProject@des.nh.gov
Mike Wimsatt, DES Waste Management Director, is the ultimate decision maker relative to signing off on the landfill permit!
You can say hello to him at: michael.wimsatt@des.nh.gov
The Town of Dalton Special Town Meeting to vote on Emergency Temporary Zoning was held on July 30, 7pm!!
Despite Casella's heavy-handed lobbying, we WON! We can stop this!
We've found 5 violations of the Town of Bethlehem Zoning Ordinance relative to the proposed Casella landfill as those plans would constitute a "Change of Use" by the owner of Douglas Drive, located in Lot 1, Map 406 which is in the Town of Bethlehem (District III) and subject to the Town of Bethlehem Zoning Ordinance. Please contact the town select board and ask them to enforce their zoning laws.
Bethlehem can stop this nightmare from becoming a reality.
Near the end of May, 2019, Casella met with DES Wetlands Bureau for a Pre-Application meeting and has submitted site details, of which we have obtained copies which are uploaded to our "Files" section. We met with the Governor's Director of Public Policy, and the Directors of NH Parks and DES Waste Management, on Thursday, June 20 in Concord. It was a positive meeting, 2 hours long, and all are on notice as to our vehement opposition to this landfill project!
In December, 2018, Casella Waste Systems subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, entered into an option to purchase agreement with J.W. Chipping Corp. covering nearly 1900 acres of land off Douglas Drive in Dalton, Bethlehem, and Littleton adjacent to Forest Lake and Forest Lake State Park! (See file section for docs/site survey)
On April 3, 2019: NCES, J.W. Chipping Corp. President Douglas G. Ingerson, Jr., and Horizons Engineering of Littleton attempted to get Dalton Planning Board approval of a lot line adjustment that would have created a 300 acre lot with no abutters other than J.W. Chipping Corp.
This would have given them the ability to apply for state permits with no notification to the people who would be most affected.
The application was unanimously denied by the Town of Dalton Planning Board since state law requires this type of change to be a Subdivision.
In the meantime, $1.2 million has been paid to the landowner as part of the land deal, see our file section.
A landfill in this location would negatively impact neighbors in Dalton, Bethlehem, Whitefield, and Littleton. The possibility of water pollution at this particular site impacts Forest Lake, which flows into Burns Pond, and the Johns River, which then feeds into the Connecticut River! On the other side of the site, run-off into AlderBrook off of Route 116 will feed right into the Ammonoosuc River! (At least Casella admits that THAT is a proven reality!) We have commenced with baseline water-testing of AlderBrook, Forest Lake, and private wells within the vicinity of this proposed landfill. There is no existing landfill to blame any pollution and contamination on here!
Do you like large garbage trucks? Up to 90 22-wheeled tractor trailers loaded with garbage will be roaring thru the towns of Carroll and Whitefield each day per Casella to access Douglas Drive! There will likely be a need for a traffic light in Whitefield as well as at Douglas Drive and Route 116 to handle the increased traffic! How's that for a regional impact?!
It’s up to all of us to safeguard our environment!
PLEASE WRITE TO DES, YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, AND TOWN SELECT AND PLANNING BOARDS AS THIS WILL IMPACT
ALL OF THE NORTH COUNTRY!!
Let us know if you want a yard sign!! Email Jon at SaveForestLake@yahoo.com
Get Involved! Put A Sign In Your Yard! Like us on FB! Pass A Petition In Your Neighborhood!
A garbage landfill so close to Forest Lake and the Ammonoosuc River has the potential for:
- Groundwater and surface water contamination and pollution in Forest Lake, Burns Pond, Johns and Connecticut Rivers, as well as AlderBrook and the Ammonoosuc River watershed from the landfill byproduct called leachate and air debris
- Fecal contamination from landfill scavengers like seagulls on our land and in our water bodies (a threat to the Loons, too)
- Increase in litter, noise, rodents, and flies, within 1-2 miles
- Air pollution from greenhouse gases and unpleasant odors that will carry for miles
- Destruction of natural habitats could have a drastic impact on fauna and wildlife
- Heavy garbage trailer truck congestion in Whitefield and Twin Mountain (Up to 90 per day!)
- Negative impact on the North Country tourism industry
- Negative impact on property values, which could make some properties impossible to sell!
Help spread the word, PLEASE, write letters to your newspapers !!
courierreporter@salmonpress.news
Did you know? Nearly 50% of the trash going into NCES Bethlehem and Waste Management's Turnkey landfills is imported from out of state, according to DES!! (To stop this, we'd have to eliminate private, for-profit landfills and implement municipal solid waste districts)
We now have signs like the one above...
would you put one in your yard to show your support?
Also, in our files section we have a petition you can circulate amongst your neighbors and friends to inform our elected officials that we do not want a landfill next to Forest Lake!
Sign our online petition:
Help Us!
Please contact your elected officials either by phone or email to let them know that you want them to OPPOSE any effort by Casella Waste Systems to create a landfill next to our beautiful state park!
Public Comment: Tim Drew Administrator/Permitting, timothy.drew@des.nh.gov and
DES.CasellaLFProject@des.nh.gov
PLEASE let DES know how you feel about this!
Rene Pelletier, Asst Dir of Water: rene.pelletier@des.nh.gov
Mike Wimsatt, Dir of Waste Management: michael.wimsatt@des.nh.gov
The people of the North Country DO NOT support this development!!
Other Contacts:
Town of Dalton: www.townofdalton.com
Planning Board: planningboard@townofdalton.com
Select Board: selectmen@townofdalton.com
Town of Whitefield: www.whitefieldnh.org
PB Contact Form: https://www.whitefieldnh.org/user/25/contact
Town of Bethlehem: www.townofbethlehem.org
http://bethlehemnh.org/boards-committees/board-of-selectmen/
Town of Littleton: www.townoflittleton.org
Littleton PB: jray@townoflittleton.org
PLEASE contact YOUR town boards and make sure they weigh in to help stop this very alarming development!
Citizens of the NEK in VT should do the same!
Your State and Fed Reps: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
NH Division of Environmental Services Contacts:
Mr. Robert Scott, Commissioner: robert.scott@des.nh.gov
Mr. Michael Wimsatt, Waste Mgt Div Dir.: michael.wimsatt@des.nh.gov
Mr. Todd Moore, NH DES Solid Waste Admin:
todd.moore@des.nh.gov (603) 271-6467
Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, NH DES Environmental Services Admin:
michael.fitzgerald@des.nh.gov (603) 271-6390
NH Division of Parks & Recreation : nhparks@dncr.nh.gov (603) 271-3556
Phillip Bryce, Director NH Parks: philip.bryce@dncr.nh.gov
Amy Bassett, NH Director of Tourism: amy.bassett@livefree.nh.gov
North Country Council: info@nccouncil.org (603) 444-6303
More about the North Country Council: http://www.nccouncil.org/
The North Country Council Regional Planning Commission and Economic Development District is one of nine regional planning commissions in New Hampshire established by RSA 36:46. The Commission’s region consists of serving 50 communities and 25 unincorporated places in the northern third of New Hampshire.
PLEASE reach out to them to express your opposition to this development.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW North Country Regional Impact Map! How will YOUR town be impacted? Link at the top of this page.
NCC's Regional Plan touts North Country resources and quality of life that this landfill would threaten:
http://www.nccouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCSCI_1and2_MainBodyofPlan.pdf
Casella-Run coventry, Bethlehem, Coakley landfills...Bad Neighbor, Bad Business Partner
Coventry, VT residents complain about ‘foul smell’ from ‘Mount Casella’ landfill
Lake Memphrémagog is already contaminated because of the Casella landfill in Coventry, VT
Groups Sue Casella, Alleging Pollution at Casella's Bethlehem Landfill
More Casella Problems, this time at the Southbridge, MA landfill
North Country Regional Impact Map, Aerials Of Site Proposal (note tip of lake)
additional information/Updates:
Casella picked Dalton for a reason....no local zoning. On July 30th, Dalton voters voted YES to enact local zoning to help save Dalton, Forest Lake, and the North Country from becoming "landfill country" for generations to come. Thank you Dalton!
On July 2, Casella hosted its own BBQ at the Dalton Town Hall on July 2 from 11-1 and 5-7. Why on earth was the Dalton Town website promoting this event? Something stinks in Dalton! No worries, though, we had over 30 people show up with Vote YES! signs, Casella maybe had 6 people show up.
The July 23rd Public Hearing in Dalton was a well-attended event with a packed gymnasium and many wonderful speakers who shared their town's stories of life with Casella. Casella even had the meeting taped without anyone's knowledge that THEY, not the town itself, was taping us. This would be what life in a Casella-run town would be like. We don't need that in Dalton.
On June 22, 2019 the Forest Lake Association voted unanimously to OPPOSE this landfill development!
Our meeting in Concord on June 20th with the Governor's Director of Public Policy, as well as the Directors of DES Waste Management, Wetlands Bureau, and NH Parks went very well. We shared our opinions on the development and learned more about the permitting process. Most of the folks in the meeting had never been to Forest Lake, btw. We also spent some time sharing info at the Concord Market Days NH Sierra Club table.
We now have a "Public Comment" contact at NH DES:
Tim Drew Administrator/Permitting, timothy.drew@des.nh.gov
and copy DES.CasellaLFProject@des.nh.gov Let DES know how you feel about this!
Union Leader 6/21/19: https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/special-town-meeting-set-for-dalton/article_dfb808f2-7b29-5e36-bccb-149ae8ac5d77.html
Please sign our new online petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/300/386/677/save-forest-lake/# Please forward to your friends and family!
We have an old-school paper petition and are collecting signatures to let all of the decision makers know that you and your friends, family, and neighbors oppose this terrible development! Like the Northern Pass, WE can stop this, TOGETHER!
We are on the front page of the Coos Democrat newspaper, 5/29/19 edition!
We have added our new North Country Regional Impact Map pdf to the website! Check it out at the top of this page! It details the potential impact a 2nd North Country landfill could have on the region.
Union Leader coverage of Monday's presentation of petition to enact Emergency Zoning in Dalton : https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/local/dalton-residents-petition-against-possible-landfill-site/article_b60da125-ab9f-5d8a-985a-17cc1203ee82.html
On Monday, May 20th at 6:30pm we will be presenting to the Town of Dalton Selectboard our petition, signed by registered voters in the Town of Dalton, calling for a special meeting (RSA 39:3) in which voters can empower the Town of Dalton with Emergency Temporary Zoning and Planning Ordinances (RSA 674: 24-29)
Please email the Selectboard and Planning Board stating your support and ask them to support it ! town.clerk@townofdalton.com and planningboard@townofdalton.com
In particular, we like this statute: (RSA 674:24) I. No business, commercial or industrial venture or use shall be permitted which could cause any undue hazard to health, safety or property values or which is offensive to the public because of noise, vibration, excessive traffic, unsanitary conditions, noxious odor, smoke or other similar reason
From the Union Leader, Friday 5/17:
Nice topo/street map to print off w/approx site of landfill, roads, waterways: https://caltopo.com/m/NU4R
Excellent topo map of the proposed landfill site between AlderBrook and Forest Lake:
Save Forest Lake was on NH NPR on Monday, May 6
https://www.nhpr.org/post/early-plans-new-landfill-north-country-draw-swift-backlash#stream/0
Good News! The May 1st Dalton Planning Board meeting resulted in a decision to send out a letter to the North Country Council deeming the Casella Waste Systems proposal to create a Dalton Landfill a "development of regional impact" , thus giving those towns which may be impacted by said development to have abutter status and the right to receive notice and give testimony at future hearings regarding the proposed development. Hopefully this will help to defeat this inane plan to create a landfill next to a large lake!
We had a very positive meeting at Forest Lake with representatives from Senator Shaheen, Senator Hassan, and Congresswoman Kuster's offices! We're hoping for visits from all 3 sometime this summer to hear our concerns about this mistake by the lake! We think it a good idea to hold a similar meeting with our state representatives as a development of this size over a span of 25 years could radically alter the North Country for GENERATIONS! We'll keep you posted!
Look for us on Facebook!
Link to Forest Lake State Park: https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/forest-lake-state-park
YARD SIGNS ARE HERE! Please let us know if you want one in your yard or waterfront. Big THANK YOU to our generous donors who are helping to share the financial costs of this battle to save our little gem in the North Country! **Note: Pro-Casella thieves have stolen over 75 of our signs, so keep your eyes open and report them to the State Police at (603) 846-3333 Troop F Barracks
wetland complex located below Burns Pond and near the Town’s largest water supply well. There was abundant sign of several species of wildlife, including beaver at this site. Did you know that Forest Lake drains into burns pond?
We Cannot Allow Further Contamination Of Our Water Supply
NHDES Consolidated List of Waterbodies Subject to RSA 483-B, the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act (SWQPA)
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wetlands/cspa/documents/consolidated_list.pdf
Rivers and Streams In Dalton- Where River/ Stream becomes jurisdictional under the SWQPA :
Connecticut River - Designated Segment From the outlet of Fourth Connecticut Lake to the New Hampshire/Massachusetts state line.
Connecticut River Juncture of Scott Brook in Pittsburg Gilman Dam
Johns River Juncture of Carroll Stream in Whitefield
Lakes and Ponds in Dalton:
Forest Lake
Gilman Dam
Rivers and Streams in Whitefield- Where River/ Stream becomes jurisdictional under the SWQPA :
Johns River- Juncture Caroll Stream
Lakes and Ponds in Whitefield:
Forest Lake
Burns Pond
Articles On Groundwater Contamination:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/mgwc-gwc1.pdf
https://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/groundwater/contamination.html
What is 1,4-Dioxane? (Found in Bethlehem Water Report, along with Arsenic and Manganese)
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=953&tid=199
What are PFAS: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas
GenX The New Carcinogen: https://www.ewg.org/release/epa-genx-nearly-toxic-notorious-non-stick-chemicals-it-replaced
Casella Sued By Environmental Group For Water Contamination in Massachusetts:
Aquifers and Groundwater: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/aquifers-and-groundwater?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
From Whitefield Natural Resources Inventory
There are three types of groundwater aquifers: Stratified-drift; till; and bedrock. Stratified-drift aquifers are an important source of ground water for commercial, industrial, domestic, and public-water supplies in the State of New Hampshire. Approximately 14% of land surface in the State is underlain with Stratified-drift aquifers.
In and around Whitefield they consist of stratified, sorted, principally coarse-grained sediments (sands and gravels) deposited by glacial melt-water during the time of deglaciation. Approximately 5.9 mi2 (3,766 acres) or just over 17% of the area of Whitefield is Town of Whitefield 17 Natural Resource Inventory for Whitefield, NH underlain with Stratified-drift and Till Aquifers. These are located mostly along the Johns River floodplain and Burns Pond flowage, but also found in other areas of the Town Whitefield also contains 1.26 acres of documented fractured bedrock aquifers; two areas located in the southern end of town at the town line with Bethlehem along Route 116, one on either side of the highway. Wells used by communities and private landowners draw groundwater from aquifers. The stratified-drift aquifers represent the greatest potential groundwater source for the Town of Whitefield. These aquifers represent potential usable water sources for municipal purposes and should be protected to insure their future quality and availability.
Help Us Save Forest Lake
Thank you for donating!
We've had some very generous donors come forth, and as a result, we have yard signs to distribute locally,
akin to the Northern Pass battle.
Let us know if you want one for your yard!
Your support and contributions will help continue to fund our mission.
(8/15/19: We need to order more yard signs soon, $355 cost for 100, so please donate if you can!)
