Please Help Us Save Forest Lake
What Do We Know So Far? See Blog Post Below
What could possibly go wrong with siting a mega-dump on 1900 acres
only 2000 feet from Forest Lake?
News Updates Relative To The "Granite State Landfill"
DES Wetlands Bureau Casella Wetlands Permit Application Missing Vital Information
Please write to NH DES and urge them to DENY the wetlands permit at:
To: wetlandsapplicationpubliccomments@des.nh.gov
CC: craig.rennie@des.nh.gov
Subject: Wetlands Application #2020-02239
From The Caledonian-Record:
"Although Casella representatives previously told the public that the landfill would not be visible, Rennie said it appears the finished grades of the landfill will be higher in elevation than the land’s height toward Forest Lake and the state park, and visual and aesthetic impacts must be further assessed.
For the 397-acre state park and surrounding areas that the state says play a supporting role in regional recreation, DES is asking Casella to provide in greater detail whether impacts from the project could “eliminate, depreciate or obstruct the commerce, recreation or aesthetic enjoyment of the public” as outlined under state law.
It is also not clear how “the downstream high-value Alder Brook wetland complex and ultimately the Ammonoosuc River’s water quality will be protected if treatment of landfill runoff fails or if the landfill liners develop leaks over time,” said Rennie." Full story: Click Here
Casella VP Brian Oliver Letter To Dalton BOS Urging HCA Negotiations
Meanwhile stonewalling on zoning application...Perhaps hoping HCA negotiations would provide credibility to NH DES for project while hoping for a zoning vote defeat in March?
Ammonoosuc River LAC (Local Advisory Committee) Notifies NHDES Wetlands Bureau of its disapproval
"Considering factors of topography, natural resources, socio-economics, and safety, the LAC members in attendance were in accord that selection of the landfill location should be based on criteria related to the environmental and hazardous material management. It is recommended that the Dalton site selected for the new landfill does not appear to be a suitable location for multiple reasons. In addition, the Ammonoosuc River having been selected for two upstream landfill sites (existing landfill in Bethlehem and proposed site in Dalton) makes it seem like the responsibility has unduly been put on one river to carry the landfill burden, which is unfair to the downstream communities." Full Letter To NHDES
Past Letters From Dalton & Bethlehem Conservation Commissions (Same Arguments Exist TODAY)
Bethlehem Selectmen To See If Landfill Access Violates Settlement Agreement
New Casella Mailer To Dalton Residents With Some Misleading Info And Notes From Us Regarding This
NH DES Questions Casella Over NCES Capacity (We Think They Are OVER)
Bethlehem Board of Selectmen Elect To Seek Legal Counsel Over Casella Expansion Into Dalton (ROW)
Casella and NH DOT Meeting Minutes From January 2020
That's right, looks like 100 WB-67 Tractor Trailers will be rolling thru Whitefield!
Click here for link to meeting minutes doc in our files section
Dalton Select Board Takes Next Step After Casella Offer
One week after Casella Waste Systems made its formal offer of $71 million over 25 years to the town of Dalton in support for a landfill beside Forest Lake State Park, selectmen took their next step — looking into the zoning question.
Since July 2019, Dalton has had temporary emergency zoning (coming out a special town meeting in 2019 in response a possible landfill), and the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday voted 3-0 to enlist the town attorney to look into the zoning application process.
Casella Makes Formal Offer To Town Proposal Worth $71 Million During 25-year Period
Representatives of Casella Waste Systems on Monday made their formal money offer to the town - one they said includes homeowner compensation for any devalued properties - in return for the town’s support of a landfill beside Forest Lake State Park.
The company’s engineer also said permits are now being filed. The state wetlands permit application for the privately owned commercial landfill, which, if approved, would be called the Granite State Landfill, was expected to be filed Tuesday, Sept. 1, said Casella engineer Joe Gay.
North Country:Residents Want Status Of Casella Projects In Dalton, Bethlehem
Although no application has been submitted by Casella Waste Systems for its proposed landfill in Dalton, an official with the state environmental services department said two applications for needed permits for the project could be submitted this month.
That comes out of a July 23 remote meeting that state Rep. Andrew Bouldin, D-Manchester, at the request of several North Country residents, scheduled with representatives of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, whose solid waste management director, Mike Wimsatt, fielded two dozen questions from area residents about the status of the company’s plans in Dalton and Bethlehem.
A Dark Day For NH: DES Approves NCES Expansion
Stage VI Expansion Approved By NH DES Confirms Policy Abdication To Solid Waste Industry
Conservation Law Foundation Files Appeal To Waste Management Council: Legal Docs Filed
NHPR News Story On CLF Appeal: Advocates Appeal State Approval Of Bethlehem Landfill Expansion
WasteDive story on CLF Appeal: Casella receives expansion approval for New Hampshire landfill facing lawsuit
Town of Littleton BETRAYAL of the North Country: Letter of SUPPORT For Stage VI Expansion
A Sad Day For NH: NH DES Approves NCES Stage VI Expansion, Paves Way For Dalton Landfill in 2026
Both Congressional Candidates Disagree With NHDES decision on expansion during WMUR debate
UPDATE: 2nd Effort To Expand NCES Landfill Permit Hearing Video: August 25, 2020 Video Click Here
(You Can Still Send Your Comments Opposing The Permit To NH DES Until September 18, 2020)
Is Casella Over Capacity in Bethlehem? NH DES Requests Detailed Survey 9/1/2020
Caledonian-Record Article About 2nd Hearing August 28, 2020
March, 2020: Due to its failure to show public benefit given that NH currently has enough landfill capacity to handle its own waste:, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. (NCES), has withdrawn its application to expand the NCES landfill located in Bethlehem, NH into an area referred to as Stage VI. As such, NHDES will render no decision on the application (even though they did notify Casella of the pending denial). NCES’ withdrawal letter and NHDES’ letter acknowledging the withdrawal are available in our "files" section and here: NH DES "Denial" of permit application
"...NHDES projects that, at the current average daily waste receipt rate, Stage V of the (NCES)facility will run out of operational capacity on or before April 29, 2020, about one year short of the minimum permitted operating life. NH DES Director of Waste Management Letter to Casella From Oct 2019
Toxics Action Center Joint Press Release 2/13/2020
Casella Faces New Hampshire Landfill Setback: WasteDive Article
Is The NCES Landfill In Violation Of Its Stage V Permit ?
DES Sends Letter To NCES Questioning Existing Capacity For Stage V Permit
(We Think They Are OVER!)
NH DES has apparently deemed the PLAN B permit application for Stage VI complete and there will be another hearing August 25, 2020) Let's get this possible future Superfund site closed down and #FreeBethlehem! Please read thru these public comments from the PLAN A permit application that was "denied/withdrawn" as there is a lot of good info to use for this next round of testimony!
Dec 2019 Public Comments/Testimony Let's call for CLOSURE and #FreeBethlehem!
Video of the August 8, 2020 protest at the NCES landfill in Bethlehem
More On Casella Waste Systems
Additional News Stories About Controversial Casella Waste Systems
More info is uploaded in our "Files" section as there is so much data about this company
New Hampshire State Parks Director REJECTS Casella "offer" of financial assistance for Forest Lake
Casella Attorney Tries To To Open Up Back Room Talks With Dalton: Selectboard Says NO
Mainers try to close loophole on out of state waste: Casella has long taken advantage of
Casella's Controversial History in Hardwick, MA: 23 Minute Video Details Dramatic Impact on town
A not so flattering look at Casella Waste Systems in Bethlehem, NH: 2009 YouTube Video John Casella Gets Green Award And Questioned About Bethlehem
From 2005, A Detailed Report On Controversial Casella: Coming To A Community Near You?
Casella's controversial history in Maine: I would rather shake hands with a rattlesnake
Casella tries to take advantage of Covid-19 crisis in VT: Seeks Delay Of July 1 Food Waste Ban
More bad news for Casella-operated landfill in the Finger Lakes of New York state:
Casella Gets New Violation Notice For Odors
Not Much Has Changed In Six Years: Odor Complaints In The News 2014
Class-Action Lawsuit Filed By Over 1000 Plaintiffs In NY v Casella Over Odor, Declining Property Values
Click Here For Story And Court Docs
High readings for PFAS found in Montpelier and Newport VT wastewater plants:
The 2 plants cited regularly accept landfill leachate from Casella landfill
Video of Casella CEO John Casella at Jan 2020 Newport Meeting on landfill leachate:
Casella: "The science says there is no health risk to humans or to the environment" (from PFAS)
Casella’s interest is their bottom line, not their community:
A response to ‘Why weren’t we in the room?’
Casella CEO John Casella Wants To Give Town of Dalton $50K-$100K:
Landfill Opponent Files Complaint Of “Influence Peddling” With NHAG
Coventry, VT Landfill Tanker Crash Causes Contaminant Spill
Early Morning Accident Spill Of 8000 Gallons Near Black River
Casella Greed On Full Display At Hakes NY Landfill:
Little Concern Shown As Plaintiffs Sue Over Radioactive Fracking Waste
Casella Bypasses Maine Law Prohibiting Out Of State Trash:
Juniper Ridge Landfill To Receive More Toxic Sludge
Casella CASHING IN On Recycling Crisis It Helped To Create (Westbrook, ME Story)
Note High Contamination Rate For "Zero-Sort" Recycling (40-60% Contamination)
Casella in Potsdam, NY: Waste Stream Inc. SuperFund Site Remediation (Tax Abatement Sought):
Village left with contaminated wetlands and “a whole bunch of worthless property.”
Hyland Landfill Issues From Angelica, NY
Damning commentary about Casella's impact in Angelica, NY
Here's Another Website Dedicated To Casella's Bad Reputation: Click Here
Oh, but wait, here's another! Warnings from Bethlehem and Southbridge residents about Casella
State Presses Casella On PFAS, Dioxane Contamination At Bethlehem Landfill
A Pattern Of Behavior: Southbridge, MA & Bethlehem, NH...
Landfills and the Tie that Binds: Southbridge and Bethlehem
Is Dalton, NH next? Let's hope not!
"I have seen the name of Southbridge, MA in connection with Casella Waste Management - but I never fully appreciated how much The Town of Bethlehem has in common with The Town of Southbridge. A few seconds of research on the Internet revealed several news articles. The one that quickly caught my attention was in the June 2017 Telegram & Gazette (telegram.com). The article details a lawsuit filed against Casella by two environmental groups and says: “The suit alleges the Southbridge landfill has been releasing toxic pollutants to groundwater for years...”
In the overview, the state director of one of the environmental groups, said Casella consistently employs "sneaky and aggressive strategies" to bully towns and expand their profits. She continued, "Casella's business strategy pattern is to enter communities with an existing trash facility and expand, expand, expand, while trying to disregard local officials and concerned residents."
If this was not hard enough to read and so familiar, the comments by a resident affected by the pollution were just as meaningful: "When you think about how long this has been going on and the fact that Casella is still seeking to expand...It boggles my min...To me, it's proof that they are willing to put profit before people."
Herein is the strongest connection between Southbridge and Bethlehem. That the Casella corporation is described in this article in ways we in Bethlehem have already experienced should be a rude awakening for anyone “on the fence” about this company and make everyone aware of their relentlessly aggressive attempts to convince us to permit them to EXPAND the NCES landfill from 61 to 161 acres, another 100 acres for a mega-dump!
The Casella corporation has some in town believing that a landfill expansion will save us from financial ruin. The fact is our property taxes have already risen – despite Casella dumping TONS of trash from multiple STATES here for YEARS!
That same article about Southbridge describes how contaminants – one a “probable human carcinogen 1,4-dioxane” – have been discovered in “drinking water aquifers and residential drinking wells.” Casella denies responsibility, of course, but another article (February 2017) reported that the Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection “named Casella as the potential responsible party and directed the company to supply bottled water or whole-house filtration systems to the affected homes.”
Bethlehem has spent tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees FIGHTING Casella over the past 20 years and we continue to add legal fees to the budget because of Casella, most recently because they may file for an abatement to decrease their taxes. These legal fees increase our property taxes.
The NCES landfill is on Trudeau Road in Bethlehem, but during the day the mound of trash can easily be seen from Route 302 in both directions, and at night you can see the flame from the torch burning off the gases being released from the trash. This eye sore is a heartbreaking blemish on the beautiful backdrop of our White Mountains!
The Southbridge landfill and its history goes back to before Casella became involved, but once they were – their business model only added to the woes that face this town today – and what could very well be the future of the NCES/Casella landfill here.
We must say no to any future landfill expansions."
Nancy Dickowski, Bethlehem
(THANKS to Build A Better Bethlehem for allowing us to use Nancy's commentary! )
To read even more warnings from Bethlehem and Southbridge residents, click here.
NH HB1319 Passed In NH House, But Covid-19 Stalls It
Video From The House Floor
Video of the March 12, 2020 vote (189-123) to pass HB1319. (First 18 minutes). HB1319 would have gone on to the Senate, except for the Covid-19 pandemic which shut everything down and stalled the bill. It would have created a 2-mile setback for siting a new landfill next to a NH State Park. Currently, the is NO setback requirement! Our other bill, HB1422 to create a moratorium on new landfills was sent to interim study, which basically means it went nowhere, but the original intent of the bill, from our perspective, was removed along the way. Maybe next session? Regardless, awareness RAISED!
News Coverage
House Backs Prohibiting New Landfills Near State Parks
CONCORD — The House Thursday approved a bill that would prohibit siting new or expanding landfills near state parks and federal lands.
If You Wish To Contact The NH Senate
We will need their support for our bill to make it into law next session. Maybe a Senator you know would like to co-sponsor the bill? Please give them a call, write a letter, or send an email and tell them why you want them to support HB1319 next session! Thank you!
About Forest Lake State Park
Forest Lake State Park is a 397-acre state park in Dalton, New Hampshire. The park is free to use and offers a 200-foot sandy beach on the shore of pristine, 196-acre Forest Lake. In fact, it is the ONLY free public beach north of the Notch! Activities in the park include swimming, picnicking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and boating. The park picnic area is home to many weddings and offers a breath-taking, panoramic view of the Presidential Range.
Talking Points #1
Currently, there is NO minimum setback requirement relative to the siting of a landfill next to a NH State Park. Possibly because no one ever envisioned such a silly idea in the first place. Some have argued that the 2-mile setback is an arbitrary number, but we can certainly share plenty of data relative to the financial, environmental and public health impacts suffered by those unlucky to be in close proximity to a landfill.
Talking Points #2
We feel very strongly that, in light of what we know about the negative health impacts of the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, it is crucial that we act pro-actively to prevent the eventual contamination of pristine Forest Lake in the Forest Lake State Park in Dalton, NH. We have learned much about the relationship between landfills, landfill leachate, and the extremely high levels of PFAS present within that toxic mixture of waste. In fact, it should be noted that test wells at the NCES landfill in nearby Bethlehem had elevated levels of PFAS contamination, according to a NH DES site inspection this past Fall, 2019. HB1319, allows the state to act in a preventative manner to keep that family of forever chemicals out of Forest Lake in order to ensure that future generations of Granite Staters and tourists can enjoy swimming at the only public beach in the North Country without risk . Such contamination would also have a far-reaching impact on both the Ammonoosuc and Connecticut Rivers, due to the natural flow of water from neighboring Alder Brook and Burns Pond.
Talking Points #3
HB1319 is crucial to protecting our state parks and surrounding natural resources from the threat of the negative impacts associated with close proximity to an abutting landfill: odor, water, air, and noise pollution, scavengers, heavy truck traffic, all of which would wreak havoc on the surrounding ecosystem, not to mention that eventual 150 foot man-made mountain of garbage that would rise along Dalton Ridge, infringing upon the the scenic views of the Presidential Range from the park.
Talking Points #4
We cannot discount the impact a landfill abutting a NH State Park would have on the state tourism industry, which is a major economic driver for the state of NH. In fact, in fiscal year 2018, state park revenue was a whopping $23 million. The Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources Div. of Parks and Recreation's 2018 financial report noted that “the success of the parks is heavily dependent on weather conditions. Analysis has indicated that rain will reduce revenue from 25 percent to 45 percent at beaches and campgrounds. A 20 percent increase in rainy days could impact day use income by $1.8 million. So, can you imagine what ODOR from an adjacent landfill would do? (Not to mention all of the other negative impacts). Doesn't it make sense to protect all of our state parks from the encroachment of an abutting nuisance like a landfill that could have a detrimental impact on our tourism industry, such a vital source of revenue on many levels, filling local and state coffers.
Talking Points #5
NH DES has worked with Representative Bixby on the wording of HB1319, to ensure that EXISTING landfills in NH will NOT BE IMPACTED by this bill. Despite what some in the industry would have you believe, Mt. Carberry's future expansion plans will NOT be impacted, nor would any other existing landfill as they are excluded in the language.
Final Talking Points
The State of NH does NOT have a landfill capacity crisis, as some in the waste industry will argue. This is a myth advanced by the waste industry lobbyists to maintain the status quo. The 2019 Legislative Report on Waste and Recycling confirms that we have capacity, especially for NH waste. In fact, if you'll note on page 9, footnote 4 of that report, AVRRDD’s Phase III permit application for its Mt. Carberry landfill estimates capacity amounting to another 32 years! We simply do not need another landfill, especially one next to one of our beloved state parks that will guarantee that the flow of out state waste into NH will continue for generations to come! Furthermore, we need to enact the goals of the 2003 Solid Waste Plan in order to reduce what we waste and ultimately what we put in landfills. If we can reduce the volume of waste that we generate by half, we would double the existing capacity and further reduce the need for yet another landfill. However, as a state, we also need to ensure that this does not simply lead to the subsidization of the importation of even more out of state trash by the private, for-profit waste companies.
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
Attention 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!
4 recommended movies: Dark Waters, 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 (SEE ABOVE-WITHDRAWN OVER CAPACITY ISSUES)
NH DES Waste Director Mike Wimsatt’s letter to NCES landfill about capacity non-compliance: http://www4.des.state.nh.us/IISProxy/IISProxy.dll?ContentId=4813515.
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
Video of the July 23rd Public Hearing in Dalton on Zoning: https://vimeo.com/351002596
We WON! Temporary Zoning voted in by voters July 30, 2019 WMUR News Report on Dalton Zoning Vote:
50% Of Trash In NH Landfills Is From Out Of State!
Above: Casella's 500+Acre Landfill Development is 2 1/2 X 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
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
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
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
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 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 20, 2019 at 6:30pm we presented 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)
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!
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
Look for us on Facebook and Twitter!
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.
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