Ecology

The CCA quarry operation in Freetown has not been reviewed by the Freetown Conservation Commission. The Freetown Conservation Commission has not expressed any plan to actively monitor the CCA operation to avoid detrimental impact to the environment. No Environmental Impact Study, hydrology study, prevailing winds study, traffic study or pump test has been performed to determine the impact this project may have on the local ecology.

Neighbors are fearful that the Assonet River may become contaminated with silt, rock dust and chemical contaminates from blasting. Such contamination would have a detrimental effect on plant life, aquatic life and wildlife along the river.

A copy of CCA's NIOs for compliance with state water quality standards was requested by residents from the Freetown Conservation Commission and was never received. CCA has not informed the public about how they plan to address significant storm events for storm water discharges. Berkley residents hired a hydrologist to review the same hydrology report that was also submitted by CCA to Freetown. This expert found the report to be inadequate and lacking any real hard scientific data to reasonably predict the effect of the operation on wetlands, groundwater and private wells. The this hydrologist also warned that the quarry would act as a giant well, drawing water away from the neighboring private water supply wells.

Blasting can affect water levels in the groundwater and consequently may affect water levels in other nearby surface bodies of water - such as the wetlands, Quaker Brook, the Assonet River and Forge Pond. The land the quarry operation is sited on is part of the Taunton River Watershed and is shown on the Natural Heritage Map to be a location that supports living waters. Blasting conducted on the site has a serious potential to create groundwater contamination.

The operation is close to a bird sanctuary that is part of the environmentally unique Assonet Cedar Swamp as well as several forested conservation properties. The noise, dust and ground vibrations from blasting will greatly diminish public enjoyment of these lands as well as impacting wildlife.