By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
On June 23, 2020 the Acushnet Selectboard approved the Soil Permit for P.J. Keating. Chairperson Roger Cabral was still at the helm at that meeting and offered the consensus that the Selectboard wanted to add restrictions on operations.
“The Soil Committee has been the front page when deciding the soil permit, however the Selectmen have the ultimate approval authority over the permit,” Mr. Cabral said. “I would like to see us approve this soil permit with the Exhibit A that is attached.”
Mr. Gaspar thanked the soil board for a good job with the document and Mr. Cabral for all his work on the project.
Mr. Cabral read “Exhibit A” for the soil removal permit in for the record.
Board member David Desroches stated it “gives us the opportunity to enforce compliance for the quarry. We have the power to hold P.J. Keating responsible for the health and well being of the Town. We are enforcing compliance tonight.”
Mr. Cabral pointed out that as he was reading he wanted to bring attention in regards to the “street sweeper” section. He said that the street sweeping did not necessarily stop at the Acushnet line. He said it means that P.J. Keating must maintain all roadways whether they are in Acushnet or not. It is a broadened compliance meant for Fairhaven and Alden Road, and/or New Bedford.
Acushnet Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher responded that those were the concerns brought up in Fairhaven at the North Fairhaven Improvement Association meeting that Mr. Cabral and Mr. Desroches attended.
“They also travel on Tarkiln Hill Road in New Bedford and Acushnet Avenue, this would hold them to make them aware and responsible to anything that spills or trickles out of their trucks,” he said.
Conditions include limited hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; sound and visual barriers have to be installed where necessary; trucks must have their loads covered; air brakes are not allowed on local roads; they must use a fog or misting cannon system to control dust.
Asphalt plant operations are still suspended after the Department of Environmental Protection shut down the plant on April 28.
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