Vermont-based landfill company Casella wants to purchase 1900 acres of land and build a massive landfill directly next to Forest Lake State Park and lake in Dalton/Bethlehem. We have been fighting this battle for 2 years – we’ve gained thousands of supporters against this project, including most of the businesses in the Littleton river district, and the towns of Whitefield, Bethlehem, Twin Mountain, Lisbon, Sugar Hill and Dalton itself.
Casella has submitted their wetlands permit to NHDES, and the permit public comment window is open until September 13. YOUR VOICE will make a difference when you write DES and ask them to DENY the permit.
Please send a short e-mail to:
David.a.price@des.nh.gov
stefanie.m.giallongo@des.nh.gov
wetlandsapplicationpubliccomments@des.nh.gov
Reference: NHDES file number: 2020-02239
You may also copy board@northcountryabc.net if you would like us to feature your letter on our page.
In your e-mail, ask DES to DENY the permit due to massive impacts this project will forever have on the region’s environmental health, especially impacted wetlands, the lake, and a cherished state park. Feel free to reference any of the below talking points:
- The applicant – Casella – has not yet adequately demonstrated need for a project of this size and scope, and therefore has no legitimate basis to fill 16.57 acres of wetlands with trash that is up to 49% from out of state
- The Alternatives Analysis is flawed on the basis of an inadequate assessment of possible sites in other states who will be supplying trash to New Hampshire
- The applicant fails to demonstrate as they stated in their permit application, that “[G]roundwater flow patterns and groundwater levels to adjacent stream and stream systems shall be maintained” in spite of a complete alteration of the surface topography of 137 acres that includes the creation of 30 stormwater detention ponds
- The applicant has failed to demonstrate any consideration for indirect impacts that will affect the immediate buffer zones of 8.66 miles of wetland edge, notably chloride contamination from road salt
- The applicant fails to adequately evaluate the wetland complexes on the site by using the Federal Highways Method for lumped wetlands of various types and classes, including five vernal pools that are embedded in these grouped areas
- The absence of a suitable wetland assessment prevents NHDES from approving an adequate plan for mitigation
- The current landowner has a history of wetland violations and misrepresentation of facts, yet no part of the current application to fill and dredge this same property considers past or cumulative impacts to the same