NEW BEDFORD — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is stretching its decision on a proposed New Bedford trash transfer facility into 2024. And it’s bringing in sound pollution specialists to help.
MassDEP has granted national waste management company Parallel Products a second extension to reply to its October technical comments on the planned North End expansion. The company has a new deadline of Jan. 30, 2024, according to an agency letter from Dec. 15. The deadline for the agency’s site suitability decision on the facility will also be extended, to Feb. 29, 2024.
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Tim Cusson, vice president of business development at Parallel Products, requested more time to respond to MassDEP’s comments on Dec. 14. He explained that while Parallel’s contractors have completed a new sound survey for the facility, company leadership thought it would be best to take additional time, so that the contractors could write up a “fully comprehensive” report.
In those October comments, MassDEP cited concerns over noise pollution and traffic at the planned facility that were not addressed by the existing application. They asked the company to conduct additional on-site testing and modeling of these on-site conditions, and provide amended data to agency officials.
MassDEP will also involve state-level leaders with the site suitability review process, according to a December email chain with Parallel Products representatives. Cusson said he understands MassDEP is hoping to get more agency officials with more experience in sound assessment involved, with ample time to review the sound report.
He added that while his organization wants this review process “to move expeditiously, allowing MassDEP ample time is a proper response.”
Wendy Morill, president of local environmental group South Coast Neighbors United, said that her organization also appreciates MassDEP’s “commitment to a complete and thorough review” of Parallel Products’ proposed facility.
Yet she expressed concern over the length of the 74-day extension, noting that Parallel Products’ management has had “ample time” to submit updated traffic and noise data. “Had they been sufficient, MassDEP would not need to repeatedly ask for more information,” Morill said.
She added that she wrote to MassDEP multiple times in November asking it to reopen the comment period after Parallel submits the amended data.
“The company has been granted several opportunities to submit more information and we hope MassDEP will afford the community the same courtesy,” she said.
The original deadline for MassDEP to render a decision on the planned North End facility was Nov. 1. Yet Parallel Products and a coalition of local environmental groups requested the state extend its decision deadline. MassDEP pushed its decision on site suitability to Dec. 18; the new Feb. 29 deadline is the second extension.
Parallel Products’ $30 million trash sorting and transfer facility would take in up to 1,500 tons of municipal garbage and construction debris per day from private haulers. It would bring in 75 jobs and an estimated $1 million-plus annually to New Bedford.
Email Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@newbedfordlight.org.
