A proposed gravel and sand excavation business near Lake Road in Suffield, Connecticut, has some Southwick and Suffield residents concerned about heavy equipment noise, traffic, and water quality issues due to the operation’s location near the South Pond of Congamond Lake. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Residents of both Southwick and Suffield are worried a gravel and sand excavation business in Suffield, Conn., could affect their water.
Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown said 30-40 residents of the two towns attended a Southwick Water Commission meeting last week to discuss the situation.
“This is in Suffield, but it’s located within the Zone 2 area of Great Brook in Southwick, so it’s an area of concern,” said Brown.
Lakeroad Materials is the mining company proposing to reopen excavation of the land, which was previously mined for sand and gravel. The land is located not far from South Pond on the Congamond Lakes. The operation ceased for about a decade and is set to start up again.
Because the land is in Suffield, Southwick has no authority over the project.
“Even the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) has no say,” said Brown. “The Suffield Zoning Board approved it.”
Brown has spoken with the CTDEEP and its Massachusetts counterpart and discovered that although the CTDEEP has no regulatory control over the project, owners of the property have been following the department’s guidelines.
“They seem to be complying with CTDEEP recommendations,” he said. “But it is over an aquifer and I have asked that the concerns of Southwick residents be considered.”
Water quality for drinking and the lakes is of concern, said Brown.
“This is a mining operation, so there is the potential for run-off into the lake,” said Brown. “They’re going to be excavating material, so they could be changing the drainage patterns into the lakes.”
Suffield residents complained not only about their concerns about water quality, but the approval process. A group of Suffield residents joined together to form the Congamond Lakes Environmental Protection Organization and has an attorney fighting the project on its behalf.
Brown said he believes “the landowners have a right to start their operation” while the case goes to court.
The aquifer supplies water to residents of Southwick, Westfield and West Springfield.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Brown said. “We are monitoring the situation.”
The Suffield Zoning and Planning Board held a continued hearing for a Special Permit Renewal for a Sand & Gravel Pit located at Griffin Road June 16. The applicant was Lakeroad Materials, LLC.
Attorney Joseph Flynn represented the applicant along with Marek Kement, P.E. of Anchor Engineering. They presented a revised plan that included several changes to the original application, including limiting the active area to five acres, which will move with the excavation activities. Truck traffic is anticipated to be no more than a maximum of 70 loaded trips per day of operation. Signage has been proposed at the entrance of Lake Road off of Copperhill Road to warn of the one lane road ahead and work being done.
A dozen residents of Suffield spoke during the hearing, most expressing concerns about heavy equipment, truck traffic, fuel leakage and environmental impact. Several asked what step they could take to bring their concerns beyond the board. None of the residents who spoke expressed concerns about water quality.
