Swampscott Aggregate, ERAC near deal

SWAMPSCOTT – After months of disagreement over an earth removal permit for the quarry, Aggregate Industries and the Earth Removal Advisory Committee could be close to hammering out a deal.ERAC Chairman Eugene Barden said if the agreement is approved it would allow Aggregate Industries to run its sand washing operation 24-hours a day from now through September in exchange for shutting down its primary rock crusher at 6 p.m. on Friday evenings now through September.Barden quickly added the proposal has not been approved by ERAC, the selectmen or Aggregate Industries.Attorney Chris Drucas, who represents Aggregate Industries, said the company would continue working with ERAC and neighbors.”This is a situation where the company is trying to work with ERAC and the neighbors,” he said. “This should be a helpful thing and is proof the company is listening. It will help us identify sources of noise and make a determination as to what in the quarry is making what noise.”Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said Aggregate Industries would be allowed to run its sand operation all night tonight in order to conduct sound studies, which would be useful in determining whether the proposed agreement is acceptable.Drucas said as part of the agreement the company would purchase a hand held noise monitor, which ERAC would be able to use upon request.The current permit for quarry operations was scheduled to expire on June 30 but the Board of Selectmen allowed two extensions.Last month at a Board of Selectmen meeting, ERAC recommended issuing a permit without any reduction in the operating hours. ERAC member Milton Fiskel said in the most recent noise studies, quarry operations did not exceed DEP standards at any time.Despite the recommendation of ERAC, the selectmen expressed concerns over the noise from the quarry and asked ERAC and Aggregate Industries to come up with a list of recommendations to mitigate the noise before the Aug. 19 meeting. The Board of Selectmen was unable to vote on issuing a new earth removal permit at its last meeting because the town bylaw does not allow an earth removal permit to be issued without a public hearing, so the Board merely extended an existing permit. The next public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall and the selectmen are expected to vote on the permit the same evening.