DALTON, Mass. — Nearly 100 residents turned up at the Board of Health meeting on Wednesday night to complain of dust and particulates coating their neighborhood from Berkshire Concrete and allegedly causing health issues.
The meeting was initially scheduled to be held in the Callahan Meeting Room at Town Hall, but it was relocated to the Senior Center because to the crowd overflow that extended down the hall.
Several demanded that the Board of Health impose an injunction to stop operations at the worksite.
Co-Chair Robert Kinzer emphasized the importance of ensuring that any abatement orders issued are done correctly to prevent anyone from contesting it.
"I would agree it's very difficult to make an order, and I get it. We're all saying it's this, but then other people are saying it's something else, he said. "We have to show the nexus. We have to show that it's injurious, and we have to show the frequency. Those are the three things. And I know everybody here feels like, well, I'm satisfied with that, but you have to satisfy it to a legal standard to issue these abatement orders. And knowing for certain what it is, I think, is paramount."
Residents Ronald and Lynne Griffin presented a map of the affected area, demonstrating how the silicate was blowing across the neighborhood and pictures showing piles of silicate on their back porch.
According to their map, the dig site is a little farther than 300 feet from the closest residential street, off Prospect Street.
Lynne Griffin presented a timeline of her efforts to rectify the situation dating back to September 2024 when they approached the town manager about the situation, which was referred to the Board of Health on Jan. 9.
From there, Ron Griffin spoke to neighbors who expressed similar complaints and communicated with the town departments, the state Department of Environmental Protections, and Berkshire Concrete. Thus far, Lynne Griffin said these efforts have not helped the situation.
"I don't want to hear they're going to put up trees and fences. I want something done now," she said
"And when the wind blows from the west, northwest, and it's 20 to 25 miles per hour, we are covered with sand. And I live here, and I'm sure some people here are covered with it."
Resident Annie Provencher, who lives about 900 feet from the dig site, highlighted her underlying respiratory issue and demonstrated that silicon particles are typically less than 10 micrometers in size and can travel over 300 feet on a calm day.
Lisa Pugh and her husband are abutters at 140 Raymond Drive. She said they did not receive any notification of operations and were "shocked to see this chasm that was so close to our house."
She'd seen a lot of dust and thought it was just windy and dry.
"We need to be protected. We expect our elected officials to protect us. Please do that. Please act in our best interest, and we appeal to you to have the same sense of urgency that we all do here today," Pugh said to applause.
State Rep. Leigh Davis said she came to this Board of Health meeting to help with the situation and will do what she can to expedite any soil testing.
"I'm going to be talking to Mass DEP tomorrow, talk about samples, and see what we can do to expedite this. So, you have the people in the room right now that want to help facilitate this," Davis said.
"So I'm going to be talking to these folks and working with Berkshire Concrete, obviously. So the people in the room that need be are here right now, and we'll make sure all the communication flows."
There were concerns that the company may not be complying with its permit to water down the soil to prevent dust from being carried beyond the quarry and over new digging clearing forested areas.
Berkshire Concrete is in the process of coming up with a plan to mitigate the dust but it is operating within its permit, which was approved in November. When they move along from an area they dig up, they replant trees, said Trevor Leja, associate manager of Berkshire Concrete
"Everything's frozen, and touching it right now is probably the worst thing we can do. It's going to stir up more dust right now with this snowfall," another Berkshire Concrete representative said.
Another resident asked what they thought of the dust that was seen on the Griffins' deck; Leja responded it could have come from several things, including traffic. This response caused an uproar from the audience.
It just snowed that night but we are working on a solution to the concerns from residents, Leja said.
The drought has worsened the conditions, the other company representative said.
For the last couple of weeks, they have not been digging because of the weather conditions and repairs being done, Leja said.
Resident David Pugh said Berkshire Concrete was being "extremely reckless" in its pursuit of projects like the recently completed Margot Connell Recreation Center for Boston College.
"They took out an incredible amount of earth," he said. "They have huge projects. They're making huge money. They want this product."
The silicate in the sand makes the concrete stronger, Pugh said.
The board expected to give an update at its next meeting after follow up with the DEP about testing. Berkshire Concrete will be working on a plan over the next couple of weeks to mitigate the issue and will send the plan over to the board. The next meeting set for March 12 at 4:30 p.m.
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