Thumbnail for Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 7/18/23

Hardwick Board Reviews Casella Landfill Expansion Proposal

Original title: Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 7/18/23

These meeting notes are AI-generated and unofficial. They are provided for convenience and are not official Town records or approved municipal minutes. Verify all details using the source video and official Town documents.

Meeting details

Date

July 19, 2023

Duration

19m

Decisions

3 recorded

Action Items

9 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen convened to receive a detailed presentation from Casella regarding a proposed expansion and modernization of the existing Hardwick landfill, in conjunction with the adjacent David G. Rogers & Sons gravel pit. The proposal outlined plans for a state-of-the-art, low-emission facility accepting municipal solid waste and construction & demolition debris, projecting significant financial benefits for the town through host fees and leachate treatment revenue. The board acknowledged receipt of the proposal, approved sharing the presentation with the public, and confirmed future informational meetings for residents, initiating a multi-year permitting and local approval process.

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Discussion Highlights

Casella presented a proposal to reopen and expand the Hardwick facility, constructing a state-of-the-art, low-emission landfill.
The proposed landfill would cover 48 acres, accepting approximately 350,000 tons per year of non-hazardous solid waste (MSW and C&D).
Projected benefits for Hardwick include an estimated $500,000 annually from leachate treatment at the Gilbertville wastewater treatment plant and a host fee of $6.00 per ton.
Casella outlined a robust regulatory and permitting process, including local approvals, MEPA, and MassDEP review, with multiple opportunities for public input.
Key local actions requiring town vote include road relocation/termination (Petro Hollow Road), a bylaw amendment for structure height (from 630 ft to 850 ft), re-zoning the landfill area as industrial, and a zoning amendment to permit landfill use within the industrial district.
A town landfill oversight program, including a town-managed monitor and third-party engineering support, was proposed.
The project timeline estimates facility operation by 2028, following a permitting phase from November 2023 to 2026 and subsequent construction.
The board requested the presentation slides be shared publicly on the town website.
Informational meetings for residents to discuss the project were confirmed.

Transcript (2,337 words)

Lightly cleaned for readability. Each timestamp opens the video at that point.

00:00:00
We'll open this lookman's meeting I am going to hand this meeting over to Eric volheim because there's some potential conflicts clarification so Eric the meeting is now yours thank
00:00:22
You the uh to the presenters I uh the rumors are that you have something to put before the select board I'd like to open it up to you to do that
00:00:40
Can you hear me you're on you're on racy and they hear me
00:00:59
There's so many people I'm looking I make sure that they think and the twins hear me I don't think so yes we can hear you oh okay okay now this is Tracy
00:01:19
Foreign
00:01:59
We don't know more than rumor at this point happy to have you uh explain why we're here absolutely and uh thank you so much for the opportunity here to discuss what we think is a very
00:02:17
Exciting project my name is Brian Oliver I'm vice president with Casella we have Tracy Markham who's our environmental compliance manager and that of course Dan and Daryl who are also involved in this project with us so I'm going to share a presentation
00:02:38
With you is that something you have to allow me to do I do I'm sorry what's your name again lion Oliver He's listed as B Oliver Nicole
00:02:59
The only problem is I'm gonna make you host you can share your screen and then you're gonna have to admit all because we can't do co-hosts in this so if people come in you'll have to let them in I'm sorry okay we might cap out at 100 I'm not sure but we are on YouTube as well

[00:00:00] uh we'll open this lookman's meeting [00:00:04] uh I am going to hand this meeting over [00:00:07] to Eric volheim because there's some [00:00:10] potential conflicts [00:00:15] clarification [00:00:17] so Eric the meeting is now yours thank [00:00:22] you [00:00:24] um [00:00:25] the uh to the presenters I uh the rumors [00:00:28] are that you have something to put [00:00:31] before the select board [00:00:33] I'd like to open it up to you to do that [00:00:40] can you hear me [00:00:44] you're on you're on [00:00:52] racy [00:00:56] and they hear me [00:00:59] there's so many people I'm looking I [00:01:00] make sure that they [00:01:06] think and the twins hear me [00:01:11] I don't think so yes we can hear you oh [00:01:13] okay okay [00:01:16] now this is Tracy [00:01:19] foreign [00:01:59] we don't know [00:02:01] more than rumor at this point [00:02:04] um [00:02:05] happy to have you uh explain why we're [00:02:08] here [00:02:09] absolutely and uh thank you so much for [00:02:13] the opportunity [00:02:14] here to discuss what we think is a very [00:02:17] exciting project [00:02:19] uh my name is Brian Oliver I'm vice [00:02:21] president with Casella we have Tracy [00:02:24] Markham who's our environmental [00:02:26] compliance manager and that of course [00:02:29] Dan and Daryl who are also involved in [00:02:32] this project with us [00:02:34] so I'm going to share a presentation [00:02:38] with you [00:02:42] is that something you have to allow me [00:02:45] to do I do [00:02:46] I'm sorry what's your name again [00:02:48] lion Oliver [00:02:53] He's listed as B Oliver Nicole [00:02:59] the only problem is I'm gonna make you [00:03:01] host you can share your screen and then [00:03:03] you're gonna have to admit all because [00:03:04] we can't do co-hosts in this [00:03:08] so if people come in you'll have to let [00:03:10] them in I'm sorry [00:03:11] okay we might cap out at 100 I'm not [00:03:14] sure [00:03:16] um but we are on YouTube as well [00:03:18] I'm sorry if you don't mind Eric I'll [00:03:21] just kind of let everybody know that [00:03:23] we're not unmuting anybody we're not [00:03:25] allowing anybody to chat so if you [00:03:27] wanted to get on YouTube [00:03:29] um if the zoom is full then that's where [00:03:31] this is only for viewing only there's no [00:03:34] participation [00:03:37] thank you [00:03:48] right now [00:03:49] and then grab that you can share [00:03:57] a few [00:04:00] another dinosaur huh [00:04:04] you got it [00:04:06] oh so [00:04:10] um [00:04:10] I'd like to start out [00:04:12] talking about uh this slide Who We Are [00:04:16] Cassell has been in existence for almost [00:04:19] 50 years as you can see [00:04:21] we're a resource management company with [00:04:24] a proven record [00:04:29] and as you can see Cassell has the [00:04:32] necessary resources to be very [00:04:34] successful in completing and managing a [00:04:37] project like what we're going to talk [00:04:39] about [00:04:48] so our proposal is to reopen the [00:04:50] existing hardwood facility in [00:04:53] conjunction with the adjacent David G [00:04:56] roach and Sons Gravel Pit [00:05:00] struck the state-of-the-art low emission [00:05:02] landfill [00:05:03] accepting Solid Waste non-hazardous [00:05:08] this project is significantly [00:05:12] size and combat [00:05:14] than what was contemplated about 20 [00:05:16] years ago [00:05:19] about 48 Acres [00:05:21] and 10 of the Acres relays the existing [00:05:26] landfill facility and then 38 acres is [00:05:31] within the adjacent Gravel Pit [00:05:34] we are talking [00:05:36] uh [00:05:37] Friday [00:05:38] for from 7 A.M to 4 P.M operation [00:05:42] Saturday 7 A.M to 11 30. [00:05:46] uh we will abide by all local and state [00:05:50] regulations and ordinances for truck [00:05:53] routes [00:05:54] there we expect about 50 trucks a day [00:05:58] and these trucks will not go through [00:06:01] the town of [00:06:03] we propose to accept approximately 350 [00:06:08] 000 tons a year of MSW and c and d [00:06:13] to an average of average of about 1125 [00:06:16] tons a day [00:06:18] and we do view this as an exceptional [00:06:21] opportunity for the town for Casella [00:06:24] you can provide the state of [00:06:25] Massachusetts [00:06:26] with much needed disposal capacity [00:06:30] excuse me sir could you uh explain MSW [00:06:33] and CND [00:06:35] yes sorry [00:06:36] sorry uh so msw's Municipal Solid Waste [00:06:40] what would come out of your household [00:06:42] and C D is construction and demolition [00:06:45] debris [00:06:46] debris so for instance if you tear down [00:06:48] a bill [00:06:49] you know remodel your [00:06:51] of that nature [00:06:53] thank you yep [00:06:56] uh this is the Hardwick facility design [00:07:01] map [00:07:02] so as you can see by the green line that [00:07:06] is the existing landfill property [00:07:09] the yellow line is the existing landfill [00:07:12] limit of [00:07:17] we're the way [00:07:19] the waste and the purple line would be [00:07:22] the landfill expansion area [00:07:24] limit of waste waste inside the gravel [00:07:27] pad [00:07:29] so this uh landfill would be 10 acres in [00:07:32] the yellow 38 acres in the purple total [00:07:36] of about 48 [00:07:43] 40 uh just a little bit more about it in [00:07:45] terms of the technology there would be a [00:07:48] instant [00:07:50] the air order [00:07:52] structure and that's [00:07:54] a robust gas collection system [00:07:58] a proper daily and intermediate cover [00:08:01] daily monitoring misting systems things [00:08:04] like that [00:08:05] to [00:08:07] minimize the odor [00:08:09] we we would anticipate [00:08:12] in a week [00:08:14] a week with a town [00:08:15] to be able to take the leachate from the [00:08:17] landfill to the Gilbertville wastewater [00:08:19] treatment plant [00:08:21] that will be a revenue source for the [00:08:24] town of Hardwick we would have paid that [00:08:25] to be [00:08:27] two thousand dollars a year [00:08:29] and we also look at the potential of [00:08:33] some sort of a renewable natural gas [00:08:37] as well [00:08:38] ensuring the methane gas and turning [00:08:41] that in that in sort of a renewable [00:08:43] component we'd look at that as we as we [00:08:46] move forward in the project [00:08:48] uh it will go through a very robust [00:08:52] review and permitting process [00:08:55] just to give you an idea and I'll talk [00:08:56] about it later in the presentation [00:09:00] [Music] [00:09:01] very we've got meepa [00:09:06] through the state [00:09:08] um [00:09:09] besides suitability [00:09:11] authorization extract authorization to [00:09:14] operate so there are a lot of typical [00:09:17] points through the process where [00:09:19] there'll be a lot of folks getting [00:09:21] involved in [00:09:28] that so looking at what we would [00:09:32] present for benefits to the town [00:09:37] the agreement between Hardwick and and [00:09:39] Casella for the life of Phil [00:09:41] we expect this smaller version to last [00:09:44] anywhere from 12 to 13 years [00:09:47] and then of course [00:09:49] form all the closure and post-closure [00:09:51] requirements [00:09:53] uh some of the value of the host [00:09:55] agreement we would propose a host fee of [00:09:58] six dollars per ton [00:10:01] of Hardwick and on 350 000 tons a year [00:10:04] that [00:10:05] 1 million [00:10:08] four we expect [00:10:10] ingly 500 [00:10:12] 0 in leech [00:10:18] leachate so total there would be about [00:10:22] and we'd like to [00:10:25] like whatever renewable energy project [00:10:27] we could come forward with some sort of [00:10:30] uh Revenue sharing associated with that [00:10:33] with the town [00:10:38] at length a little later [00:10:41] uh one of the good aspects of this we [00:10:44] think [00:10:48] the roaching some incense will be [00:10:50] involved [00:10:51] in all operations [00:10:52] so there'll be certainly a local [00:10:54] presence there helping us out [00:10:57] and then [00:10:59] you know obviously as we talked earlier [00:11:01] we will develop older [00:11:03] Odin coordination with the town [00:11:06] we would also expect to have a town [00:11:10] landfill oversight [00:11:13] so the ability for town to have a [00:11:15] landfill monitor an engineering [00:11:18] resource [00:11:21] third-party folks [00:11:23] trained certified [00:11:25] that would be managed by the town and [00:11:29] you could use them to monitor [00:11:37] so to give you just kind of a proposal [00:11:39] of the timeline [00:11:42] obviously July a select board meeting [00:11:46] presentation which we're doing [00:11:48] we would expect in the fall of this year [00:11:51] that there would have to be a town [00:11:53] meeting and [00:11:54] on the next slide [00:11:56] from November to 2023 to 2026 [00:12:02] there would be all the permitting that [00:12:04] we discussed [00:12:06] and then there would be the project [00:12:08] construction [00:12:10] and then the final permitting [00:12:12] authorization operate and then hopefully [00:12:14] sometime in 2028 [00:12:16] if everything goes as planned the [00:12:18] facility would be operational [00:12:23] and [00:12:25] the local items that we talked about [00:12:27] there are some things that uh residents [00:12:30] would need to vote on [00:12:32] as we said the [00:12:34] actual Halloween [00:12:36] gravel pit and [00:12:38] existing landfill [00:12:40] so [00:12:42] that road map [00:12:44] are relocated around the the [00:12:47] or terminated to depending on what the [00:12:51] preferences [00:12:51] is out [00:12:53] there would have to be a bylaw amendment [00:12:55] to increase the maximum allowable [00:12:59] right now the ordinance I believe is 630 [00:13:02] feet [00:13:03] we would need for the landfill to be [00:13:05] able to be built we need to have that [00:13:07] raised [00:13:10] it and we beat the entire landfill [00:13:14] rezoned uh Industrial [00:13:19] and then lastly uh zoning amendment to [00:13:23] permit the landfill use [00:13:25] [Music] [00:13:29] yes I can all right can you uh admit all [00:13:32] at the top right I'm getting some [00:13:34] tickets [00:13:35] um sure [00:13:39] I've met all top right can you hit more [00:13:46] you know I'm not seeing him at all [00:13:51] um [00:13:52] three little dots at the top [00:13:55] um [00:13:58] um okay hold up I'm sorry I'm gonna take [00:14:01] back this if you could hold for just a [00:14:03] moment okay [00:14:05] okay [00:14:19] oh my God [00:14:30] can you click on my name and give me [00:14:34] oh right click oh I got it I can do it [00:14:37] myself I'm sorry okay [00:14:51] sorry go ahead you should be all set [00:14:55] okay [00:14:57] um that actually ends the the [00:15:00] slideshow presentation so [00:15:03] um certainly available to take any [00:15:05] questions that you might have [00:15:08] I I think uh [00:15:11] for the board I think we'd like to look [00:15:12] at this [00:15:14] [Music] [00:15:14] um [00:15:15] we didn't get any of this information [00:15:17] until today [00:15:19] yep understood [00:15:20] so uh like to thank you for being in [00:15:24] here and presenting this I would like to [00:15:27] ask for a motion from the board who [00:15:30] acknowledge receipt of this proposal [00:15:37] I would make a motion to acknowledge [00:15:38] receipt of The Proposal [00:15:42] I'll second it and call for a vote if [00:15:46] all in favor [00:15:51] okay and Kelly so it's unanimous [00:15:56] Mr Oliver [00:15:59] okay thank you appreciate it [00:16:08] um I would seek a motion to adjourn [00:16:11] can I just ask a quick question Rob are [00:16:14] we meeting next week [00:16:17] it would be our regular meeting but I [00:16:19] wasn't sure if we were going to or what [00:16:21] what your thoughts were [00:16:26] yeah you have to unplug them unmute [00:16:28] Nicole sure got it [00:16:35] there we go sorry I've been trying on [00:16:37] mute because [00:16:39] um [00:16:40] do we have uh [00:16:43] deal with next week [00:16:45] I was [00:16:50] we Pro we actually I think we do have [00:16:53] one we have to deal with the account [00:16:54] accountants so we probably should [00:16:57] week okay we gotta make it more [00:17:00] definitive [00:17:01] that actually has an agenda item fair [00:17:04] enough I just wanted to make sure I got [00:17:05] it on my calendar [00:17:09] um [00:17:09] indoor meeting but [00:17:13] hopefully I'll [00:17:15] some clarification on what my [00:17:18] responsibilities will be in this [00:17:20] process too so I [00:17:22] like that I've already started my ball [00:17:25] rolling here so [00:17:28] share that as well [00:17:31] thank you [00:17:34] oh I'm Mr chairman or whoever's chairman [00:17:38] um can I ask for that slideshow can I [00:17:42] can I point please could I get an email [00:17:47] we will definitely send it to you yes [00:17:50] yep and then I can with the Chairman's [00:17:53] approval Rob or Eric I'm not sure put it [00:17:57] up on our website put the link to [00:17:59] so people can see it I just everybody [00:18:01] that's on now [00:18:03] you know it was a pretty fast [00:18:04] presentation if they wanted [00:18:06] to look at it [00:18:07] with approval I'll put it up for the [00:18:09] public to see okay with me if I'm still [00:18:12] chairman [00:18:14] I don't care with me also [00:18:16] um I agree I just don't want are you [00:18:19] guys going to [00:18:22] put out a actual [00:18:26] presentation [00:18:28] public hearing kind of thing for so [00:18:30] everybody can ask you questions are you [00:18:35] settings [00:18:38] near future [00:18:40] I think we'll definitely have to have [00:18:42] informational meetings with uh residents [00:18:46] for sure [00:18:47] so we'll try to figure out how best to [00:18:49] go [00:18:54] to go I definitely believed many members [00:18:56] have questions and I don't want to try [00:18:59] to open that up tonight I don't think [00:19:01] that [00:19:02] ourselves [00:19:05] that sounds great [00:19:08] thank you [00:19:16] move to a giant and we have a motion we [00:19:18] do [00:19:21] all right [00:19:22] all in favor all those in favor [00:19:25] all right [00:19:26] thank you thank you everybody