THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAy, SEpTEmbER 26, 2025 Page 15 JUSTICE | FROM Page 9 with stringent local, state and federal regulations. Our goal is to continue that function in its current form while providing the Town with much-needed revenue.” WIN has declined to accept repeated invitations by the Ash Landfill Closure Committee to participate as a non-voting member in all four meetings that focused on the future closure of the ash landfill located near the company’s trash-to-energy plant on Route 107. Last year’s Annual Town Meeting created the committee with hopes that WIN would be involved in the discussions about the future of the ash landfill. WIN Officials have repeatedly refused to participate in discussions about the future of the ash landfill, maintaining that the committee has no right to suggest future plans for the use of their private property. Meanwhile, WIN Waste continues to point to the tentative Host Community Agreement (HCA) approved two years ago by a 3-2 majority vote of the five sitting selectmen as evidence that town officials are amenable to a deal that would allow expansion of the ash landfill in return for compensation and other conditions. Selectmen Jeff Cicolini and Corinne Riley at the time of the nonbinding vote said they supported the HCA as a precautionary measure in case the state weakens environmental regulations related to the landfill. In fact, the HCA has no legal basis, under state law and under the Town of Saugus Charter. Furthermore, any HCA would have to be negotiated by the town manager and wouldn’t take effect unless the state allows the company to expand its ash landfill. If the state loosens the regulations at the ash landfill, the Board of Health would have authority to conduct site modification hearings to ultimately decide whether and how expansion of the ash landfill would proceed. Saugus would receive $20 million over the next 20 years while WIN Waste could continue use of the ash landfill, according to the hypothetical HCA supported by a majority of the selectmen. Mary Urban, WIN’s Senior Director of Communications & Community, has previously told The Saugus Advocate that continuing to store the ash on-site would be more beneficial to the town than closing down the landfill and shipping the ash out of town. “We strongly believe the best financial and environmental option for the town, the state and our company is to continue to manage the ash onsite, as we have done safely and successfully for decades,” Urban said. “We are hoping the shipping of ash is temporary as we continue to work with the Town on a signed Host Community Agreement. The focus of our long-term plan is to continue to work with the Town on a mutual path forward where Saugus receives around $20 million over the next 20 years and we continue to safely dispose of the ash next door instead of shipping the ash, among other benefits.” In his meeting with Belén Power, Manoogian recalled how the ash landfill continued to exist in spite of a law that required it to close in 1996. “What you see exists not as a result of law but a result of ‘consent orders’ issued by the DEP. Consent orders that are given without public input,” he said, reading from his statement to the Undersecretary for Environmental Justice and Equity. “But the end is near for this ash landfill. It must close when it reaches 50 feet within the next two years unless there is a change in law or regulation. You see this area is an ACEC, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The regulations for ACEC do not allow for an expansion of a landfill. So the only two options for expansion are through legislation or a change in regulations,” Manoogian said. “Ms. Belin, we recognize that one of your goals is to weave EJ goals into the processes and goals of all state agencies. This is a civil rights issue. This landfill must close when it reaches 50 feet. Any suggestion that it be expanded is unacceptable. And it is unconscionable. We must – change the status quo,” he said. “We are looking to you to help make certain that the most vulnerable among us are not left out, left behind, and left to suffer disproportionately.” ~ RHS PATRIOTS SPORTS ROUNDUP ~ Revere volleyball stays unbeaten, cross country battles tough opponent Shown from left to right: Kneeling: Lady Pats Volleyball seniors Samantha Indorato, Basma Sahibi and Isabella Arroyave; back row: seniors Susan Lemus Chavez, Dayana Ortega, Samarah Meristal and Jade Dang and Head Coach Emilie Clemons. (Advocate file photo) By Dom Nicastro T he fall season continues to roll along for Revere High School athletics, and we’ve got an update on some programs in action this past week. The girls volleyball team remains undefeated after three more wins, while the girls cross country team faced a strong Medford squad and looks to regroup for the weeks ahead. Volleyball team pushes record to 7-0 Head Coach Emilie Clemons’ squad is off to a great start, sitting at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Greater Boston League after three victories last week. On Monday, Sept. 15, Revere opened the week with a 3-1 win at Chelsea. Senior hitter Dayana Ortega powered the offense with nine kills, while Samarah Meristal contributed five kills and two blocks. Manuela Ospina, Sarah Lechheb and Haley Peralta each chipped in four kills. Setter Susan Lemus Chavez filled up the stat sheet with three kills, an impressive 14 aces and 19 assists. The Patriots returned home on Wednesday, Sept. 17, for a 3-0 sweep of Malden. Ortega and Peralta both finished with six kills and three aces. Lemus Chavez had 11 assists to go with three kills and two aces, while Anna Doucette added eight assists and two aces. Meristal had five kills and one block, and Sofia Guzman rounded out the attack with four kills. Friday’s match brought perhaps the toughest test of the week. Hosting Malden Catholic, the Patriots dropped two of the first four sets but regrouped for a 3-2 victory. Ortega and Peralta once again led the way with eight kills each. Basma Sahibi came up strong with five kills, while Doucette handed out 13 assists and fired three aces. Lemus Chavez provided four kills, 15 assists and nine aces. Libero Samantha Indorato stood tall in the back row with 25 digs. Clemons noted that the team faced additional adversity in the Malden Catholic match when its starting middle hitter went down with an injury in the second set. Despite the setback, the Patriots battled through and pulled out the win, showing resilience and depth across the roster. Cross country team sees bright spots against Medford The Revere girls cross country team, coached by veteran leader Katie Sinnott, faced Medford on a difficult course and came away with a 2040 defeat. The Patriots were missing a scoring runner due to injury, but Sinnott emphasized that there were positives to build on. “Olivia Rupp, Rania Hamdani and Emma DeCrosta all ran faster paces than in our meet last week – showing that consistency pays off,” Sinnott said. She added that new runners are continuing to adjust to racing, and she expects significant progress by the end of the season. Rupp once again set the pace for Revere, finishing second overall in 18:08. Hamdani was sixth in 20:52, while DeCrosta placed ninth in 23:21. Other scorers included Salma El Andalosy (13th, 31:47), Tram Ngoc Vu (14th, 31:47), Valeria Acevedo Estrada (15th, 34:31) and Adis Cordero Canela (16th, 34:31). Sinnott pointed out that the team will return to this same course at the league meet on Oct. 29, giving it an opportunity to measure its growth over the next several weeks.
16 Publizr Home