Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 13, 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL | FROM PAGE 1 members in May – to establish a section titled “Board of Health-Solid Waste Facility Environmental Performance Standards” as part of the town bylaws. “We approve Article 18 because, under our standard of review, we cannot conclude New St. Anthony’s Flea Market 250 Revere St., Revere, Lower Hall Indoor Flea Market Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Admission .50 Cents PLENTY OF NEW VENDORS ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT New Vendors Welcome! Free Coffee & Tea! To rent a table, call Lynda: (781) 910-8615 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net that Article 18 conflicts with state law,” state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell wrote at the end of a ninepage decision issued Dec. 6 by the attorney general’s Municipal Law Unit. “However, the Town should both discuss the issues raised in this decision with Town Counsel and whether the bylaw should be amended at a future Town Meeting to address these issues,” Campbell concluded. The new regulations enable the Board of Health to impose environmental standards in a number of areas, including emissions of visible smoke, storage of flammable materials, sound pressure levels and emissions of ash. Any violation under the new regulations could be punishable by a fine of $300 per violation each day. “Solid waste facilities shall not be operated in a manner to cause any dangerous, noxious, injurious or otherwise objectionable hazard; noise or vibration, smoke, dust, odor or other objectionable pollution; glare, conditions conducive to breeding of insects, rodents or other vermin, substances, conditions, or elements to an extent so as to adversely affect nearby neighborhoods,” according to Section 4 of the article, which established minimal acceptable standards. There’s also a provision in the new regulations that allows the Board of Health to require information, data and testing to be performed and supplied at the owner’s or developer’s expense in order to determine the findings of compliance. Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian, one of the local government leaders who was heavily involved with the crafting of the new regulations, called the Attorney General’s approval of Article 18 “a victory for the Town of Saugus and a loss for WIN.” “The Attorney General’s approval of this bylaw affirms the authority and ability of a local community to protect public health and safety,” Manoogian said in a statement to The Saugus Advocate. “The public should know that Saugus Town Meeting, the Board of Health, the Town Manager, Conservation Law Foundation, the Alliance for Health and the Environment and many citizens communicated throughout the Summer and Fall with the AG responding to the nonsensical arguments raised by WIN’s high priced Boston law firm this past July,” Manoogian said. “The Board of Health now has the authority to hold WIN accountable for threats and nuisances it causes, and I am confident they will do so with this bylaw adopted by Saugus Town Meeting,” he said. Mary Urban, Sr. Director of Communications & Community, issued the following statement in the company’s response to the Attorney General’s decision: “WIN Waste Innovations remains in compliance with all local, state, and federal permits. We agree with the attorney general’s opinion that DEP regulations, which are more stringent than even the EPA, are thoroughly protective of public health and safety. We are also appreciative of the DEP’s encouragement for the town to further amend the article to prevent ambiguity that could ‘[interfere] with DEP’s authority to regulate and permit solid waste facilities.’ “We will continue not only to operate in compliance with DEP standards, but also to serve as an environmental steward through initiatives such as our salt marsh restoration program and other conservation efforts at the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. We will also continue to collaborate with the Board of Health and other local leaders to ensure we remain an excellent corporate partner and add value to the community.” Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William S. Brown was a vocal, but lone opponent during Town Meeting deliberations on Article 18 last spring when he called it “unnecessary.” “We already have the federal and state regulations for the WIN facility. It’s like having the Saugus EPA now,” Brown said. “We should be working to repair our relations with WIN Waste. This article can only have adverse effects on any negotiations with WIN Waste. We should be working with these people. There should be an open dialogue, instead of continuing our adversarial relations,” he said. The article was initially drafted in 2014 and passed by the Annual Town Meeting that year. But the state Attorney General’s Office determined that provisions in the article were more restrictive ENVIRONMENTAL | SEE PAGE 7
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