Community advocates rallied at the Plymouth Select Board meeting on October 22, 2024, demanding an immediate moratorium on sand mining in the region. The Community Land and Water Coalition presented a petition with over 1,200 signatures, highlighting the environmental and public health risks associated with the increasing extraction of sand from local sites.

Environmental researcher and advocate, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, emphasized the urgent need for a halt to sand mining activities. "We have documented over a hundred sites in Plymouth, Wareham, and Carver where large amounts of earth are being removed," they stated. The extraction threatens the area's unique Pine Barrens ecosystem and the sole source aquifer that supplies drinking water to the community. "Our biodiversity is being lost, and we are at risk of contaminating our drinking water," they warned.

The coalition's concerns were echoed by other community members, including Catherine Harrelson, who stressed that sand mining is not just a local issue but part of a global phenomenon. "Sand is the second most extracted resource on earth after water," she noted, urging the board to consider the long-term environmental impacts of mining permits that often lack thorough assessments.

Meg Sheehan, co-author of the "Sand Wars" report, highlighted the historical context of sand mining in Plymouth, calling it the "sand capital of the Northeast." She pointed out that many permits have been issued under questionable circumstances, often without proper environmental studies. "We need to look at this from the town level and urge you to put on a moratorium," she urged the board.

The meeting also featured support from residents like Rachel Atkins, who underscored the cultural significance of the land targeted for mining, which is part of a historic Native American reservation. "Allowing this land to be mined would be an irreparable travesty," she stated, calling for the board to reject the proposed mining project.

As the community continues to voice its concerns, the Select Board faces pressure to address the environmental and health implications of sand mining in Plymouth. The call for a moratorium reflects a growing awareness of the need for sustainable practices and the protection of local ecosystems.