Conservation commission approves Laughingbrook invasive-plant project after NHESP "no-take" letter

The Hampton Conservation Commission voted unanimously to issue an Order of Conditions and to close the public hearing for the Laughingbrook Wildlife Sanctuary invasive-plant management Notice of Intent after receiving a no-take letter from the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP).

Commission members said the NHESP response did not impose additional conditions that would prevent issuance of the order. “They issued a no take letter and then discussed which aspects were exempt,” Naomi said on Zoom, summarizing NHESP’s review. The commission recorded the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) file number 1730245 for the project.

The vote authorizes the commission to issue the permit documents as written. A member moved to issue the orders and conditions; the motion was seconded and carried with all in favor. The commission then voted to close the hearing. After the meeting commissioners agreed to sign two original copies of the Order of Conditions; one will be sent to the commission and one to Mass Audubon, per staff direction.

Commissioners asked whether the pond on the site had been considered in NHESP’s response; Naomi said the pond was part of the project review but was not singled out in the program’s written response. Project staff added that the contractor should contact the commission before beginning work; Naomi said that condition could be included as standard practice.

No additional special conditions were added by the commission. With the motion passed and the hearing closed, staff will finalize the signed orders and distribute them per the applicants’ instructions.

The commission also thanked NHESP for the timely letter and noted that receiving the agency guidance allowed the commission to move forward with a standard set of conditions for invasive-plant removal at the sanctuary.