Peabody council approves removal permit with strict blasting, notification and environmental conditions for PMA landfill excavation

Peabody City Council on Thursday approved an earth removal permit for the PMA landfill (filed as 0 Forest Street, Assessor Map 69, Parcel 5) to excavate about 91,700 cubic yards of material, imposing a package of conditions on blasting, hauling, environmental safeguards and reporting.

The permit matters to nearby residents because the work includes blasting, heavy truck traffic and on-site fueling. Councilor Michael Gamache moved approval and described the conditions the council would attach; the motion passed on a 9-0 roll call.

City officials and the applicant detailed how the city will limit risks. Dennis Moran of Time and Bond, representing the applicant, said the project is “to excavate approximately 91,700 cubic yards of overbore, burden and ledge material at the PMA landfill off of Farm Ave.” Captain Chris Dowling of the Peabody Fire Department told the council the department has reviewed prior blasting on the site, will enforce the city’s blasting permit process and will require third-party engineering review and pre-blast surveys when a permit application is submitted. “At this stage in the process, I don't have a blast plan. I don't have a permit application,” Dowling said, adding that each blasting operation will be reviewed independently and subject…