Peabody City councilors voted 3-0 to accept Aggregate Industries’ 2024 annual report for its quarry and asphalt plant at 55 Russell Street, approving the report with four written conditions addressing resident notification, noise mitigation, groundwater sampling and additional noise monitoring.

The vote came after a staff overview of the nearly 800-page report and testimony from company and city staff about blasting, noise, air testing and groundwater monitoring. Councilor Rosignol moved to approve the report with conditions; the motion carried by roll call vote with Councilors Gamache and Higgins also voting yes.

The report shows Aggregate Industries conducted 19 blasts in 2024, down from 20 in 2023. The Peabody Fire Department had a representative present for each blast and reviewed the blast reports; the department concluded there were no violations after one property damage claim was submitted. The committee noted the maximum recorded blast noise in 2024 was 26.8 dB, below the special-permit limit of 33 dB.

City staff and company representatives discussed noise-monitoring timing and mitigation. City testing required by the special permit is to be performed once in spring and once in fall while the quarry is in full operation; measurements in 2024 were made in August and November, which staff said is less preferable. Aggregate Industries told the committee it had planned to replace a worn bucket elevator by December 2024 to reduce a recurring ticking noise but that the upgrade was delayed because incorrect parts were delivered; the company said replacement remains scheduled.

Air-quality testing cited in the report included three-day volatile and semi-volatile organic compound (VOC/SVOC) sampling at four perimeter locations in October and PM10 (particulate matter under 10 microns) testing in October; the company and staff reported measured concentrations below available occupational and residential reference concentrations and below the Massachusetts 24-hour ambient PM10 standard of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Groundwater samples taken April 29, 2024, showed no significant change from 2023 and no reportable condition under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (310 CMR 40).

Several residents raised odors from asphalt operations during the meeting. Jared Temple, a representative of Aggregate Industries, told the subcommittee the company has identified stronger-smelling liquid asphalt loads coming from Canadian refineries and that the state Department of Environmental Protection has received similar complaints across the commonwealth. Temple said Aggregate plans to press refiners for changes and, in the short term, to increase use of a chemical “scavenger” at its plants to reduce hydrogen sulfide odor, while continuing to use odor-masking additives (EcoSorb) within recommended limits.

The council’s approved conditions require: (1) revising the pre-blast property-survey letter to match special-permit wording so independent specialists submit survey copies to homeowners and the fire department; (2) additional noise mitigation steps to prevent any location from experiencing a 10-decibel increase above background at any time; (3) continued spring groundwater sampling to ensure representative table levels for testing; and (4) noise monitoring twice a year in spring and fall while the facility is operating. The council also instructed that all conditions of the special permit issued in February 2002 be met going forward.

Committee members and city staff noted other neighborhood concerns recorded in 2024, including increased truck traffic and the use of engine braking (so-called Jake braking) during a six-week surge of business tied to an external Revere project; the special permit’s hours of operation were reiterated (Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.–1 p.m.). City staff said the 2025 blasting plan discussed at a March neighborhood kickoff meeting calls for seven blasts in 2025, a substantial reduction from prior years.

The subcommittee’s acceptance of the report with conditions does not itself change the special permit; it requires Aggregate Industries to meet the explicit conditions and continue required testing and reporting. The subcommittee adjourned after the vote.