Residents and advocates press MassDEP and city over proposed waste transfer site at 100 Duchesne Boulevard

Community advocates urged the City Council committee on June 17 to oppose site assignment for a proposed waste transfer operation at 100 Duchesne Boulevard, telling the committee that recent fires and rodent problems at a comparable transfer station illustrate the project’s risks.

Wendy Morrill of South Coast Neighbors United and Tracy Wallace, a neighborhood organizer, updated the committee on their effort to persuade the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to deny site assignment for South Coast Renewables (formerly Parallel Products). Morrill recounted a May 14 two‑alarm fire at the E.L. Harvey transfer station on Shawano Avenue, said the sprinkler system proved ineffective, and described subsequent rat sightings and infestations reported for weeks in neighborhoods adjacent to that facility.

Why it matters: Morrill told the committee that the nearest residence to the E.L. Harvey facility is about 3,300 feet away, whereas residences are roughly 500 feet from 100 Duchesne Boulevard; she argued that the difference makes Duchesne Boulevard unsuitable for a similar operation. Morrill said her group has filed repeated complaints with MassDEP (first complaint dated December 13, 2024), followed up to request inspection dates and remediation details, and that MassDEP’s responses to date have been insufficiently clear. She told the committee she does not trust MassDEP or the property owner to ensure compliance.

Morrill referenced MassDEP correspondence noting that an announced inspection took place on January 29 and that MassDEP said remedial actions were promised (removal of stockpiles, disposal at permitted facilities and follow‑up inspections). Morrill told the committee her group’s June 11 letter and photos (dated June 4) show ongoing illegal dumping, lack of erosion controls and materials pushed toward a stream. She asked the council to press MassDEP and the Board of Health and to communicate concerns to the state delegation.

Tracy Wallace told the committee the proposal remains in the MassDEP site assignment stage and asked councilors to keep sending letters to MassDEP and elected officials. Morrill said the group has collected signed coalition letters from state delegation members but has not seen substantive regulatory action.

Committee action: The committee received and placed Morrill’s materials on file. Council discussion included plans to draft a body letter to MassDEP and the Board of Health. The item was then tabled by motion of Councilor Perera and second by Councilor Gomes, and the committee recorded the tabling vote.

What was said (selected): Morrill said MassDEP’s responses “left us with more questions than clarity” and described the pattern of recent fires, rats, and alleged ongoing illegal dumping at sites leased and operated by the proposed operator or others. Morrill noted E.L. Harvey said it had invested over $6,000,000 in facility upgrades yet still experienced the May fire and subsequent community impacts.

Next steps: The committee left the matter on the table and discussed preparing a council letter to MassDEP, the Board of Health and the state delegation urging careful review. Advocates told the committee they expect a MassDEP determination by the end of June.