The Hudson Conservation Commission reviewed the most recent proposal for Brox Industries proposal related to their ongoing plan to expand their Greeley Street quarry. There was ongoing confusion as to whether they would remove two lower-quality wetlands on the property as both Brox and the Conservation Commission found themselves unable to move forward.
“Back a couple of weeks ago, we had a chance to review and re-walk the property another time for those two additional wetlands they’re looking to get approval by the state for,” said Conservation Chair, William Collins.
As part of the wetland issue related to Brox’s approval of a state-granted dredge and fill permit, the Chair suggested writing to the Department of Environmental Services for more information.
“Does the Commission have any interest in constructing a letter to New Hampshire DES and asking about the process involved in their decision regarding these two wetlands?” he asked. “There’s a point of contact, every dredge and fill has a caseworker.”
Cole wanted to know more about the process and how long it might take. According to Brox, the DES asked the company to remove all wetlands as part of the expansion, a recommendation that confused many Commissioners, including Alternate, Linda Krisciunas, who wanted more details about the matter.
“I was wonder, because I missed the recent site walk, did they have an opportunity to present a shovel ready project of sorts?” asked Secretary, Ken Dickinson. “I was wondering if he was preparing to present something.”
Consultant, Bruce Gilday, who is currently working with Brox to gain regulatory approval for the expansion, gave no previous indication the project was shovel-ready, although Cole promised to send an email and ask.
“I can ask if there’s acceptance of shovel ready projects within the community that would help us obtain some monies that are paid into the wetland fund up there,” said Cole.
Companies like Brox pay into that DES fund whenever significant wetland impact cannot be avoided.
“Also, they were looking for us to have a shovel ready project, which we don’t have,” added Town Engineer, Elvis Dhima. “The only we have is a drainage study that we did.”
The Town Engineer was referring to possible projects around Robinson Pond, although the restoration fund is run by the state and requires DES approval to access any of it as a grant.
“We need something that needs design and permitting, that’s what a shovel ready project is and we don’t have that,” he said.
Without something more concrete with Brox, DES wetland mitigation funding cannot be used for local restoration.
Cole offered to draft the letter before reading it to other members of the Commission before their October meeting.
