The Board of Health is meeting TUESDAY, 9/16, at 6PM, to discuss and conduct their vote to determine site assignment of the solid waste transfer station proposed for 100 Duchaine Blvd by South Coast Renewables (SCR), formerly known as Parallel Products.

THIS MEETING WILL BE HYBRID, SO YOU CAN ATTEND IN PERSON AT PULASKI OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM. MOST MEMBERS OF THE CAPPP GROUP PLAN TO ATTEND IN-PERSON.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 AT 6:00 PM

Pulaski Elementary School, 1097 Braley Rd., New Bedford, MA

TO JOIN MEETING: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86902904785?pwd=zYeZXx6i4nD5gSadtBgIhzL21t0U6u.1

Dial in: 1 646 931 3860

Meeting ID: 869 0290 4785 Passcode: 889692

More information, including the agenda, can be found in the notice that was posted online:

https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/cit…/public-meeting-notices/

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: The Board of Health is charged with denying or approving site assignment for this project. In reviewing evidence and hearing testimony, the Board of Health must be mindful of citizens’ rights under the Massachusetts Constitution, which states in Article 97 of the Articles of Amendment, “The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of their environment; and the protection of the people in their right to the conservation, development, and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose.”

The Board of Health’s power is from the Massachusetts Legislature – they are the authority. The Mass Department of Environmental Protection approved this project based on criteria from significantly outdated regulations. The BOH is not bound by that same criteria, and their decision is not dependent upon the directives or agenda of any other agency, including the Mayor’s office.

From the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards: “…human health is tied to the health of the environment. We ignore the threats to clean air and water at our peril. Your board of health or health department has unique and special authority to protect both the public and environmental health,” and “Under Massachusetts General Laws, state and local regulations and community direction, Boards of Health are held responsible for disease prevention and control, and health and environmental protection and promoting a healthy community. Boards of Health serve as the local arm of both the Mass. Department of Public Health and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection.”

From the Guidebook for Massachusetts Board of Health, under E. Solid Waste

1. Assign sites of sanitary landfills, refuse incinerators, waste storage or treatment plants, and refuse transfer stations, after a public hearing. Ensure that these do not present a danger to public health. M.G.L. c.111, s.150A.

The nature of the business operations of facilities like these are inherently dangerous. The only way the Board of Health can truly ensure that it will not present a danger to public health is to DENY the Site Assignment application.

For more information regarding the Board of Health’s responsibilities and authority: https://www.mahb.org/resources/

More information and documents pertaining to this project and these hearings may be found on the New Bedford Health Department’s site: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/special-announcements/southcoastrenewablesstatus/