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Owner: AD Makepeace Cranberry
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Volume of Earth Removed: The nearby bogs are at an elevation of about 70 feet and the mined land previously ranged between 120 and 140 feet. Taking the low end figure of 50 feet of removal this report estimates up to 4 million cubic yards of removal as of 2023. The Carver Earth Removal Committee has issued permits for 3,300,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel removal since 2003. In August, 2023, Makepeace obtained a permit from the Carver Conservation Commission that indicates the removal of another approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards on the southern portion of the site.
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New Permit approved February 2024 for an additional 1,401,800 cubic yards. With this new permit, At least 5,093,293 cubic yards total will have been mined since 2003.
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Makepeace supplies aggregate from its lands such as this site to its subsidiary Read Custom Soils, LLC located on this mining site. AD Makepeace - Read Custom Soils is known as the largest aggregate mining, sales and distribution operation east of the Mississippi River. This report identifies at least 17 mining sites operated by A.D.Makepeace Cranberry and an estimated total volume about million cubic yards of sand and gravel. Makepeace employs 60 independent truck operators to transport the aggregate materials throughout New England.
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Permit: New Earth Removal Permit approved February 23rd, 2024. Numerous permits have been granted by the Carver Earth Removal Committee since 2008 based on Makepeace’s claim that it is building cranberry bogs here. No bogs are built but the mining continues. This site is one of six that are the subject of Damage to the Environment lawsuit brought by Ten Residents under the Citizen Suit law. In June 12, 2023 the company filed a Wetland Notice of Intent with the Carver Conservation Commission to expand the mining operation claiming again that it is building a cranberry bog here.
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In Feb. 2024 CLWC filed to enforce the zoning by-laws and shut down read custom soils at 46 Federal road, Carver, MA. On May 22nd 2024, CLWC asked the ZBA to enforce the zoning by-laws.
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Area Impacted: About 52 acres ongoing for over 12 years. On August 16, 2023, obtained a permit from Carver Conservation Commission showing another approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards. Total parcel is about 534 acres acres, including the “Wankinko Bogs.” According to satellite imagery, excavation began between December 2010 and March 2012 as Phase C1 of the TMUD plan.
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Claimed Reason for Mining: Cranberry agriculture: Cranberry bog/reservoir not built
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Solar: Planned
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Water Supply: Yes, Zones 1 and 2 of two wells, one for Cranberry Village mobile home park and second for Ocean Spray processing facility. Mining in the Plymouth Carver Sole Source Aquifer. See, Affidavit of Scott Horsley.
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Plymouth Carver Sole Source Aquifer: Site is located in the aquifer
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Wetlands and Waterways: Yes, Wankinko River, wetlands. See, Affidavit of Scott Horsley
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Archaeological Impacts: Yes: An ancient Native American Indigenous archeological site potentially eligible for National Register of Historic Place has likely been destroyed by the mining. The site was identified in a 2010 letter from Massachusetts Historical Commission to the company and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. A.D. Makepeace the state refuse to disclose the status of this significant site. This mining operation is in the 6,500 acre Tihonet Mixed Use Development Area (TMUD) designated under Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act MEPA Certificate 13940. The Massachusetts Historical Commission classified the entire area as archaeologically significant. MEPA and MHC allowed AD Makepeace to side step full MEPA review and issued a sign off to the Damage to the Environment in 2023. STPB Comments to MEPA May 23, 2022, MEPA Certificate 13940: “The significance of the entire TMUD Project was explicitly acknowledged by Massachusetts Historical Commission as recently as 2020: “The archeological reconnaissance survey conducted in 2007 for the overall ADM project indicates that the project impact area is archaeologically sensitive.” 10/30/2020 Letter from MHC to Borrego Solar for ADM Makepeace solar project in TMUD area. ADM has ignored and manipulated the MHC review process and cut the public out. The SRP has failed and continues to fail to provide meaningful opportunity for public input and comment for the Wampanoag people.” An investigation of MHC and A.D. Makepeace’s potential destruction of the potentially eligible National Historic Register site is warranted.
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Environmental Justice Population: Yes (Income) See Map Below.
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Ecosystem Impacts: Yes. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife CMP permit for Eastern Box Turtle; habitat obliterated, no mitigation.
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Other: location of Read Custom Soils aggregate sales and distribution terminal represented to state MEPA office in 2012 as an “agricultural” operation in order to obtain a MEPA Certificate.
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Public Subsidies: A.D. Makepeace receives large agricultural subsidies from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture for “cranberry farming”. The company also benefits from the technical assistance provided to “cranberry growers” by the UMass Cranberry Extension Service, a taxpayer funded program to help the cranberry industry. In April 2023, the Extension Service broke ground on an $8 mllion expansion of the Cranberry Station in East Wareham. A.D. Makpeace’s CEO and President and Board Chair were in attendance.
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A.D. Makepeace also benefits from electricity ratepayer subsidies for solar by leasing its land for solar projects that are subsidized under the state SMART Solar Program administered by Mass. Department of Energy Resources. U.S. Department of Energy federal subsidies are provided to DOER for the state’s solar program. A.D. Makepeace has plans for large ground mounted industrial solar at this location according to ISO-New England.
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A.D. Makepeace keeps most of its land in “Chapter 61” which allows landowners to pay much lower real estate taxes if they do not develop their land. Mining operators such as A.D. Makepeace keep the land in Chapter 61 even when conducting commercial mining. Cranberry companies also claim tax incentives for “revitalization” of bogs under state law. This site is in Chapter 61A even though the company has been operating a commercial mine since 2008.
