Planning board flags potential legacy contamination near sand pits; recommends testing

Committee members reported that the planning board, while drafting a sand‑pit overlay proposal, learned there may be legacy contamination in the soils around the sand pit area and adjacent ponds dating to historical paper‑mill operations. The planning board intends to notify the Conservation Commission and recommended that testing occur before approving any expansions of a nearby pond.

The committee member who reported the finding said the planning board had identified ‘‘paper mill stuff’’ in historical records and used an acronym the transcript records as "PAS," but the meeting transcript did not define that acronym or provide laboratory results. Committee members discussed that contaminated soil, if present, could leach into the aquifer that serves Hubbardston and neighboring communities and that testing is needed to determine whether the concern is theoretical or actionable.

No formal action beyond notifying the Conservation Commission and planning board follow‑up was recorded in the meeting. Committee members said they have no direct regulatory authority over the planning board process but will monitor the issue and could raise concerns if testing indicates a risk to the aquifer.