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Group of residents in Westminster put a pause on development that would spread PFAS pollution – 2022

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Westminster, MA has some of the highest levels of PFAS in Massachusetts, and is a town with a high risk for further contamination. A local developer had planned to build about 10 new buildings, and wanted to drill in the middle of contaminated wells. Not only is this a contamination issue, but a waterbed issue as well, with many local wells already drying up, expedited by this drought. 

To fight against this we organized with groups on the ground to engage residents to send messages to the Select Board and Planning Board in Westminster to stop future well drilling. In addition we helped Westminster residents to turn out at a Planning Board meeting to voice their concerns about the planned project. 

Thankfully, the Board of Health and the Planning Board agreed that this is a public health issue and have put a temporary 9-month pause on well drilling within the contamination scope! There is still work to be done to ensure that this contamination issue is resolved, but we give thanks to the Board of Health and the Planning Board of Westminster, MA for caring about its citizens and their health.