Conservation Commission OKs PFAS dig 3-2
Conservation Commission · Meeting of September 15, 2026
Pepperell Conservation Commission splits 3-2 to approve a PFAS soil cleanup near the Lowell Road fire station and DPW garage. Commission members Robert C. Rand, Patricia Swain Rice and Cheryl Turgeon voted to issue the Order of Conditions for the Fuss & O'Neill-designed remediation at 41A Lowell Road; Timothy P.
Dinsmore and Peter A. Steeves voted no, citing fast-evolving PFAS science. Chair Robert T.
Elliott was absent and hospitalized. Rand estimated worst-case excavation costs near $1.35 million against roughly $850,000 in grant funding the board referenced informally. Dinsmore told the board, "I just have a problem with your whole presentation," while Rice objected to calling the project's trees "old-growth pine," insisting on "old-field pine" for the record.
The commission also approved $402.99 in bills payable and continued hearings on the Burke's Pond Dam removal and an 81 Main Street mixed-use project to October 6.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,269 words
Source: the Conservation Commission meeting of September 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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