Shining Rock Development thumbs its nose at the environment

Another example of Shining Rock Development, LLC's way of doing business. According the following information comes from an article which appears in the July 14, 2005 edition of the Worcester Telegram Gazette, Shining Rock Development, LLC and some of its business partners are in a little hot water over ignoring environmental concerns. Notice that this is the second reporting in a local paper. Anyone from Shining Rock care to comment?

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According to the article, which is authored by Linda Bock, The DEP of Massachusetts (Dept of Environmental Protection) has cited the company developing the new Shining Rock Golf Course in Northbridge. Shining Rock Development, LLC, headquartered in Lincoln, MA and presided over by Fred Ruland. Ths is not the first time environmental concerns have been raised in one of Shining Rock Development, LLC's projects.

Residents have expressed concerns over noise pollution, trash dumping (which may have subsequently been buried on the site), improperly cared for drains, excessive runoff and excessive dirt from construction. When concerns are brought up, the principles and representatives of Shining Rock Development, LLC take a stance which many describe as arrogant, cold and uncaring. It will be interesting to see how they handle the sate and federal government.

The background, as quoted in the Times Gazette article: those involved are Shining Rock Development and Whitinsville Water Co, represented by a Mr. Coz.

"Mr. Coz owns property off Sutton Street that contains a pump house and well field. Shining Rock has leased a portion of the site from Mr. Coz in order to withdraw water to irrigate its golf course, and hired Whitinsville Water Co., a Massachusetts for-profit corporation, to assist with the water withdrawals.

DEP officials and the Conservation Commission viewed the site May 4 and observed dredging, alteration and removal of wetlands associated with a stream and the Blackstone River bank without required permits. The officials also observed the clear-cutting of about .75 acres of riverfront area adjacent to the Blackstone River, within 10 feet of the river in some areas.

Administrative orders dealing with those violations were issued to both Shining Rock LLC and Mr. Coz on June 21."

Government officials ordered both Shining Rock and Mr. Coz to take every reasonable step to put an end to violations of environmental statutes, inlcuding the Wetlands Protection Act and Clean Waters Act. According to the author, "..further, the DEP ordered both to cease and desist from all construction-related activities on the site; to hire, within 30 days of the order, a wetlands scientist/specialist to assess the amount of damage/alteration to bordering vegetated wetlands, riverbank, riverfront and bordering land subject to flooding; and within 45 days, Shining Rock’s scientist shall prepare a detailed wetland restoration plan for all of the damaged/altered wetlands resource areas. "

The administrative orders issued to the two parties state that they could be fined up to $25,000 per day for failure cease the violations.

Further, the author states that, "...Whitinsville Water Co. was ordered to cease and desist from ongoing violations, including clear-cutting of about two acres of riverfront area adjacent to the Blackstone River, within 10 feet of the Blackstone River in some areas; dredging of about 500 linear feet of bank of an unnamed stream; and filling an undetermined amount of bordering wetlands associated with the stream and the Blackstone River.DEP viewed the site with the local Conservation Commission May 4, and again May 16, observing the violations.

The order to Whitinsville Water Co. also requires the preparation of a wetlands restoration plan. Whitinsville Water Co. did not appeal the May 16 order, according to Mr. Coletta. He said the 21-day appeal period has expired. "

Whitinsville Water Co. is taking the stance that they are not in violation, as they, "...were hired by the Shining Rock Partners to make extensive and necessary repairs to an aging well field that did not operate properly.” Further, the Whitinsville Water Company representative insists the company did not participate in the cutting of trees. On the property ownership issue, according to a government spokesman, it is not necessary to be a property owner to be found in violation of the law.

This apparently is not the first time Shining Rock Development, LLC has had occasion to hear from the Conservation Commission. In fact, on April 21, 2004 Commission issued an enforcement order to Shining Rock which alleged other violations of the Wetlands Protection Act.
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All items in quotes and background information is from the Worcester Times Gazette, July 14, 2005 edition. The article