Latest Update

4/6/2026

Citizens of Alfred participated in a public hearing on the proposed quarry by Gorham Sand and Gravel and many speakers expressed heartfelt concerns about the impact the proposed quarry would have on us. Our attorney, Greg Braun, our hydrologist, Scott Horsley and other experts we have worked with all prepared reports and rebuttals to the latest GSG application.  Our citizen scientists presented reports on noise, wind, dust, air pollution, blasting, flyrock, traffic, water quality- all demonstrating how GSG's proposal does not meet the Town of Alfred codes.  We had passionate speeches on community impacts, from the schools and children,  what abutters from other GSG sand pit sites say about the realities of living near the dust and noise, and what a house of cards the deals GSG has made to try to squeeze in a new road/driveway.  We are fighting this quarry with everything we got!

The outcome of last night was the third party entity, Pinchin, will review the new application, new wetland information, all of the analysis we provided and return a report that summarizes their findings. We think it's important for all of us to remember that the third party study is FOR THE PLANNING BOARD not for GSG to keep trying to stop the leaky damn-not for them to go back and forth on trying to improve their application so they can get it approved.  It is so frustrating to see the planning board acquiese to the applicant and build out months of time for them to once again respond with a new application to the third party review findings.  But here we are.  The timeline seems to be about the whole summer-yet Pinchin said within a month they would have their impact review done.  We will get to work again responding to that.

Please stay with us! We have the laws and facts on our side! We have been able to fight this off for over a year and we have momentum to keep this fight going.  We are fighting for Alfred and need your support!

Meanwhile we made the news and this is the link that shows both the site walk and the public hearing.

https://www.wmtw.com/article/alfred-residents-still-concerned-about-quarry-proposal/70946017

11/1/2025

The third party review begins as of now-the Planning Board and the town attorney selected Pinchin as the company to conduct all of the analysis and they projected that it would take them 50 working days.  The applicant, GSG, has to pay for their work and they have placed the money in escrow with the town. While we wait for this aspect of the process to play out, Citizens of Alfred is hard at work performing our own analysis, consulting with the experts we hired and attending every planning board and select board meeting. Now, more than ever, we need your support and participation.  Please consider volunteering, donating or just following our efforts!

The proposal from Pinchin can be read herewww.alfredme.gov/document_center/announcements/3rd%20Party%20Impact%20Study.pdf?t=202510290936400 

During the Public Hearing on July 21, 2025, Alfred Planning Board Members voted to have a third party group review all the information that the applicant (GSG) and GSG's agent Sebago Technics (ST) have submitted, as well as all the information that COA members submitted to determine if the applicant (GSG) provided substantiated information for 15 of the 25 Finding of Fact standards. Citizens of Alfred are waiting to learn who the town has hired as the third party consultant.  COA wants to note that during the public hearing, the Alfred Planning Board could have rejected the applicant's (GSG) application but instead have taken steps to have a third party decide what the next step in the proposed quarry application process should be.

Additionally, Sebago Technics (GSG's agent) submitted a variance to the Department of Environmental Protection to allow stormwater from their proposed road to drain into pre-existing culverts and  Alfred's watershed. There was an online meeting but many of the specific details regarding GSG's plan were vague, the questions asked by COA members were left unanswered, and the "application for the variance" is unclear. There are many major concerns regarding this variance request, including- that the current plan is for GSG to build a retention pond directly abutting a house lot for all the road runoff to drain into, GSG's plan to use toxic calcium chloride or other chemicals to manage the dust on their road, and the town ordinances requires GSG to drain all the wastewater internally but this would be a loophole to allow the industrial wastewater to drain into our town water system. With so many questions left unanswered and GSG showing little regard to the residents property and safety, COA is requesting that the DEP require ST and GSG to have a Public Meeting to explain their plan in detail and allow residents to ask pertinent questions about the impact on our watershed. To help request a public hearing, please email- Michael Clark- michael.s.clark@maine.gov and Erich Kluck- erich.kluck@maine.gov  For any interested party-The variance paperwork can be found here.