West Greenwich quarry faces penalties for illegal discharge into wetlands

DEM INSPECTORS found water containing silt and sediment was illegally discharged from Hopkins Hill Sand & Stone into surrounding wetlands. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
DEM INSPECTORS found water containing silt and sediment was illegally discharged from Hopkins Hill Sand & Stone into surrounding wetlands. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PROVIDENCE – A West Greenwich quarry is facing penalties from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management for illegally discharging silt and sediment into surrounding wetlands, according to DEM Tuesday.

The department has issued a notice of violation to Hopkins Hill Sand & Stone LLC and Hopkins Hill Realty LLC – the quarry business and property manager respectively – for environmental pollution from the sand and stone mining facility at 190 New London Turnpike in West Greenwich. The violation comes with a $67,896 fine.

The quarry sits adjacent to an 8,000-acre array of forest, wetlands and agricultural land. DEM first notified the quarry for illegally discharging silt and sediment into the wetlands without the requisite permit in 2018. The property owner, Hopkins Hill Realty, subsequently applied for a permit which has not been approved because of several deficiencies in its application, according to the DEM.

DEM inspections in 2019 revealed continued presence of sediment in the basins that discharge into the wetlands.

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The quarry must stop discharging any water from its facility until DEM grants a permit. The company and property manager also have 90 days to submit a plan analyzing how the sediment discharge has affected the surrounding wetlands.

both companies are entitled to request a hearing before DEM’s Administrative Adjudication Division within 20 days of receipt of the notice of violation.

The DEM noted that if the violation continues, it would constitute a separate offense and that penalties will continue to accrue for the companies.

Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Lavin@PBN.com. Follower her on Twitter at @NancyKLavin.

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