By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Aggregate Industries Northeast Region, Inc., will begin on Monday a 15-year project that will fill more than 30 acres of the Saugus quarry on Route 99.
The company announced the start of the reclamation project during an open house at the site Wednesday. It will continue its current operations throughout the process.
Aggregate has produced construction materials on the site since the 1930s. Today it is home to two asphalt plants, a ready mix concrete plant, quarrying and crushing activities, according to general manager Erik Muller.
“We take leadership as an environmental steward very seriously and are committed to exploring ways to repurpose our land as appropriate,” said Brad Kohl, U.S. ACM Head of Northeast and Great Lakes West Regions, in a statement. “We’re excited about the opportunity to transform the Aggregate Industries Saugus Quarry and to begin this reclamation project after years of planning. As the project moves forward, we will continue working closely with the Town of Saugus to consider potential uses for the site, which could be an economic driver for the area.”
The Saugus Board of Selectmen backed a plan last June to fill the 60-acre site at 1831 Broadway in three phases with the potential to transform it into the town’s newest commercial development with a mix of retail, office, and housing. The town’s goal is to attract sustainable development that will generate cash to pay for town services in the post-aggregate era.
Aggregate has been working with the town’s Aggregate Post-Closure Committee to develop a plan to reclaim the quarry for more than a decade.
The plan will lead to zoning amendments to encourage mixed-use development. Zoning for the site allows uses including contractors’ yards, auto body work, car dealerships, commercial garages, self-storage facilities and warehouse operations. Under the agreement, Aggregate will not pursue any of these uses.
The company also worked closely with and received approvals from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The site will be filled using dredged materials that come from known, tested sources with licensed site professionals overseeing both the generator’s soil and operations at the reclamation project. All materials will be approved by MassDEP.
In exchange for a land reclamation agreement, Aggregate will provide at least $36,000 annually, plus additional fees per truck load that may reach more than $100,000 annually, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said in February. The funds will be used only to benefit outdoor and indoor parks and recreation facilities.