Earth Removal Advisory Committee

The Town of Swampscott has an Earth Removal By-Law (Article XIII of the General By-Laws). Under this By-Law, the removal from a parcel of land of more than 400 cubic yards of soil, sand, stone, rock, etc., subject to certain exemptions, requires a permit from the Town's Board of Selectmen. 

Such excavation may be necessary to build roads or dig a foundation, extract raw materials, or restructure the landscape. The purpose of Earth Removal By-Law is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by regulating the removal of earth so as not to create dust, washouts, noise, and other hazardous conditions, as well as to protect surface and ground water and other natural resources.

The recommendations on permitting is made by Swampscott Earth Removal Advisory Committee (ERAC) to the Selectmen.

In Swampscott, the largest operation requiring annual permitting under the Town’s Earth Removal By-Law is the quarry operated by Aggregate Industries. You can find information on the current earth removal permit here.

Information on Earth Removal permits issued by the Town can be obtained by contacting the Building Department at Town Hall. 

Should you have any complaints regarding any operations occurring under an Earth Removal permit, you should contact the Fire Department for blasting; the Board of Health for dust; or members of the Earth Removal committee. If you would like to report a specific issue regarding a recent blast at the Aggregate Industries Quarry, you can do so using See Click Fix.

For more information about blasting regulations in Massachusetts, please review Facts About Blasting, provided by the state Department of Fire Services.