Memorandum on a Potential Manomet Hill Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Manomet Hill and Environs Are Eligible for Nomination as an ACEC Under Mass. Regulations
Dear Readers:
The future of the approximately 1,600 acres of land owned by Holtec in the Town of Plymouth — including both the grounds of the former Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and nearby Forestry Land — has been the subject of public discussion in recent weeks. A survey, initiated by the Town of Plymouth, with support from the Old Colony Planning Council, the Plymouth Foundation, and the US Economic Development Administration, was conducted by the design firm Sasaki, and sought public input on the future of the land in question (the survey closed yesterday, February 2nd.)
I have attached below, as a PDF file, my contribution to this conversation, a memorandum which I have sent to officials of both the Commonwealth and the Town of Plymouth, arguing that some portion of that land qualifies for nomination as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) under Massachusetts regulations (301 CMR 12). It is a lengthy document, 26 pages long, with 55 footnotes, so I have uploaded it as its own file.
An ACEC is not the same as public ownership; nor does it prohibit development. What it does do is provide a higher level of procedural review and scrutiny for any project which would involve the state (in terms of things like permitting, funding, etc.); and, perhaps most importantly, it undertakes a process of public outreach and education on environmentally significant landscapes.
I should also note that I am not a resident of Plymouth, nor am I a lawyer, and that the views expressed in the memorandum are solely my own as an individual citizen.
I am glad to answer any questions, and am curious to hear any thoughts you may have (nor will I be offended if you aren’t a fan of the idea).
Finally, I have included a map and a few relevant photos of Manomet Hill and environs after the document itself. Thank you for reading and subscribing.
— Ben Cronin
(A Portion of the Manomet Hill Region. Credit — USGS.)
(The approximately 1,600 acres owned by Holtec. Credit — Sasaki.)
(A sandy trail on the slopes of Manomet Hill; May, 2022; credit — Ben Cronin.)
(A typical landscape of the Pine Hills, consisting of Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens, May, 2022; credit — Ben Cronin.)
(Cleft Rock, January, 2023. Credit — Ben Cronin.)
(Mountain biking trails, January, 2023. Credit — Ben Cronin.)
(The long, forested expanse of Manomet Hill, as seen from Landing Road Beach, on Kingston Bay, in Duxbury, January, 2025. Credit — Ben Cronin.)