Groveland Conservation Commission closes major power line hearing, fines sewer violators $3,000

GROVELAND -- March 11, 2026, Groveland Conservation Commission closes hearing on major transmission line project and fines One Manor Drive $3,000 for unpermitted sewer work. The commission unanimously approved orders of condition for New England Power Company's 394 Transmission Line and BC Tap Line project, represented by BSC Group wetland scientist Hannah Raditz and National Grid's Tim Sullivan, including seasonal restriction waivers for two winters of construction activity through April 2028. A monitoring fee of $2,000 was set for the first season, calculated at roughly 40 hours of conservation agent time at $50 per hour, with the second season's fee deferred. On an enforcement matter, Conservation Agent John Sullivan reported that a contractor hired to repair a ruptured private sewer line at One Manor Drive worked for three days in the stream buffer zone without a Notice of Intent or seasonal restriction waiver; the commission confirmed Sullivan's emergency certification, levied an $1,800 fine for three days of unpermitted buffer-zone work, and added a separate $1,200 seasonal restriction waiver fee, for a combined $3,000 obligation payable in two checks to different accounts.