BOSTON – State Representative Kathy LaNatra announced that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today denied the permit modification sought by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the former Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay. Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary as defined under the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act, which prohibits the dumping or discharge of industrial wastes into protected state waters.
“I am thrilled with the MassDEP’s decision to deny Holtec’s request to dump over 1 million gallons of wastewater into Cape Cod Bay,” said State Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “Cape Cod Bay is the lifeblood of the economy of both the South Shore and Cape Cod. People live, work and play on the water and on its shores. The plan to dump nuclear wastewater into the bay is yet another attempt by Holtec to ignore the pleas of residents in the area in an attempt to maximize their profits over the health of Cape Cod Bay. Today’s decision is the culmination of a lot of hard work by myself and my colleagues in the State Legislature, and shows what can happen when Federal, State and local officials work together towards a common goal of protecting the health and safety both of the residents that we serve as well as the environment that they, and generations to come, rely upon. I want to thank the MassDEP, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and all officials involved in this decision.”
Pilgrim stopped generating electricity in May 2019. As part of its decommissioning of the plant, Holtec requested that MassDEP modify Pilgrim’s state Surface Water Discharge Permit to authorize Holtec to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of treated wastewater from the facility into Cape Cod Bay.
MassDEP reviewed the Holtec application, and after consultation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, determined that Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary. The Ocean Sanctuaries Act prohibits the “dumping or discharge of commercial, municipal, domestic or industrial wastes” into ocean sanctuaries. The water that Holtec proposes to discharge qualifies as industrial wastewater, and therefore, the proposed discharge is prohibited.
MassDEP issued its final determination after holding a public hearing and public comment period and conducting an extensive review of the more than 1,000 comments received. The final determination and the public comments are available online.
MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Cite Fernandes’ long time leadership on climate action and renewable energy
Representative Dylan Fernandes has received the endorsement of  both the Sierra Club and the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) in his bid for State Senate.  These endorsements from two of the most respected environmental organizations in the state underscore Fernandes’ strong record on environmental issues and his leadership in the fight against climate change.
“We need to protect the water resources of the Plymouth and Barnstable district and ensure that our communities are resilient in the face of climate change,” said Fernandes. “In 8 years as state representative, I’ve been a champion of clean air and water and we have more work ahead to protect our environment.”
“Fernandes has been a critical leader on environmental policy in his time in the legislature,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “He has successfully championed clean water, the blue economy, and innovative ideas to ensure that Massachusetts remains a national leader in combating climate change. We are certain that he will continue to prioritize our beautiful beaches and outdoor spaces in the Senate.”
“Dylan Fernandes has been a strong advocate for clean air, clean water, and offshore wind,” said Celia Doremus, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter. “As a member of the State House, he has sponsored and helped pass bills to support a transition to clean energy and clean water infrastructure investments. We encourage voters to support him in his race for State Senate.”
Since his initial election in 2016, Representative Fernandes has sponsored dozens of bills  advancing clean air and clean water. The first bill he passed through the House was legislation signing Massachusetts onto the Paris Climate Accords in the wake of Donald Trump pulling America out of this historic agreement.  He serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, and has seats on the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, as well as the Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

A Norwell man has been indicted on charges that he sexually assaulted fifteen patients in his care as a Pediatrician at South Shore Medical Center, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Richard A. Kauff, 68, of Norwell, on nine counts of Rape of a Child with Force, and eight counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14.
Kauff is out on $50,000 cash bail with conditions of release he is ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victims, or South Shore Medical Center facilities in Norwell and Kingston. Additionally, the Commonwealth requested that Kauff have no unsupervised contact with children under 16, that he surrender his passport, remain in the Commonwealth, and relinquish his medical license.
Since 1983 Kauff worked as a pediatrician and was most recently associated with South Shore Medical Center in Norwell. Kauff saw patients in both the Kingston and Norwell offices connected to South Shore Medical, until his retirement in 2022.
On October 4, 2023, an anonymous person posted to local Facebook group that they believed they were sexually assaulted during an annual checkup. Others replied to the Facebook post and urged the victim to report the incident to Norwell Police.
The following day, another victim reported to Norwell Police a similar incident. Both victims alleged the perpetrator was Kauff. After the Norwell Police Department sought charges against Kauff in the Hingham District Court, over three dozen individuals came forward to report similar experiences with Kauff.  As a result, an extensive grand jury investigation was conducted to identify additional alleged victims and the viability of prosecution on charges based on the analysis of statute of limitations and other legal issues.  After several months of investigation, the grand jury has returned seventeen indictments for fifteen different victims spanning twenty-three years
Kauff will be arraigned on the charges in Superior Court at a later date.
The case was investigated by Norwell Police.

Plymouth, MA –The Community Land and Water Coalition invites the public to join a community forum titled “Protecting Our Land and Waters: Part II” on Thursday, July 18, from 6:00 to 7:45 pm in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library.
This forum aims to foster an informed dialogue on the challenges and opportunities surrounding land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts. It serves as a platform for community members, environmental advocates, and stakeholders to discuss pressing issues, share insights, and explore collaborative solutions.
The event will feature presentations from local conservationists and environmental experts, followed by an open discussion and networking session. Attendees will have the chance to learn about ongoing initiatives, voice concerns, and discover ways to contribute to the preservation of our natural landscapes through grassroot efforts and community organizing.
Free and open to the public, this forum encourages community involvement in shaping the future of land conservation advocacy efforts in our region.
Community Land
& Water Coalition
P.O. Box 1699
Plymouth MA 02362
www.communitylandandwater.org
Check out our You Tube Channel  for drone footage of earth removal sites, meeting recordings and educational webinars. Working to preserve, protect and steward the land and water resources of Southeastern Massachusetts. We are losing them fast.
Join us on Facebook Twitter  Instagram

Legislation will protect property owners from “equity theft”
BOSTON – Representative Kathy LaNatra joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing “An Act relative to municipal tax lien procedures and protections for property owners in the Commonwealth,” which would align current statute with a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The legislation secures the rights of property owners to reclaim any excess equity to which they are entitled after all taxes and fees are repaid to the municipalities following a tax foreclosure, while substantially increasing notifications and other protections for property owners throughout the foreclosure process.
“This legislation brings Massachusetts statutes in line with recent Court decisions and ensures  the rights of property owners are protected in the foreclosure process,” said Representative Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “This legislation ensures cities and towns are paid what they are owed and property owners hard-earned equity is protected, making the Commonwealth a better place for working families. Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Chairman Cusack, and Chairman Michlewitz for their work on this important legislation.”
The Supreme Court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota that state laws allowing municipalities to retain equity from a foreclosed property, in excess of any taxes and fees owed by a property owner, were unconstitutional under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This ruling had an impact on the municipal tax lien foreclosure process in the Commonwealth, since Massachusetts law also allowed municipalities or third parties that purchased tax liens to keep excess equity following a property foreclosure for unpaid taxes. Underscoring the need for legislative action, a recent ruling by the Massachusetts Superior Court (Ashley M. Mills v. City of Springfield) found that the property foreclosure process in Massachusetts was unconstitutional, a ruling that was supported by legal briefings from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
This bill ensures that Massachusetts law is constitutional throughout all municipalities in the Commonwealth, and fair to those subject to municipal tax lien foreclosure proceedings. This legislation does the following:
• Requires that a detailed accounting be taken following a foreclosure in a tax taking of the excess equity that is available;
• Any excess equity must be returned to the former owner within 60 days;
• Allows for retroactive claims for excess equity from May 25, 2023, until date of passage;
Updates notice requirements where the subject property is residential;
• Allows former owners the opportunity to file a claim in Superior Court if there is a dispute on the amount of excess equity owed;
• Increases the maximum length for repayment agreements for owed taxes from five to 10 years;
• Decrease the amount for a down payment for the repayment agreements from 25 percent to 10 percent and;
• Establishes a special commission to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the current law and practices around the collection of delinquent property tax revenue by municipalities in the Commonwealth.
• Having passed the House of Representatives 154-0, the bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

The Halifax Farmer’s Market will set up its pop-ups at the Halifax Town Hall on the following dates throughout the summer:

• Saturday, June 22
• Saturday, June 29
• Saturday, July 6
• Saturday, July 13
• Saturday, July 20
• Saturday, July 27
• Saturday, August 3
• Saturday, August 17
• Saturday, August 31
• Saturday, September 14
• Saturday, September 28
• Saturday, October 12
• Saturday, October 26

The fee for vendors to participate is a donation to the Halifax Helping Hands Food Pantry.

This coming Saturday the June 1st Plympton Public Library Speakers Forum will be on hiatus. In its place there will be a community discussion on “Accessibility at the Library”.
The Plympton Public Library was recently awarded a grant for $20,000 from the American Library Association. This grant is intended to help make the library more accessible for visitors with disabilities. The community will help decide how to spend this funding most effectively.
Please join us on June 1 at 10:30 a.m. for our monthly First Saturday program and to participate in the decision-making on how this funding will be spent! This meeting will take place at the Plympton Town House. Refreshments will be provided.
This is an important meeting that I hope you will attend.
John
John Traynor • 62 Crescent Stree • Plympton, MA 02367 • 781-585-6617 cell
[email protected]