The sand mining operations increase water pollution, elevate flood risk, and cause significant habitat destruction. Photo: iStock
June 22, 2026 (Boston, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has notified A.D. Makepeace Company of its intent to sue for years of unlawful filling and damaging wetlands and streams across Southeastern Massachusetts. Makepeace’s sand mining operations violate the Clean Water Act by dumping sand, soil, and debris into protected waters without required federal permits, increasing water pollution, elevating flood risk, and causing significant habitat destruction.
“For years, Makepeace has strip mined tens of millions of cubic yards of sand across Southeastern Massachusetts systematically destroying wetlands and waterways without accountability,” said Heather Govern, CLF vice president for clean air and water. “Because of the threat to downstream communities and ecosystems that depend on clean water and flood protection, CLF is taking action.”
The damage, which has been happening for more than a decade and continues today, spans multiple sites including Smith-Hammond and Wankinko bogs in Carver, and White Island and Carverside/Canning bogs in Plymouth. These areas include wetlands and streams that feed into larger waterways and coastal ecosystems. They are also part of a broader landscape with deep Indigenous history and cultural significance, including areas connected to longstanding Indigenous place names and waterways.
The filing calls for Makepeace to restore impacted wetlands, comply with federal permitting requirements, and pay a significant monetary penalty for ongoing violations.
Read a PDF of CLF’s notice letter.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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