About our efforts

Why are we fundraising?

The auction proceeds will ensure that efforts to preserve the remaining forested wetlands of the forest at the NEMT continue, most significantly through supporting the Ten Residents’ Appeal of the MA Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP’s) decision to overturn the Wakefield Conservation Commission’s denial of the project under the state’s Wetlands Protection Act (WPA). Specifically, the NEMT school plans to build a secondary access road that will severely impact the buffer zones of several “jurisdictional” wetlands (under WPA), as well as other non-jurisdictional wetlands and a certified vernal pool. Allowing that work to proceed will surely lead to the destruction of several pristine local wetlands and their ability to support wildlife.

Last year, Ten Residents, in addition to submitting their own scientific evidence and documentation, sought additional expert analysis of the impact of the Northeast Metro Tech new building plans on the wetlands and the wetlands’ abilities to carry out their natural “stormwater management” functions. The analysis of the school building plans, along with the evidence submitted by the Ten Residents and the Wakefield Conservation Commission, suggests that the plans, as designed, violate the state’s Wetlands Protection Act in several ways. However, in its decision overturning the Wakefield Conservation Commission, MassDEP did not acknowledge or respond to the expert evidence, nor to the evidence submitted by the Ten Residents."

However, in its decision overturning the Wakefield Conservation Commission, MassDEP did not acknowledge or respond to the expert evidence, nor to the evidence submitted by the Ten Residents.

The Friends are supporting the Ten Residents appeal by raising funds for additional scientific analysis of the site by the expert consultant. This analysis will form the basis of expert testimony in the Ten Residents’ appeal of MassDEP. The Friends are supporting the appeal of MassDEP in the hope of saving the remaining forested wetlands from certain destruction. We hope, and believe, the appeal can positively impact future projects in the state and impact how MassDEP conducts its evaluations going forward. The wetlands at the NEMT forest are presently protected from further destruction while the appeal of MassDEP is underway; we hope that the Ten Residents will be successful in their appeal, thereby making that protection permanent.

Tax-exempt status

In February, the Friends of Wakefield’s NEMT Forest, doing business as “Save the Forest” (and Build the Voke" / Coalition") were granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization status. Your donations will be tax-deductible to the extent allowable under 501(c)(3).

Contact us

If you have any questions, need more information or have something unique or interesting to donate to one of the upcoming auction segments, please contact us at advocacy@nemtforest.org.

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