Dirty Dozen Award - front page picture Staff photo by Ann Ringwood; Littleton Independent; December 2, 1999; Littleton, MA
Local,regional groups hold 'award' ceremony for railroad by C. David Gordon; The PUblic Spirit; December 1, 1999; Ayer, MA
Guilford's plans for Ayer make group's 'Dirty Dozen' by Austin O'Connor; The Lowell Sun; November 30, 1999; Lowell, MA
DEP in support of Ayer board by Michael Wyner; Littleton Independent; November 25, 1999; Littleton, MA
Spectacle Pond site a 'sensitive area'
Health Board sets record with 15 minute meeting by Kathi Mohr; Public Spirit; November 24, 1999; Ayer, MA
The Ayer Board of Health held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, 17 November... The Board passed a motion that states an auto unloading facility can be considered as a noisom trade, which would be subject to a site assignment.
Guilford Rail proposal threatens Littleton's water supply by Richelle DuPont; Littleton Independent; November 18, 1999; Littleton, MA
[Guilford's] expansion poses serious threats to drinking water in Ayer and Littleton. Guilford has refused to publicly address the project's environmental implications. That makes the entire proposal ethically suspect.
Board of Health Announces its Public Hearing for Guilford by Staff, Public Spirit, Ayer, MA
Issues that other town boards have been unable to address, due to the restrictions placed on them by law can be dealt with by the Board of Health. One of the controversies about this project is its location: directly over the town's Zone II Aquifer Protection Area.
Town joins ranks against Ayer project by Greg Turner; Littleton Independent; November 12, 1999; Littleton, MA
Recommending Action Against Auto Distribution Facility Letter to the Editor, Harvard Post, October 29, 1999; Harvard, MA
One wonders how such a large facility (Guilford's proposed 50 acre auto unloading facility) could possibly be contemplated without any state or federal review (in a Zone II aquifer).
Guilford Will Ignore Ayer Health Board Lawyer Warns; the rail company argues that the board has no jurisdiction over its auto loading facility site by Mary Bowker; Harvard Post; October 29, 1999, Harvard, MA
Residents and town officials worry about possible contamination of public drinking water tied to proposed auto loading facility, which will operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Other concerns include increased truck traffic on town roads in Ayer, Littleton, and Harvard; health effects of diesel fumes generated by trucks and trains; noise from the trucks; and the additional trains Guilford says will serve the facility.
Right Not Might editorial, Harvard Post; October 29, 1999 Harvard, MA
Bravo to the Ayer Board of Health for taking Guilford on. Clean water and good health are easier to protect than to restore.
Guilford Proposal - 32 Football Fields and 3,000 Automobiles by Kathleen Mohr; The Public Spirit; October 27, 1999, Ayer, MA
Guildford Attorney claims exemption from local and state regulations.
Guilford Talks Tough at Hearing on Proposed Auto Transfer Depot. by Austin O'Connor, The Sun, October 21, 1999; Lowell, MA
At a contentious continuation of the public hearing last night on Guilford Rail System's proposed automobile-transfer facility, Guilford representatives defiantly declared that the Board of Health has no authority over the design or implementation of its project. "Guilford does not intend to be bound by or adhere to any regulations of this board" Guilford lawyer Mark Bobrowski said....
Feelings of Safety Shattered by Susan Tordella-Williams; Westford Eagle, Thursday, October 21, 1999
Water quality in Westford could be affected by auto unloading facility in Ayer. Facility's impact on entire water shed.
Riding Ayer's Rails Editorial, The Sun, October 20, 1999
Ayer has always been a railroad town, dubbed by local historian as "child of the iron horse" .... Despite opposition the proposal should go through.
Guilford's Own Record Driving Concerns in Ayer by Tom McLain, The Sun, October 19, 1999, Lowell, MA
EPA is seeking to fine Guilford $137,000 for spill in Kennebec River in Maine. Three to five thousand gallons of diesel fuel spilled.
Ayer Car Site May Be Slowed by Rare Turtle, Endangered Species Act a Threat to Auto Facility by Austin O'Connor, The Sun, October 13, 1999, Lowell, MA
A rare breed of turtles may be able to accomplish what various town groups have been trying to for months; derail, or at least temporarily detain Guilford Rail Systems Auto Unloading facility project.
Angry Residents Speak Out on Guilford by Kathleen Mohr; Public Spirit; October 13, 1999; Ayer, MA.
Guildford Transportation, owners of several short-line railroads, including the Boston & Maine, are proposing to construct a 40-acre auto transfer station near wells providing drinking water for thousands of people in Ayer and Littleton.
New Complications Added to Guilford's Auto-unloading Project by C. David Gordon; Public Spirit, September 15, 1999; Ayer, MA
Hundreds Pack Ayer Hearing on Auto Loading Site by Austin O'Connor; The Sun; September 9, 1999, Lowell, MA
Residents joined by State and Local Officials raised concerns about the proposedAuto unloading facility. Concerns included potential damage to water supplies and private wells, noise, diesel fumes, blocked driveways of local residents, increased truck and rail traffic and Guilford's record on environmental issues.
State AG Overturns Ayer Bylaw on Wetlands; Measure would have helped regulate Guilford Rail Project by Austin O'Connor; The Sun; Thursday, September 9, 1999 Lowell, MA
Attorney General, Tom Reilley, rejected a bylaw creating an aquifer protection district. Adherence to that bylaw is one of 36 conditions that the Planning Board (Ayer) placed on its approval of the Guilford site-plan review.
Planning Board approves Guilford site plan with 36 conditions by C. David Gordon; Public Spirit; August 25, 1999; Ayer, MA
Ayer project spurs concern; auto transfer station may affect towns' water, roads by Greg Turner; Littleton Independent; August 13, 1999; Littleton, MA
Counsels view Guilford plan; Littleton and Ayer may work together to evaluate proposal by Ebony-Anne Smith; Littleton Independent; August 12, 1999; Littleton, MA
Littleton Board of Health members say it may be time to step in and evaluate the lot's drainage and how it will affect Littleton's aquifer...
Guilford vote slowed by Ayer board resignations by Laura Melcher; Littleton Independent; July 29, 1999; Littleton, MA
Planning Board starts voting conditions for Guilford project, then problems arise by C. David Gordon; Public Spirit; July 28, 1999; Ayer, MA
With some internal differences and external promptings, the Planning Board on July 22 made a beginning of decision-making about the Guilford Rail System's proposed second auto unloading terminal, then had to stop with the hope of continuing to reach added decisions at an August 19 meeting.
What's next for Ayer Planners? by Peter Ward, The Sun, July 27, 1999. Lowell, MA
Two Officials storm out in fight over Guilford Plan Sun Staff, The Sun; July 24, 1999, Lowell, MA
Train Cars Derail; No one injuries reported New England News Brief, Boston Globe, July 14, 1999
95 car- Guilford freight train derailed. Nine cars and three engines came off tracks near Fitchburg, MA. One car contained ammonia and two other cars contained detergent residue. Material did not spill.
Residents against Guilford Proposal; Some say transfer station would be a threat to groundwater in Littleton and Ayer by Ebony-Anne Smith; Littleton Independent; May 20, 1999; Littleton, MA
Citing an increased volume of truck traffic and potential harm to the public water supply at Spectacle Pond in Ayer, some residents and town officials from Littleton and Ayer have said the Guilford Industries proposal to build a 40-acre, paved parking lot for automobile loading does not belong in an aquifer district.
Trains worry Residents of Area Towns - Area Residents worry about Guilford Noise by Mary Bowker and Otto T. Solbrig; The Harvard Post; May 14, 1999; Harvard, MA
Littleton's water supply in danger Letter to the editor; Littleton Independent; April 29, 1999; Littleton, MA
Residents petition against Guilford development plan by Ebony-Anne Smith; Littleton Independent; January 21, 1999; Littleton, MA
Board holds hearing on Guilford plan, discussion about bylaw change postponed by C. David Gordon; Public Spirit; January 20, 1999; Ayer, MA
Diesel Episodes Lead to Threats of Legal Action by Town, Railroad VP promises remedial action by Tom McLain; Public Spirit; January 13, 1999; Ayer, MA
During a month when there was at a minimum five episodes in which diesel locomotives idled for long periods in violation of Massachusetts environmental regulations and only after threats of legal action, Guilford agreed to stop locomotives loitering near downtown or Willow Road
Ayer Planner won't reconsider approval of Guilford Rail Project by Austin O'Connor, The Sun, Lowell, MA
Selectmen are interested in providing layers of protection for town water supply.