In the News

The Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) convened to hear testimony on a series of bills. Among the legislation is S. 548, An Act relative to crumbling concrete foundations. The bill was filed by state Sen. Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer), with broad support across the legislature.

Crumbling concrete foundations have been linked to a naturally occurring mineral, pyrrhotite. Many homes along the Massachusetts-Connecticut state line have been impacted by concrete sourced from the now-defunct J.J. Mootes Quarry. In 2019, Gobi co-chaired the Commonwealth’s Crumbling Concrete Commission with House member, Rep. Brian M. Ashe (D-Longmeadow).  

During the Tuesday ENRA hearing, Gobi and Ashe both testified in support of S.548. They were joined by local and federal partners. Congressman Richard Neal, (D-Springfield), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, testified in support of the bill, calling for local, state, and federal partnership, to protect homeowners.

“If a tornado went through our communities, the Commonwealth would be there to help. In this case, homeowners have done nothing to cause this. Yet there are no protections to replace or repair the damage done. We are talking about people’s greatest investments.”

Sen. Gobi reflected on her work as chair of the Special Commission, “I have met with countless individuals, and seen the impact this is having. Nothing can prepare you for the loss of your home. We are learning that this mineral is having an impact across Massachusetts and across New England. I am grateful for the testimony and support from my colleagues, from Chairman Neal, and members of our neighboring legislature, in Connecticut. Massachusetts families deserve to be safe and secure in their homes. The time to act is now.”

Rep. Ashe offered the following statement, “As we begin 2022, I am thankful to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture for placing the crumbling foundations bill on the hearing docket. From Chairman Richard Neal, Conn. Rep. Tom Delnicki, to my Co-Chair Sen. Gobi and all our local colleagues, I am extremely grateful for their support and testimony. However, I believe the most important people who testified are the homeowners who have been negatively impacted through no fault of their own. It is through their experiences we see how devastating this issue has been to their homes, their property value and those of their neighbors, as well as to the families both financially and emotionally. Time is of the essence as this issue extends beyond Western Mass and is quickly affecting towns across the Commonwealth. We have learned from our Conn. neighbors the support this bill will provide for Massachusetts homeowners, and I will continue to work with the committee and my colleagues in getting this vital legislation passed.”

The Head of Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete, Michelle Loglisci, noted that members of her group were thankful and optimistic following the hearing, ” As homeowners, we are so grateful to Sen. Gobi for leading the charge. We are appreciative to the Committee for allowing us to testify on behalf of S.548. This bill is our hope for the future.”

To learn more about crumbling concrete and to view the final report issued by the Special Commission to Study the Financial and Economic Impacts of Concrete Foundations due to the Presence of Pyrrhotite, please visit bit.ly/3G1w8vT.

To learn more about Sen. Gobi’s bill, S.548 An Act relative to crumbling concrete foundations, please visit, https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S548.

Full article HERE.