Conservation Commission Unanimously Approves Oak Hill Emergency Drill Permit for August

LITTLETON -- June 18, 2024, Littleton Conservation Commission approves land use permit for mock disaster drill at Oak Hill. The commission voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the Littleton Volunteer Corps to conduct a simulated plane-crash emergency exercise at Oak Hill on August 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, with roughly 70 simulated first responders from Littleton, Harvard, Boxborough, and Pepperell taking part. Mike Hilton, representing the volunteer corps, said the drill would test firefighter rehabilitation protocols under the Incident Command System, with parking relocated to the water department's Whitcomb Avenue site and police assistance secured from Chief Pinard. The commission conditioned the permit on notices being posted at both the main trailhead and the Harvard Road entrance at least one week in advance, and required social media and newsletter outreach to prevent public alarm. In other business, the commission unanimously lifted an enforcement order at 10 Ivy Road after confirming all remediation work was complete, and ratified a new enforcement order at 15 Powers Road following a staff field visit that identified unpermitted grading and a possible wetland disturbance; the property owner is due before the commission July 9.