Episode Six: Material Sand and Stone and HT Auto

View the complete transcript.

In Episode 6 of Public Comment, hosts Sarah LaFontaine and Elizabeth Hammond break down two of North Smithfield, Rhode Island's most pressing local issues: the decades-long controversy surrounding Material Sand & Stone quarry (Pound Hill Quarry) and the HT Auto Junkyard. From contested grandfathered mining rights and Superior Court rulings to silica dust health concerns, Superfund sites, and chemical runoff threatening residential wells — this episode covers what's really happening in your community and why it matters.

Beyond the specific issues, this episode explores the broader question of how everyday citizens can influence local government — without running for office, joining a PAC, or having a law degree. Featuring the story of local activist Jason Richer, whose years of public records requests, drone footage, and noise monitoring kept these issues front and center.

Timely and practical for North Smithfield residents heading into an election season, this episode explains how to engage with candidates, contact elected officials, and use your vote strategically.

0:08 Intro

3:11 Intro to the Quarry

5:21 Meet Jason Richer: The Citizen Who Kept Watch

7:49 Quarry History: 1950s to Present

8:54 The Legal Loophole: They Sold It to Themselves

16:49 2022: Residents Start Fighting Back

32:22 Where Things Stand: The Quarry Today

33:06 The HT Auto Junkyard Story

19:18 The Bigger Picture: Citizen Advocacy vs. Government

52:15 Your Voice Matters — Here's How to Use It

54:52 Election Season & What Public Comment Is Doing