Framingham Business Settles Environmental Law Violation Lawsuit

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A Framingham business under fire for state environmental law violations has reached a settlement following a 2023 lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell recently announced the settlement with Iron Horse Equestrian, LLC, Iron Horse Dressage, LLC (together, Iron Horse) and the companies’ manager over claims that they violated state environmental laws by constructing equestrian paddocks and a large outdoor horse dressage training arena over two streams and approximately half an acre of protected wetlands in Framingham.

The impacted property, located in an environmental justice community, contains conservation land and abuts Callahan State Park, which provides important open space, public recreation trails and wildlife habitat.

The settlement, entered in Suffolk Superior Court on Oct.9, will require Iron Horse and their manager to pay up to $200,000, including up to $175,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 to fund projects that benefit water quality in the Sudbury Valley Watershed.

The defendants will also be required to move the arena out of protected wetlands, restore the wetlands allegedly altered by construction of the arena, create new wetland resources in the surrounding area and limit activities around Baiting Brook to preserve the integrity of the stream and nearby wetlands.

The settlement arose out of a September 2023 lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office against Iron Horse, its manager and its contractor, Fields & Footings, LLC.

The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act by building a 19,800 square foot equestrian dressage training arena and horse paddocks over vegetated wetlands, two streams and buffer zones without obtaining state and local wetlands authorization or a water quality certification from MassDEP.

According to the complaint, the defendants installed large metal culverts to divert Baiting Brook and one of its tributaries, buried the streams under boulders and other materials, installed permanent fencing and removed vegetation around the structure.

The Framingham Conservation Commission issued multiple enforcement orders instructing Iron Horse to cease and desist construction, and MassDEP subsequently issued an oral cease and desist order. Nevertheless, Iron Horse completed the arena and has been using it since July 2022.

A January 2024 settlement separately resolved the Attorney General’s claims against the contractor Fields & Footings, LLC for its role in the alleged violations.