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Cease and desist sent to stop burials of washed-up sea animals at Revere Beach

Revere's Conservation Commission issued a cease and desist to the Revere Department of Conservation and Recreation to stop the burying of washed-up sea animals on Revere Beach.

According to Nick Moulaison, the chairman of the Revere Conservation Commission, when a whale washed up on Sept. 21, and the recommendation was made to bury the remains where they were, he gave the order to bury the whale.

>>MORE: Dead whale washes up on Revere Beach

The whale is buried 15 feet down, but further instances of burying washed-up animals have created issues.

"Oh my lord, it's unbearable," beachgoer Timmy Countie said about the smell.

The problem has been very apparent for many heading to enjoy a day on the beach.

"I've been here all summer long, it stinks," Joe Stella said.

Boston 25 News reported on

washing up on the beach on September 20, causing a horrible smell and creating issues for those in the area.%

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"You see women, children, parents running with their kids, who wants to smell that?" Moulaison said. "That's what my concern is. What is the smell that is happening?"

Moulaison wants an end to the situation, and said he sent the cease and desist order last month.

"What if the whale has some sort of disease?" Moulaison said. "It might not cause anything now, but what’s going to happen 10 years from now? Fifteen years from now? Is there going to be some sort of an issue?"

>>MORE: Thousands of washed-up clams cause horrible smell on Revere Beach

A dead seal also washed up on the beach on Sept. 26, the third incident in the span of a week, and the Conservation Commission became concerned that burying the animals would become a bigger problem.

The concern led to a cease and desist letter being sent to the DCR, seeking to prevent any further burials of sea animals on the beach.

According to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, they seek recommendations and guidance from the City of Revere's Conservation Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and/or the Department of Fish and Game prior to burying any sea life.

The DCR said the 30-foot whale's state of advanced decomposition made it unrealistic to tow it back out to sea, with the decision then made to bury the whale more than 10 feet below the beach surface.

The whale was buried just north of the Massachusetts State Police barracks, with permission from the local Conservation Commission.

"I actually think they should exhume that whale and get it out of here," Stella said.

Moulaison is hoping that's exactly what happens, if the state agrees.

"Until somebody tells me that burying this whale isn’t going to cause an issue in the future, I’m not going to, as conservation, I’m not going to sign off on burying any animals," Moulaison said.