1/13/2016 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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Environmental Oversight Committee Minutes January 13, 2016 NEW BUSINESS Town-wide Bylaw on Single-Use Plastic Bags: (continued) Single-use plastic bags do not include plastic bags without handles which are provided for produce and meat, bags which hold prescription medication,bags with segregate food or merchandise,bags which distribute newspapers and bags used in dry cleaning establishments. Discussion followed regarding the enforcement of such a bylaw. It was agreed establishments impacted by the proposed bylaw would require a period of preparation time from the effective date of the bylaw. A term of six to twelve months was considered. The Town of Falmouth has given a term of 1$-months of the effective date of their bylaw. In Falmouth,residents are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when shopping. Retail stores and restaurants will have the option to offer reusable or paper bags at no charge or at a reasonable fee for each paper or reusable bag as they desire. The bylaw is enforceable by fines for first, second and third and subsequent offense. For additional reference is a website www.baglaws.com. With the impending deadline for articles to be submitted for the May Town Meeting warrant and to allow for proper notification,the EOC agreed to review proposed bylaw options in detail for consideration at the October 2016 Town Meeting. It was determined a report would be prepared for the Board of Selectmen's review and approval. The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce would also be included in the review process regarding the proposed bylaw amendment. This matter will appear as an agenda topic of discussion at the next EOC Meeting. In addition to the Provincetown template,the Towns of Barnstable,Falmouth and Harwich would be reviewed. ACTION ITEMS UPDATE Pond&Estuary Water Quality Monitoring: Update: At the last meeting, Mr. York was asked to write a column on the quality of Mashpee ponds in the Mashpee Enterprise, Although Mr. York has schedule constraints, he indicated he would consider publishing an article in the future with respect to this regard. Last month the Mashpee River was tested and there was a noted presence of thick algae bloom. Originally it was determined this occurrence resulted from warm water temperatures. However,the temperatures have now dropped considerably and the algae bloom is still there. Mr. York indicated he has thus concluded the rapid algae bloom is a consequence of nitrogen loading. This circumstance can be observed at the Mashpee Neck landing.