09/11/1996 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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.00 BOX 1048 -- MASH PEE, MASSACHUSETTS 02649 Telephone: (508) 477-0208 1 1 � FAX: (508) 477-1218 July 19, 1996 To: Mashpee Conservation Commission - Mashpee Board of Health Re: Cushing, Tundra memo to Gallent, Mashpee Commons In review of the above referenced memo (attached) and articles printed in the Mashpee Enterprise on Jul 12 we contend that, if the content of said memo is valid, the credibility of the consultant firm DePeo, wait & Pare', and any plans for Mashpee Commons that have been substantiated by studies of this firm, are null and void. As life long residents of this community, who have watched the degradation of this environmentally sensitive land, by what is called progress. It is very distressing to find out that 'm ortant water quality data is being contrived and conceiled to meet standards established to Ip n Y g protect the health and welfare of our citizens. The act of manipulating such information can only . be considered criminal, and appropriate action must be taken. This past winter a courtesy hearing was held regarding the already approved expansion P Y g of their sewer treatmentP lant that filtrates to the Mashpee River and Popponesset Bay . We do p not recall any lengthy discussion on abnormal wastewater characteristics, with exception to periodic nitrate levels that exceeded the EPA standard. We were subjected to technical { engineering rethorec that was supposed to assure us that the were well within the mandated g g PP Y standards . Now to find that the rhetoric was likely based on this same flawed data. The date of the memo would indicate that the client was also aware of the inconsistencies and one can only summize that it was not the first time. It is 'Imperative that you man u know that of le sustain themselves though food y our people p gathering and sale of fish products caught in the bas and estuaries just downstream from this one g g P g Y of two facilities on this water body. We have noticed a dramatic change in the ecosystem of our bas and althou h we have been told that these types of facilities have negligible impact on the Y g YP g environment and shellfish our confidence in our technol❑ is in uestion, as it has become Y gY n apparent that the true impact is not known, as you do not know the validity of your data. In PP p addition the U.S. Environmental . Protection Agency has rated the Bays in Mashpee#1 and #2 � y _ in the State forllu i n while the conditions of the bays can not be solei attributed to this po t o y Y facility you can rest assure that there is significant contribution. We implore you to take immediate corrective action, such as, rescinding the treatment plants expansion permits indefinite) or at the minimum, transfer the responsibility for monitoring P y r; to an independent or government concern with appropriate operational funding and performance s s bond, into perpetuity An inaction on our part threatens our livelihood and possibly our lives. P P y y �' R s ectfully , George Green Jr. Board of Directors cc: � Mashpee Selectmen; C.C.Times; Ma hP ee Enterprise, D.E.P., Lakeville P �