08/19/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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Joint Base Cape Cod(JBCC)—There is an aging water treatment facility at the JBCC that processes 100,000 gallons of wastewater per day.The Selectmen have recently received a proposal to update and enlarge this facility in conjunction with several other towns that would process 4.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.This proposal is in a preliminary phase.The idea is appealing on the surface because could potentially export a big part Mashpee's waste. But many large questions have not yet been answered including what the financial and environmental cost is to pumping Mashpee's sewage up hill to the Base and where the wastewater discharge would go.Moving forward with Phase I will not preclude participation in a regional plant if these plans were to be successful. In fact, it could be a win- win because Phase I is expected to help us learn whether the shellfish can remediate at the expected levels. If shellfish could save$90 million on the existing Plan, they could save a similar amount on the JBCC plan; we should know the answer before committing to JBCC. New Technologies—There is a lot of research going on that takes innovative approaches to solving the nitrogen problem.These include alternate septic and de-nitrification technologies. Many opponents to the Plan hold out hope that there will be a new technology that will emerge that will be superior to the proposed solution. Here too, it's important to remember that Phase I will not preclude the adoption of future alternatives. In fact, it ensures that the Town has more flexibility by committing only to one segment of the plan rather than a huge utility project all at once. Financing—The Plan does not address financing.There are efforts underway at the state and federal levels to find creative financing for these projects.Getting started on Phase 1 shows our partners at other levels of government that Mashpee is serious and smart about how we are attacking this significant challenge. Call for Action The Town of Mashpee is facing a huge and daunting challenge.There will be much more to discuss and much more to learn. But the good work of the last few decades leaves us with a common sense,cost- effective way of moving forward. We urge you to Fund Phase I. Begin the cleanup of our waterways.Stick to the core concepts of Adaptive Management and finding Hybrid Solutions. Let's begin the journey to clean our bays, preserve our environment and protect our property values, but remain open to adaptive management along the way. Submitted by Mary Adams Oleksak, Nancy Curran, Glenn McCarthy and John Weltman i Cape Cod Commission,Cape Cod Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan,the"208 Plan,"data for Popponesset Bay watershed. I'Presentation by Brian Howes to Mashpee Selectmen July 22, 2019 from Water Quality Monitoring Program joint project of the Town of Mashpee, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and UMass Dartmouth