07/11/2022 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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M Mashpee Select Board Minutes July 11, 2022 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Presentation b the )pp rtment of Environmental Protection:w (continued) It was noted a town may apply for a Watershed Permit for the entire town. If the watershed is shared the town would enter into an Intermunicipal Agreement with the adjacent town. This would represent cost efficiencies and maximization to eliminate the water impairments. Discussion followed with regards to the degrading lakes, ponds and rivers in Mashpee where phosphorus has been identified. The proposed Regulatory Framework does not appear to benefit these waters. It was disclosed this is a nitrogen specific approach although it is recognized there is a need to eliminate phosphorus. Reducing the impacts with the Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology Septic System and the combination of approaches may improve phosphorus conditions. The proposal includes annual reporting. The 5-year review would assist to better understand the target and whether the plan is failing or succeeding. For comparison, the Town of Chatham is moving forward with sewering, Brewster will use land use mitigation and PBR's and Wellfleet has a mix of options to consider. It appears that many Cape towns are leaning towards the Watershed Permit to gain a wide variety of strategies to combat this problem. In addition to federal and state funding projected to assist with remediation the DEP was asked if the state is moving forward with purchase/power agreements from anticipated offshore wind projects that involve coastal areas. It seems the effected communities should benefit by receiving direct contributions for land and water conservation. At this time ARPA funding is included in budget projections for remediation. It is not known if there would be future contributions to this endeavor from offshore wind power. It was recommended private wastewater treatment systems be monitored to ensure current standards and discharge permitting is met. And, in an effort to support rivers, funding was requested to support dredging initiatives. The proposed Watershed Permit is a 20-year permit instead of the traditional 5-year permit based on the Town approved Watershed Management Plan. A town may achieve their TMDL to meet water quality standards in advance of the 20-year timeframe which is considered the minimum. To address the problem and gain reduction in prudent course Title V regulations need to be tackled. There was a question if Innovative Alternative systems were relied upon would they likely achieve standard? The answer was affirmative. If the Town targeted sewering around ponds and lakes to eliminate phosphorus is this action permissible under a Watershed Permit. The answer was also affirmative.