07/11/2022 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 Mashpee Select Board Minutes July 11, 2022 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Presentation Department of Environmental Protection: (continued) With its Plan in place, and with agreements with adjacent communities, the Town of Mashpee is automatically in the Natural Resource Area. Mashpee has an EPA approved and EEA certified 208 Plan. Of the 30 Cape watershed Mashpee contributes nitrogen load to (3) shared watershed that have an EPA approved Nitrogen TMDL. The bays include Three Bays, Waquoit Bay and Popponesset Bay. Unless the Town obtains a Watershed Permit for a specific Watershed, all properties within the specified watershed with septic systems will be required to upgrade their Title V system with a Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology Septic System in 5 years from the promulgation of the regulations. The Watershed Permit duration is 20 years for Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology Septic Systems. It was noted the draft rule concept has been presented to the Town's of Brewster, Harwich, Chatham and Orleans. The benefit of working collectively with neighboring communities was briefly reviewed and it was recommended town officials from these towns be contacted to further understand this process which includes enforcement and nitrogen crediting with aquaculture. Other standard approaches include sewering in the use of permeable reactive barriers (PBR's). The DEP has also been discussing the proposed framework with several off -Cape communities and are soliciting comment before the draft regulations are released. Participating in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program is necessary. Mashpee is deemed a Tier 1 disadvantaged community. Projects with a significant benefit to water quality are ranked highly. The deadline for a vote of Town Meeting is June 30, 2023. The timeline can take up to two years. A readiness to move forward with a priority to proceed in construction is favorable, and planning is the key. The MassDEP is expected to continue to move forward on this program to ensure the Governor's recommended allocation of funding is successful. As discussion continued it was noted under the Clean Water Trust funds are allocated to communities to fund their Community Septic Management Program (CSMP) offering 2% interest rate loans to homeowners to replace their failed septic systems. The 2% includes administrative costs. There was a question of process regarding the use of CSMP funds and if it is possible to fund assistance for all homeowners collectively. Such as a pool of funds to support activities under the Watershed Permit. The question was not fully defined, however, the MassDEP indicated they would work with the Town to support this effort as there are mixed approaches under the Watershed Permit. It was noted the Clean Water Trust is moving forward with a sliding scale based on income for septic upgrades and replacements. Those earning $120,000 or less would qualify for a 0% interest loan. Those earning over $180,000 per year would repay loans at the rate of 4%. Funding is limited to communities that are a part of the Cape & Islands Water Trust.