Coming before the Mattapoisett Select Board on December 20 was Board of Health Chairman Carmelo Nicolosi and Board of Health Agent Gail Joseph to discuss pending Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations for limiting nitrogen in watershed areas.
The DEP plans to implement new regulations for nitrogen-sensitive areas as early as January 2023 that would compel impacted cities and towns to either seek a town-wide permit that demonstrates improvement in the leaching of nitrogen into watershed areas or require property owners to upgrade their private septic systems to install denitrification technology at an estimated $50,000 per household.
“Right now, the DEP is focusing on the Cape,” said Nicolosi. But he noted that they will look at the Aucoot area in Mattapoisett and the waters off the state reservation Nasketucket. He said that if the town does nothing, everyone in an identified (nitrogen-sensitive) area will have to upgrade their private systems. If the town seeks a watershed permit, it will have five years to demonstrate improvements. The permit remains in place for up to 20 years.
Select Board member Jordan Collyer called the plan, “half baked.” Water and Sewer Superintendent Henri Renauld said that there are only two denitrification systems on the market currently, while also commenting that presently, groundwater samples have low nitrogen levels. Collyer said the state did not provide sufficient information or guidance in the matter, but that it was important to send a letter to the state expressing questions and concerns.
Nicolosi thought testing of potential areas of concern should be done by the town now and that the Board of Health would be seeking grants to conduct such research. He further impressed upon the Select Board the importance of filing for a watershed permit.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that the DEP would be holding four information sessions remotely so the public could ask questions and get information directly from the agency. The sessions will be held on January 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 6:00 pm. Zoom details are available on the town’s website, mattapoisett.net, he said.
In the category of good news, Collyer said that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has agreed to assume financial responsibility for the installation of planking on Phase 1b of the Bike Path for the next 20 years. “We’ll be responsible for general maintenance,” he stated, but the bigger concern, defective planking which has been resolved by the state, remains the state’s issue to deal with in the future, should more problems arise with the replacement materials. A Memorandum of Understanding will be issued to solidify the agreement, he said.
Earlier in the meeting, the Select Board approved the use of ARPA funds for various infrastructural needs, including $250,000 for the purchase of new water meters, $43,600 for town-wide new, telecommunication radio equipment and $98,280 for a radio replacement and enhancements for the Fire Department.
Lorenco noted that the manner in which ARPA funding is used is very specific and that these expenditures are not coming from the taxpayer. Lorenco also announced that the Fire Department has received a grant in the amount of $15,500 for hose replacements, and the Police Department has received $100,000 for body cameras.
Eagle Scout candidate Murray Copps received permission to move forward with his Eagle project, the installation of swallow boxes in marsh areas. He said that swallows are a species in decline and are beneficial to humans – they eat mosquitos, which can carry the EEE virus.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell