Results from a wastewater treatment study the town contracted CDM Smith to undertake suggest that septic systems in the region of Aucoot Cove contribute more to nitrogen pollution in the cove than the three unlined sludge lagoons at the wastewater treatment facility, with 31% and only 2%, respectively.

The data from the study suggests a prior study by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, of which the Environmental Protection Agency derived its data for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit, was wrong in its analysis of the lagoons.

“The lagoons don’t leak as much as the analysis suggests,” said Bernadette Klaft of CDM Smith on May 3 at the Marion Board of Selectmen meeting.

Klaft broke down the sources of nitrogen pollution in the cove, including agriculture/cranberry bogs in the vicinity (27%), undeveloped land (21%), and residential fertilizer use (9%), with the lagoons being the least polluting.

“Removal of lagoon nitrogen load would have an insignificant impact on the overall nitrogen load to Aucoot Cove,” reads the report.

Good news, say selectmen.

Furthermore, CDM Smith representatives say they have met with the EPA and were pleased to report that the EPA is willing to work with the Town of Marion to allow consideration for the suggested options for reducing pollution and meeting the NPDES permit pollutant limits – options other than eliminating the lagoons entirely, which would have forced the town to redesign and upgrade its entire wastewater treatment plant.

A study on eelgrass in the cove was also in the town’s favor, with data – including satellite imaging and aerial photographs dating back to 1988 – showing that the cove never was a viable habitat for eelgrass.

“Based on the available data,” the report states, “…the lack of evidence of eelgrass suggests that eelgrass would be a poor metric for interpreting the environmental health of Inner Aucoot Cove between Haskell Island and the salt marsh.”

As for viable solutions, the engineering firm conducted an analysis on the sludge lagoons and an outfall study.

The analysis done on the sludge lagoons and the plant itself show that only ten of the 20 acres is actually needed to effectively run the plant. The finding suggests the town could line the two five-acre lagoons and decommission the third and potentially re-purpose it as a constructive wetland.

“This is not technology that is widely used in New England,” said Klaft, “so it would need to be piloted…. But it’s a very green solution…”

The outfall study came up with four alternative routes to extend the outfall point further out into deeper water at Aucoot Cove. Another approach would be to discharge through land disposal, which would require transporting the treated effluent water to another area and into the ground, although Klaft said this part of the feasibility study was only in the very preliminary stage.

She said there are some undeveloped tracts of land that could accommodate this option, an option that is appealing because it would no longer require a NPDES permit from the EPA, but rather a groundwater discharge permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Klaft said the EPA looked favorably on the selectmen’s action to acquire a grant to work in partnership with Mattapoisett to study the feasibility of connecting residences in that area to Marion’s municipal sewer service, which could potentially reduce the nitrogen load that septic systems currently contribute to pollution in the cove by 60%.

“They (the EPA) see that,” said Klaft. “There’s nothing better you can do … than sewer those homes.”

The town’s recent option to explore regionalizing wastewater treatment with the Towns of Plymouth, Wareham, Carver, and Bourne, and also with Mass Maritime Academy, also appealed to the EPA.

Klaft said the EPA would consider entering an administrative consent order with the town to agree to terms for the NPDES permit and an attainable timeline, as well.

What are the potential costs of four viable options for the town laid out by the engineers?

Option 1, which would comply with the NPDES permit as written, entails the reduction in ten acres of the sludge lagoons, re-purposing the one 10-acre lagoon into a constructive wetland, transporting sludge offsite and using the existing outfall, ranges from $15 million to $18.1 million.

Option 2, which includes extending the outfall to the head of the salt marsh and lining ten acres of lagoons, was estimated at $15.7 million to $22.4 million; with the ten acres of constructive wetlands included in the project, $14.3 million to $17.2 million.

Option 3, which extends the outfall to the outer Aucoot Cove and lines ten acres of lagoon, ranges from $25.3 million to $32.6 million.

Option 4, which includes land disposal via infiltration basins in area undeveloped lands with ten acres of lined lagoons ranges from $15.4 to $30.1 million, and with the constructive wetland added, $14 to $24.9 million. The price tag would depend on the location of the infiltration basins from the wastewater plant, and the estimated costs are based on a range of 1 to 4 miles.

“We need to do whatever we need to … get to the next step and we need to at least explore the other alternatives,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Stephen Cushing.

The selectmen voted to allow Town Administrator Paul Dawson and the engineers to move forward in further negotiations with the EPA, but only in discussions. No commitments yet, Dawson said.

“Ultimately, it may not happen,” said Dawson about the prospect of a favorable outcome for the town and one of the options. “But it could….”

In other matters, this was Selectman Jonathan Henry’s final meeting in the Town House as a selectman, and Cushing and Selectman Jody Dickerson had kind words for Henry. They also brought a cake to celebrate Henry’s 12 years on the board.

“It’s been quite a ride,” said Henry. “We respected each other’s opinions along the way … and there were a lot of people who helped show me the way.”

Where else could a furnace repairman find a better opportunity than the one Marion has given him, asked Henry. “It’s been a wonderful and rewarding experience, and I don’t regret a minute of it.”

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen will be on May 17 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

Henri Renauld, Mattapoisett’s water and sewer superintendent, came before the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on April 25 for the town’s Notice of Intent application to dig three new 45-foot deep wells off 121 Acushnet Road.

Renauld and his team described the site as entirely within the 100-foot buffer zone of the Mattapoisett River, thus requiring the project to meet regulations not only from Mattapoisett’s Conservation Commission, but also from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.

The first phase of the project, which could start as early as May, will be the abandonment of 26 shallow wells. Another phase will be the removal of trees and other vegetation from several hundred square feet with associated remediation of approximately 760 square feet that will be planted with an herbaceous native seed mix.

Renauld said that a letter from Natural Heritage mandates protection for Eastern box turtles if the project takes place during the active breeding season between May and October.

Chairman Bob Rogers asked Environmental Agent Elizabeth Leidhold to write a detailed order of conditions for the commissioners to review incorporating comments from the DEP and Natural Heritage along with standard conditions from their office. The project received a unanimous Negative 3 determination.

Later in the evening, Leidhold reported that she had been in email contact with Ted Gowdy regarding concerns raised by her and the commission for construction taking place at The Preserve at The Bay Club.

Leidhold displayed updated photographic evidence that, although the site had been “cleaned up a bit,” some concrete had spewed over a vast area when silk bags exploded off the end of long suction hoses. The area in question, she explained, was still far from ideal or in full compliance with the conditions set by the commission.

When discussing the need for a de-watering pit, Leidhold said Gowdy had not wanted to use them due to soil conditions. That prompted commissioner Mike King to express frustration saying, “But if you don’t feel like doing the work because you don’t feel like doing the work…”

Commission member Peter Newton said, “Silk bags have to be checked more often.”

Rogers added, “It’s a situation he needs to police himself,” referring to what Leidhold believes was a lack of oversight on Gowdy’s part.

“I guess we need to keep on eye on it from time to time,” Rogers said while encouraging the commission to visit the site.

On a lighter note, earlier in the evening Paul Cavanagh of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation met with the commissioners for the state’s Request for Determination of applicability for maintenance work needed at Nasketucket Bay State Reservation.

Cavanagh said that public use of the popular recreation area had resulted in unsanctioned trails being cut through various woodlands and marsh areas. He said that the MDCR wished to post signage that would clearly denote trails, install three granite benches, and construct three bog bridges. The project received a Negative 3 approval with standard conditions.

A Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Lori Cotter, 4 David Street, for a new septic system received a Negative 2 determination; and Matthew Gamache, DBA, Mattapoisett Diner, received a Negative 3 for repaving the business’ parking lot.

Due to the upcoming annual town meeting, the next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for May 23 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

The Marion Energy Management Committee settled around the table in the front room of the Marion Music Hall on the night of April 25 to discuss a new solar energy farm proposal in Marion.

Present was Mark Croke, a representative from Clean Energy Collective, who is proposing a solar energy partnership with the Town of Marion. He had come to answer the board’s questions about a proposed solar energy farm in Marion.

“Does this require any major investors?” EMC member Bill Saltonstall asked.

“Well, it requires an anchor tenant or two,” Croke explained. “Schools, universities, hospitals – institutions which aren’t going anywhere. Half of the community solar farm is fractured for the anchor tenants; the other half is split into smaller slices for residential and municipal use.”

Croke then went on to explain the way a community solar farm would work. “We build farms, they produce energy which is released into the grid, and the energy produces dollars. What happens is that at the end of the month, anchors pay only $.85 on every dollar that their energy produces, and residents pay $.90 of every dollar produced. In addition, for every new resident who joins, the town receives a one-time check for $300. It’s a money saver for everyone,” Croke said. “I know my bill would be cheaper if my town had solar energy. My electric bill is about $320 a month … I’ve got to get my kids out of the shower,” he joked.

“Flush the toilet,” Chairman David Pierce suggested cheerfully.

“Does the person who signs up for their home pay any money?” asked committee member Jennifer Francis. When told that no, they don’t, she questioned, “So what might stop a person from signing up?”

“Well, you sign a 23-page contract, and the contract is good for 20 years. Really, the contract and the 20-year term are what stall people,” Croke said. “But you can leave the contract without penalty; you just need to give six months notice. I mean, if you can’t give six months notice,” he said, “you will have to forfeit the penalty, but you can get out.”

“Will the solar farm need to be in Marion if we say yes?” Pierce asked.

“Well there’s one planned in Tucker Hill, but it’s not necessary,” Croke explained. “Arrays could be located in other nearby towns.”

“So we’d be your first town in the area,” Francis mused. “If we were to become your first town, would you increase payments to the town per account? It’s risky, and we have a generous program, so why should we move? I think we should be rewarded for taking the risk.”

“Would you give up earning $100 per account – moving from $300 per account to the town to $200 per account – to make a 15 percent savings per resident instead of a 10 percent savings?” Croke asked.

Francis agreed that this was a much better alternative.

“Well, I can’t promise it,” Croke admitted, “but it’s definitely something I will talk with Clean Energy about.”

The conversation then shifted to the Future Generation Wind Project located in Plymouth. Marion was the first town to buy shares in the wind power farm.

Saltonstall had good news on the potential savings from the wind power. “The project will start operation in May,” he said, “and they’d like to have full power by June. The savings are expected to be 24.5 percent in the first few months, and rising to 30 percent if prices go up. That’s a full year savings of around $130,000. Of course, we won’t have that this year,” he acknowledged, “because we won’t have a full year, but think about the next few years and how much money that will be.”

Francis then gave an update on Marion’s new electric car, now operated by the Marion Recreation Department. “I’m happy to say that the Leaf cost Marion exactly $0,” she said proudly. “The town will be applying for two more Leafs when everything is all set.”

She added, amused, “I read that story about the Crown Vic’s (the former car of the Recreation Department) gas tank falling out the moment that the Leaf arrived. I thought that was hilarious.”

Pierce looked at committee member Eileen Marum with a raised eyebrow. “Eileen, did you have anything to do with that?” he joked. She laughed and waved it off, saying, “Nope, not me, sorry.”

As the meeting wound down, Pierce addressed the board as term expirations neared. “I hope everyone will want to continue. We have a brilliant team,” he said as he looked around the table.

“And the funnest team!” Francis chirped behind him.

“And we don’t get mad at each other, that’s rare,” Pierce added, as Norm Hills nodded on the other side of the table.

The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee will take place on May 23 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall.

By Andrea Ray