HomeMy Public PortalAboutWMSC Minutes 2008-04-17 Date Approved: May 15,2008
TOWN CL, ERKSOFF CE
08 MY 15 PM 2: 41
For Official Use Only
WASTEWATER AIANAGEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE
Minutes of April 17, 2008
A meeting of the Wastewater Management Steering Committee was called to order at 9:00 a.m. in the
Skaket Meeting Room at the Orleans Town Hall. Members Present: Augusta McKusick(Board of
Health); Sims McGrath(Planning Board);Ann Hodgkinson(Board of Water Commissioners); Judith
Bruce(Conservation Commission);John Hinckley(Board of Selectmen); George Meservey(Planning.
Director);Lou Briganti(Water Superintendent). Also Present: Michael Giggey,Heather Merriman and
Kevin Olsen(Wright-Pierce); and members of the Citizen's Advisory Committee. Absent: Walter
Bennett(Finance Committee).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 20,2008
MOTION: On a motion by Judith Bruce, seconded by Sims McGrath,the Board voted to approve the
minutes of March 20,2008.
VOTE: 4-0-1 The motion passed by a majority. (Gussie McKusick abstained).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:April 3,2008
MOTION: On a motion by Ann Hodgkinson, seconded by Sims McGrath,the Board voted to approve
the minutes of April 3,2008.
VOTE: 3-0-1 The motion passed by a majority. (Judith Bruce abstained).
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Board of Selectmen-Hinckley reported that he and David Dunford were invited to speak on
a television program with General Jimmy Dishner(Retired)on Channels 3 (Upper Cape) & 17
(Lower Cape)where the budget and wastewater issues were discussed and the public was
informed of the Orleans wastewater educational process.
Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes—April 17, 2008 Page 1 of 4
Conservation Commission-Bruce reported on the following issues:
o The Conservation Commission will be assisting with funding for the flyover in
conjunction with Chatham this year from Coast Guard Beach to the point of Monomoy in
order to document changes to the coastline.
o The Pleasant Bay Alliance and Friends of Pleasant Bay are anticipating the Army Corps
Project known as the John Ramsey Hydrology Study which is an analysis which will
provide information for the water quality model from updates regarding the flushing in
Pleasant Bay resulting from the new break from the ocean into Pleasant Bay. It is
anticipated that this study can proceed in future years with minor modifications from
ongoing updated data.
o The Orleans Pond Coalition has a display in Snow Library.
Board of Water Commissioners-Hodgkinson asked Wastewater Management Steering Committee
members for input to the issues and procedures for implementing sewers.
Planning Board-McGrath reported on Planning Board discussions with regard to a Cape-wide study
done by Carol Ridley&Associates for the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative on the
implications of various sewering scenarios.
Planning Department-Meservey reported that the Board of Selectmen has proposed a Soil Erosion
Sediment Control General Bylaw for the town that would require any development to contain all
sediment on-site to prevent erosion and washouts into streets. Meservey stated that this is
management of stormwater which could have a minor impact on nutrient loading.
Meservey reported on correspondence between the Town of Orleans and the University of
Massachusetts regarding missing Massachusetts Estuaries Project reports and noted that a legal
opinion from the University of Massachusetts was that University research projects are not
considered to be public records(an opinion that is not in agreement with Orleans Town Counsel's
opinion),but the town has decided not to pursue this issue any more at this time.
McKissick expressed concern that Orleans is proceeding forward with the Comprehensive
Wastewater Management Plan without the benefit of the Total Maximum Daily Load's(TMDLs)
for the Nauset Estuary,but stated that Orleans is confident enough in the placeholder numbers
which will be part of a phased in plan over a number of years.
WASTEWATER EDUCATION PLAN
John Hodgkinson gave a report on the progress of the wastewater educational plan. McKusick stated that
all town meeting posters must be cleared by the moderator or they will be removed,even from the lobby
outside the town meeting room.
Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes—April 17,2008 Page 2 of 4
PHASE 5
The committee discussed the need to hold two meetings(one in the afternoon and one in the evening)for
the roll-out of the Phase 5 report. McKusick updated the committee on an upcoming brief wastewater
presentation to the Board of Selectmen after the May elections.
SITE 241
Giggey discussed the following letter with the Wastewater Management Steering Committee:
® Wright-Pierce letter entitled,"Orleans Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan: Cape Cod
Bay Impacts Associates with Effluent Disposal at Site 241",dated April 15, 2008
Giggey reported on various constraints/limitation issues with Site 241 (the site of the existing Tri-Town
Septage Treatment Facility)with the Wastewater Management Steering Committee:
• Surficial loading(the amount of gallons that can be put down based on the surficial soils) . The
Department of Environmental Protection agrees with Wright-Pierce that there is adequate land
area at that site to handle the highest flows that might be associated with any of the various plans.
• Mounding caused by groundwater moving toward a pond or embayment. Giggey stated that for
Plans 1 and 2,the effluent disposal will not create a mound that is of troublesome proportions and
there will still be plenty of room between the ground surface and the top of the mound.
• Giggey reported that research into a previous concern about potential flow to Rock Harbor with
nitrogen components has resulted in the news that it will not be problematic.
• The need for at least four feet of unsaturated soil in mounding(from the ground surface to the top
of the mound)—this site will require at least 30 feet(although there is a question whether a rise in
the water table would compromise nearby septic systems,flood nearby basements,and cause a
large amount of flow to burst through the ground surface and flow toward Namskaket Marsh.
Giggey reported that the good news is that there was less than 10 feet of rise in the groundwater
at this site.
TRI-TOWN SEPTAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Giggey and Merriman discussed the following letter with the Wastewater Management Steering
Committee:
® Wright-Pierce letter entitled, "Orleans Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan:Truck
Traffic Associated with Tri-Town Site",dated April 10,2008.
Giggey stated that there are approximately 5,000 large truck trips from multiple Cape towns to the Tri-
Town Septage Treatment Plant and noted that sewers would reduce the number of truck trips to the plant.
Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes—April 17, 2008 Page 3 of 4
DISCUSSION
Using various charts,Merriman explained the number of treatment facilities and effluent disposal sites
associated with each of the three estuaries. Merriman noted a chart for Plan 1 (which would be
decentralized)where the intent is to remove nitrogen first in the watersheds that are most severely
impacted.
Merriman explained the following four possible treatment plant locations:
• Site 241 -Cape Cod Bay-associated with one effluent disposal site.
• Site 321 -Nauset System-associated with two effluent disposal sites.
• Sites 111 and 163—Pleasant Bay watershed-associated with five effluent disposal sites.
Giggey commented that some good news from the hydrogeologic study indicates that Site 241 can be
used for both treatment and disposal. The committee discussed various pros and cons of the effectiveness
of the various phases of the proposed wastewater plans and meeting the Total Maximum Daily Load
requirements. Giggey noted that in order to avoid excess truck traffic through town,it is generally good
to locate treatment plants close to highway access.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: A motion was made by Judith Bruce,and seconded by Ann Hodgkinson that the meeting
be adjourned at 11:40 p.m.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
C --
Karen C. Sharpless
Recording Secretary
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Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes—April 17, 2008 Page 4 of 4