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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 i Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes—April 17, 2008 Page 4 of 4