Scholarship Information < Archived News:
UCANE E-News
September 11, 2009
Submitted by Michael Galli
Legislative Liaison
Water and Sewer Projects Poised to Receive Share of $185M of ARRA Funds
The $185M in ARRA funds distributed to Massachusetts CWSRF and DWSRF earlier this year is beginning to flow into many of Massachusetts’ Northeast Region’s much needed water and sewer infrastructure projects. Lowell is set to receive $3.1M to help with the costs of two projects to improve its regional sewer system, which also serves Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, and Tyngsborough, along with $4.7 million in green infrastructure money. One of Lowell’s improvement projects is a $35M upgrade to the City’s wastewater Treatment Plant. The other is a $32M project to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows. The first phase of the Lowell Wastewater Treatment Plant project, aimed to begin in October 2009, involves replacing the chemical scrubber system, and updating sludge and septage-handling equipment. A later phase calls for replacing pumps and updating the electrical system. The CSO project, which began in the Highlands neighborhood in June 2009, involves installing drain pipes in certain sections of the City to reduce potential overflows in those areas.
Woburn is poised to receive stimulus funds for a $22.3M project that calls for construction of a new treatment plant serving its Horn Pond well field, and a new water storage facility on Rag Rock.
Newburyport is planning a $26M modernization of its wastewater plant. The work includes upgrading the wastewater disinfection and sludge dewatering systems, both of which will help reduce odors; constructing a new control building; replacing roofs; and installing new pumps.
Amesbury is eligible for just over $4M in combined stimulus money for separate projects to improve its drinking water treatment plant and distribution system.
Additional projects listed on the CWSRF CY2009 IUP include two in both Dracut and Gloucester, and one each in Billerica, Chelmsford, Newburyport, and Saugus.
Projects listed on the DWSRF CY2009 IUP include one each in Lawrence and Salisbury.
Additional eligible SRF projects include projects in Chelsea-Everett, Haverhill and Revere.
Auburn Approves $1.2M to Repair Town Sewer
The Town of Auburn unanimously approved the $1.2 million repair and reconstruction of the Town’s sewer system, removal of infiltration and inflow and to stop paying to send an estimated 900,000 gallons per day of storm water and groundwater to the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District. Thomas J. Healey, chairman of the Sewer Commission, said the cost would be paid from Sewer Department retained earnings or from a “low interest Sewer Relief Fund loan” and would have a minimal effect on ratepayers for the 6,298 connections to the system, and no impact on local taxpayers. Mr. Healey said, “Ultimately, cutting down the flow will cut down our billing from the plant. It is a mandate, but it is also an opportunity. Why pay for additional, unnecessary flow to the treatment plant?”
Worcester Seeking $4M For New Drainage System
Worcester’s City Council’s Public Works Committee asked the City Administration to begin engineering work for a new drainage system in the Brightwood Avenue/Greenfield Street neighborhood and start the permitting process for the dredging of Broad Meadow Brook. The intention is to reduce the flooding that occurs during heavy rainstorms and has led to substantial property damage for several homeowners. The Council Committee wants to see the construction of the new drainage system begin by summer 2010.
A consultant, hired by Worcester, recommended installing new 36” and 54” relief drains parallel to the existing 39” drains in First Street, Brightwood Avenue and Greenfield Street, and new 72” drains in Camden Avenue and Hampton Street. The consultant also recommended dredging 2,600’ of Broad Meadow Brook to improve the flow of the brook and the street drainage system.
The improvements would cost between $2.35M and $3.97M for the relief surface sewer system and $1.62M for the dredging of Broad Meadow Brook - none of which have yet been budgeted for. Paul J. Moosey, Assistant Commissioner of Public Works, said engineering work on the relief surface sewer can begin at this time, but he said funding for construction will not be available until FY2011 at the earliest.
Framingham Proposes $113M in Redesign Projects
Advocates for the project say the recommendation to build a tunnel re-routing Route 135 below Route 126 at the railroad crossing would spur economic development in neighboring Towns and throughout the region. In an online Boston Globe article, Senator Karen Spilka said, “That intersection is an economic hub not only for Framingham but for the region and the state. We really need to prioritize that hub and fix it.” The proposal is due to be unveiled Tuesday, September 15, 2009.
In addition to the Route 126 project, there was mention of a future possibility of tunnels and bridges bypassing the railway at other points. The challenge for the project’s supporters is funding. Local, state and federal officials are working to obtain money to complete the blueprints for the project. Senator Spilka said she has secured roughly $4.5M in ARRA funds assigned for design completion.
Worcester Approved Funding for Three “Green” Projects
The City of Worcester has approved the funding for $1.43M in Federal Stimulus Funds to finance three “Green Energy” programs at the water filtration plant in Holden, MA. Robert L. Moylan Jr., Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, said the MassDEP’s State Revolving Fund has included the City’s three projects in its 2009 Intended Use Plan. Worcester moved swiftly as applications for funding must be filed with the State by September 15, 2009. The three projects include:
- Installation of a 150-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system and associated electrical upgrades.
- Installation of 24-kilowatt hydroelectric generator at the Lynde Brook transfer main pipeline to capture the power of the water that flows by gravity from Lynde Brook Reservoir in Leicester to Holden Reservoir No. 2, where the water filtration plant is located. About 6 million gallons of water a day flow from Lynde Brook to Holden Reservoir No. 2.
- Upgrades to the ventilation system that will reduce natural gas consumption used for heating the filtration plant.
MWRA’s “The Other Side of Harbor Monitoring”
In a response to a series of articles on harbor monitoring in the Boston Globe, Joseph Favaloro, Executive Director of the MWRA Advisory Board, submitted an Op-Ed for publication, in which he addressed an incorrect assumption that the MWRA’s outfall tunnel is the largest source of pollution in Boston Harbor and reminds that it was in fact created to stop pollution.
Mr. Favaloro noted that “After almost 17 years of extensive monitoring - eight years of baseline monitoring before the outfall came on-line and nearly nine years of discharge monitoring since – the data shows the both the outfall and the plant are performing as well or better than predicted with no adverse impacts.”
The MWRA Advisory Board says the scientific evidence is clear and consistent:
- water column dissolved oxygen remains at healthy normal levels
- plankton communities remain diverse and normal
- naturally-occurring nuisance algae bloom events (red tides) have not been aggravated by the discharge
- the bottom animal community is healthy and diverse
- sediment oxygenation remains at healthy levels
- contaminants have not accumulated in sediments near the outfall
- contaminants have not accumulated in flounder or lobster
- Stellwagen Marine Sanctuary waters and sediments are unchanged since the outfall went on-line
The complete Op-ed can be found by visiting
http://www.mwraadvisoryboard.com/Research_Articles/2009_08_Harbor_Outfall.pdf
NOTICE: Buy American
REVISED Nationwide De Minimis Waiver
The EPA has granted a nationwide waiver of the Buy American requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(1) (public interest waiver) for de minimis incidental components of eligible water infrastructure projects funded by ARRA. This action revises the terms under which incidental components qualify for coverage under the public interest de minimis waiver signed and effective on May 22, 2009, and permits the use of non-domestic iron, steel, and manufactured goods when they occur in de minimis incidental components of such projects funded by ARRA that may otherwise be prohibited under section 1605(a).
For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/water/eparecovery/docs/2009_08_10_FR_Revised_De_Minimis.pdf
Final Version: MassHighway Diesel Retrofit Specification
The specification will be included in all MassHighway contracts beginning with those on September 2, 2009. Some changes have been made to the specification and include:
- “Rented diesel equipment greater than 50 brake hp that will be used on site for 30 days or less over the life of the project (i.e., 30 days cumulative) are exempt from this specification.” Previously, this 30 day minimum requirement applied to all Diesel Construction Equipment (DCE).
- “If an additional DCE (greater than 50 brake hp), or permanent replacement is brought on site after work has commenced, the Contractor has 15 calendar days from the time the DCE is brought on site, to install emission control technology per Section 2 of this specification (unless the DCE has an engine that meets the EPA particulate matter (PM) Tier emission standards in effect for non-road diesel engines for the applicable engine power group).” Previously, the time frame to be compliant was 24 hours.
- “Use of a DCE which has been issued a compliance label and which is found without the device is a breach of this contract and will be subject to a stipulated penalty of $2,500.” Previously, this fine was $10,000.
For a complete copy of the Final Version of MassHighway Diesel Retrofit Specification, please email either Lauren Garzik (lgarzik@ucane.com) or Michael Galli (mgalli@ucane.com).
Tel: (617) 471-9955 • Fax: (617) 471-8939 • 300 Congress Street, Suite 101 • Quincy, MA 02169