Current News:
BEACON HILL BEAT
JUNE 2008
EPA’S LUCY EDMONDSON APPOINTED DEP DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICY & PLANNING
Lucy Edmondson was recently appointed MA DEP’s Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Planning, where she will address the issues of managing water resources, climate change, recycling and reusing solid waste, redeveloping brownfields, and reducing toxic use and emerging contaminants.
At the EPA, Ms. Edmondson led the Energy and Transportation Team in the Office of Ecosystem Protection for the New England Office, where she has worked since 1995. Prior to joining EPA, she was a transportation planner for the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) in Boston, she was a public education coordinator for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Cambridge, and served as Director and Organizer for Public Interest Research Groups in Oregon and Massachusetts. Ms. Edmondson holds an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and a Masters Degree in Environmental Policy from Tufts University.
UCANE has worked with Lucy over the years on air quality issues and we look forward to continuing our working relationship as she joins the DEP.
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DEP HONORS 32 PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS FOR WATER EXCELLENCE
DEP Commissioner Laurie Burt presented thirty-two public water suppliers with the 2007 Massachusetts Public Drinking Water Award, which recognizes public water systems for outstanding performance.
The winning systems were determined based on their compliance with state drinking water regulations, and had no monitoring enforcements or violations, submitted all required reports on time, adhered to water management procedures and had excellent water source protection standards.
The Southampton Water Department received special recognition for winning the 2007 National Rural Waterworks' Great American Water Taste Test. Fall River and Medfield were awarded the Systems Taking Action to Reduce Lead (STARL) Award, which recognizes the collaborative efforts of public water systems and school systems to eliminate lead sources in water.
The following water systems were recognized:
Small Community Systems
East Northfield Water Company
Cheshire Water Department
Palmer Water District #1
West Brookfield Water Department
Warren Water District
Non-transient Non-community Systems
Harvard Forest - Petersham
Medium and Large Community Systems
Concord Water Department
Harwich Water Department;
Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills Water Department — Barnstable
Easton Water Division
Halifax Water Department
Lynn Water and Sewer Commission
Mansfield Water Department
Westford Water Department
Consecutive Systems
Reading Water Department
Wilbraham Water Department
Lynnfield Water District
Belmont Water Department
Chelsea Water Department
Lexington Water Department
North Dighton Fire District
Honorable Mention
Green Meadows School – Hampden
Hampden Housing Authority
Scantic Valley Water District - Hampden & Bridgewater Water Department
Conservation Award
Acton Water Supply District;
Concord Water Department
Mansfield Water Department
Small System Security Award
Dunstable Water Department
Systems Taking Action to Reduce Lead Award
Fall River School Department and Fall River Water Department
Medfield School Department and Medfield Water Department
Special Recognition
Southampton Water Department
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FEDERAL JUDGE RULES MASS HIGHWAY
VIOLATED STORMWATER REGULATIONS
Federal Court Judge William Young ruled that Mass Highway Department violated the federal Clean Water Law by failing to develop an adequate stormwater cleanup plan for its 2,500 miles or roads and bridges. Three environmental groups, the Conservation Law Foundation, Charles River Watershed Association, and the Leominster Land Trust brought the case against the state agency, for failing to properly implement a provision of the federal Clean Water Act requiring the control and clean-up of polluted water that runs off roadways into neighboring lakes and streams.
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CAPE COD SEEKS "NO DISCHARGE"
APPROVAL FROM EPA
The EPA is reviewing a proposal from the Commonwealth for the designation of Cape Cod Bay and the surrounding town waters of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, Brewster, Dennis, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Sandwich and Bourne as a “No Discharge Area.” If the proposal is approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within town boundaries and Massachusetts state waters.
To qualify for a No Discharge Area designation, the applicant must demonstrate that there are enough “pump-out” facilities where boaters can get their sewage holding tanks pumped out. This particular area has an estimated 3,250 boats, of which only 2,010 are large enough to have a head or toilet on board. There are a total of seven pump-out facilities in the proposed area and two pending pump-out facilities.
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