'•''"
1999 State of the New England Environment
U.S. Environmental Protection Age
New England Office
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Cover artwork was based on a photograph (White Mt. National Forest)
taken by Jim Berry, EPA-New England
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Open Letter to the
People of New England
Today's most significant environmental challenges require EPA and state environmental agencies in adopt some
very different strategies and approaches from those we have used in the past. And, most importantly, they require
us to better connect our efforts to those of our citizens who arc deeply involved in environmental issues in their
own communities.
EPA-New England recognizes that need very dearly. This has led us to restructure our enterprise, use stronger
science and smarter economics in our work, and most notably, to forge coalitions with others - among them
businesses, environmental advocates, and municipal leaders. All of this and more goes into our vision of EPA-
New England as a laboratory for bold experimentation in new approaches to environmental protection.
Although we continue to learn and experiment, the results in this report show we are achieving some real success:
•An EPA-lcd community collaborative is bringing environmental improvements to the Charles River in
Boston, as we move towards our goal of making it fishable and swimmable by Earth Day 2005.
•We are working with a dynamic group of New England mayors to clean up contaminated sites and re-
energize urban economies. And our Urban Environmental Initiative has built community coalitions in
Hartford, Providence, Boston and elsewhere to help neighborhoods in these cities win their battle against
asthma and lead poisoning.
•Major clean-up agreements have been achieved in New Bedford and Pitisfleld, Massachusetts and
Burlington, Vermont through the involvement of local citizens, resulting in substantial ermronmental gains
without years of costly lawsuits.
•Substantial improvements in environmental and economic performance arc being achieved through our
assistance and pollution prevention efforts- the most ambitious in the country.
•A targeted, risk-based enforcement strategy has led to more criminal penalties and more people going to jail
for environmental lawbreaking than under any previous administration in EPA-New England's history.
Huge challenges still lie ahead: Sprawl and unplanned development are eating up our open spaces and wildlife
habitat. Our waters are contaminated by stormwater run-off and other diffuse sources of pollution. Our health is
threatened by persistent chemicals like mercury and excessive chlorine in our drinking water. And our planet is
faced with the specter of climate change.
These problems will not be solved wirnout a shared commitment and cooperative approach. As Benjamin
Franklin, a son of New England, said in describing citizen activism in his times, "We must all hang together, or we
shall all hang separately." That is true for us today as well. We must continue to work together to shape our vision
and guide our efforts as we strive to bring common sense to common problems for the common good. Fhat
remains our firm commitment to all New Englanders.
John DeVUlars
Regional Administrator
EPA-New England Office
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Dedication
To the mothers of Woburn, Massachusetts who lost their children to
leukemia and turned that loss into a campaign for environmental justice
for us all; and to the hundreds of citizen activists across New England
who carry that fight forward in their communities every day.
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Table of Contents
Introduction 4
Public Health 6
Children's Health 14
Stewardship in Action 16
Global Partnerships 22
New England's Ecosystems.... 25
web this symbol indicates a website
address is referred to in the text
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Introduction
"Information is the currency of democracy."
—Thomas Jefferson
New England is a land of both tradition and innovation. Well established small-town democracy, a tradition of
educational excellence and a heritage of cultural and intellectual leadership have lasted since the earliest days of
English settlement here. At the same time, New England has also always been creating and inventing. From the
revolutionary actions of Hancock and Adams, to the mechanical innovations of Eli Whitney, and the philosophy of
Thoreau, up to the biomedical discoveries of the present day, New England has been a crucible for new ideas.
At EPA-New England, we have proudly adopted this heritage—keeping those traditions that work, while creating new
approaches and new ideas to improve upon them. Over the last 28 years we have seen many successes in our
mission of protecting New England's environment and the health of the residents who depend upon it, and we value
that tradition of success. But as new challenges occur, new approaches are needed. We at EPA-New England have
committed ourselves to embracing the New England tradition of relentless experimentation and improvement. Our
goal is to not only work for New England, but to also become, as New England has been many times, a place to
develop ideas and models for the rest of the country.
One of our improvements began five years ago as a new tradition at EPA-New England: the annual State of the New
England Environment report. This report has two aims. First, to present to the people of New England a picture of the
current status of their environment: its present state, and the threats it faces. And second, to show what we at EPA
are doing to meet those threats, and how we are making progress towards smarter, cleaner and cheaper environmen-
tal protection for the citizens of our region.
New Directions
Three themes stand out in this year's report. First, EPA-New England is continuing to focus on the places of New
England, measuring our success not by bureaucratic accounting, but on the effect we have on the places we are
charged with protecting. We are continuing to expand our commitment to work in partnership with communities,
businesses, and governments of New England. And finally, we are addressing new challenges and new issues that
face our environment as we move into the next millennium.
New England Places
From the sandy shores of Cape Cod to the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, from the great north woods
to bustling cities, New England's places are rich and varied. At EPA-New England we are tailoring our approaches to
the different challenges of our region's diverse places. This year, one section of the State of the New England Environment
report focuses on the watersheds of New England. Each of us lives in
a unique watershed— whether the historic and heavily settled
Quinnipiac in Connecticut, or the wild and scenic Aroostoock in
Maine— and as we each learn about our own watershed's heritage and
the problems it faces, we can begin to take steps to preserve its value
for future generations.
Another place where we have directed our activities at EPA-New
England is the urban areas of New England. We are addressing lead
poisoning and asthma that threaten especially the children of our dries.
Photo: FtoyDyital
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Our brownfields program continues to help abandoned properties get cleaned up and put to beneficial use. We believe
that these and other activities to make cities cleaner, safer and more livable are an important step in keeping New
England strong.
Partnerships
One of the major efforts of the last five years at EPA-New England has been changing the relationships we haw with
the businesses and government facilities we regulate, with our state partners in environmental protection, and most
importantly, with the citizens of New England. As highlighted in this report, our office of Assistance and Pollution
Prevention is helping hundreds of businesses to not only comply with environmental regulations, but to make their
environmental performance go beyond what the law requires. We are working closely with the states of New
England on new ways to improve environmental regulation— for instance approving Massachusetts Environmental
Results Program under the federal project XL.
And we are seeing the benefits of getting residents in communities throughout New England to be more involved
with our work. Cooperative agreements to clean up PCBs in Pittsfield and New Bedford, Mass, to remediate the Pine
Street Barge Canal superfund site in Burlington, Vermont and to oversee cleanup at the Massachusetts Military
Reservation would not have been possible without the active involvement of the local communities showing EPA
how to do our job better. This year saw a number of projects, such as the many EMPACT projects, to bring more
useful environmental information to the public. We continue to look for other ways to involve communities in our work
New Challenges
While tremendous progress has been made on the environmental issues of the last twenty-five years, we arc facing
new challenges unimagined at the time the EPA was created. To address some of these challenges, EPA-New England
has initiate programs on persistent chemicals like mercury, and addressed non-point source pollution in innovative
ways like a tradable permit system in Wayland, Massachusetts. We are looking beyond our regional borders, working
with Canada on transborder pollution issues, and cooperating to stop the smuggling of harmful CFCs. Through
cooperative efforts, EPA-New England is also spreading the hard-won expertise of our staff and New England
companies throughout the world.
This year EB\-New England took on a new threat- sprawl and unplanned development, unveiling our action plan for
liveable communities at an EPA-sponsored conference in February, 1999. We see fighting sprawl as a prime example
of our mission here at EPA-New England, because in the end, sprawl, like all environmental problems, is about the
quality of our lives. Unchecked sprawl not only destroys open space, pollutes our water, and increases die air
pollution from automobiles, but it also threatens the character and livability of the communities that make New
England so speciaL By creating new and better ways to combat sprawl and other forms of environmental degrada-
tion, we are working to preserve the best parts of our New England traditions and way of life.
The tradition of dtizeninvorvement in New England is the one we hold most dear, and we at EPA-New England
want to see all of New England's residents tal^ up that tradition. You, the reader can learn more about all of these
issues through this report, through EPAs website and other resources listed at the end of this report, and through
personally experiencing the great richness of New England's environment
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Public Health
"What is the color of wind?"
—Zen Koan
Figure 1
Reductions in Non-Attainment' Areas for
the One-Hour Ozone Standard
Clean Air Act Classifications
^^ severe- 17 H
severe-15 •§
areas with
insufficient air
quality data but
previously
designated Non-
Attainment
serious
moderate
1990 Non-Attainment' Areas
1999 Non-Attainment* Areas
"not meeting standards
source: EPA-New England
O
ver the past two decades, New England has made tremendous progress in
improving its air and water quality; however, there is still much work to be
done. Our greatest challenges are to achieve healthy air throughout New
England, address toxic pollution problems such as mercury and other
persistent toxic chemicals, clean up polluted areas, and target pollution
prevention efforts that support our region's most important renewable resources and
protect the health of all our residents.
Getting the Better of Ozone
When the Clean Air Act Amendments were signed in 1990, large areas in New England
did not meet EPA's ambient air quality standard for ground-level ozone. At that time, the
ozone standard was set at 0.12 parts per million (ppm) based on a one-hour average. Since
then, there has been improvement in ozone levels throughout the region. Currently, the
entire states of Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—and portions of
eastern Massachusetts—have air quality that is better than the one-hour ozone standard
(Figure 1).
Two years ago, EPA announced a new national ambient air quality standard for
ground-level ozone to safeguard the public against longer periods of ozone exposure.
Ozone has been shown to cause inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract,
increasing respiratory infections and sensitivity to allergens. The new eight-hour standard
is set at 0.08 ppm, averaged over an eight-hour period. During the 1998 ozone season
(April through September), there were twenty-eight days when one or more ozone
monitors in New England recorded levels above the eight-hour standard. Although the
number of days in which ozone is over the limit varies from year to year due to climate
conditions, there has been an overall downward trend in ozone levek in the New England
states (Figure 2). This welcome improvement is a direct result of emission controls,
Figure 2
Unhealthy Days - Number of Days in New England
Worse than the Eight-Hour Ozone Standard
100
Vermont
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Maine
Connecticut
B3'84'85'86-87'88'89'90'91-92l93l94l95-96l97-98
source: EPA-New England
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especially cleaner cars and cleaner-burning gasoline, and controls on industries thai emit
volatile organic compounds (VOCs; or nitrogen oxides NOx) (Figure 3). Future efforts,
including EPA rules to limit NOx transport, should make levels fall even further.
Dust in the Wind
High levels of exposure to paniculate matter PM) are known to increase the frequency
of bronchitis, asthma attacks, and respiratory infections. Paniculate matter is also
correlated with increased mortality in the elderly, and has been linked to the development
of cancer. A direct environmental impact of PM is reduced visibility. In 1997, EPA
promulgated a new standard for paniculate matter, covering PM 2.5—fine airborne
paniculate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Previously, the standard was based on
particles less than 10 microns in diameter (PM lOi. Over the next two years, EPA and the
states will be establishing a National PM 2.5 Air Monitoring Network in New England
consisting of nearly one hundred paniculate monitors. In 1999, 67 PM 2.5 monitoring
stations will be operating throughout New England (Figure 4). Data from these monitors
will be used to measure trends and prioritize enforcement approaches, design control
strategies, and undertake further research to better understand the complex nature and
transport of fine panicles in the region.
During 1998, the Connecticut DEP conducted a preliminary monitoring study in
Westport, Bridgeport, and New Haven to obtain advanced PM 2.5 data and gain experi-
ence with the new monitoring equipment. Preliminary study results show that air quality
for the neighborhoods represented by these sites was significantly better than the new
daily (24-hour) standard, but barely better than the annual standard. EPA is already taking
many steps to reduce public health risks from fine paniculate matter through paniculate
emission reduction from stationary and mobile sources. One local example is a program
to rebuild and retrofit buses used for public transportation in urban areas such as Boston,
Hartford, New Haven, and Providence. EPA certification of the equipment used to
modernize urban buses will ensure that the program will lower ambient levels of particu-
lates in the air of our major cities.
Nitrogen Oxides: Less Pollution from Upwind
Last fall, to reduce the transport of ozone and ozone precursors across the eastern
United States, EPA required twenty-two states and the District of Columbia to submit
state implementation plans (SIPs) to reduce emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major
source of ground-level ozone in our environment. These requirements will significantly
lower the amount of NOx transported into New England from Midwestern states, and
should help dramatically reduce the amount of ground-level ozone in our region.
Most reductions will be made by Midwestern states. In New England, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are required to develop NOx reduction plans under
this program. Reducing NOx emissions from electric generating stations and large
Figure 3
Decreasing VOC and NOx
Emissions in New England
1.2
86 «7 «8 «9 <*> <>] -92 V3 V4 S>5 V6
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8
Figure 5
Nitrate and Sulfate
Trends in New England
Rain and Snow
'83 '85 '87 '89 91 93 95 97
—•— NO3 —•— SO4
source: National Atmospheric
Deposition Program
Figure 6
Air Toxic Emissions
are Decreasing
80
. 70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Illl
I
'88 '89 '90 91 92 93 '94 '95 '96 '97
ME
I VT
MA
Rl
ICT
l NH
source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory
industrial stationary sources is expected to be the most cost-effective way to meet these
requirements. EPA guidelines encourage the states to allow the trading of NOx emis-
sion credits between facilities; these guidelines mesh with the regional NOx trading
program for the Northeast already developed by the Ozone Transport Commission, a
commission established by the Clean Air Act of 1990 to coordinate regional efforts to
address ozone in the Northeast. Trading emissions credits will allow the reductions to
be made with the least overall economic cost.
Lowering NOx emissions will also help to reduce other environmental damage associated
with air pollution. NOx emissions contribute as much as one-third of the total nitrogen
loadings to estuaries and bays, accelerating eutrophication—the over-enrichment of
aquatic ecosystems that causes oxygen depletion, die-back of underwater plants, and
reduced populations of fish and shellfish. Nitrogen oxides also contribute to airborne
paniculate matter; regional haze (visibility) problems; global warming; acid rain; and
acidification of lakes, streams, and soils (Figure 5).
Attacking Air Toxics
Since 1988, there has been a 73.6% decline in toxic air releases from manufacturers in
New England. Toxic air pollutants are those that are known to cause cancer or other
serious human health effects. The degree to which a toxic air pollutant affects an
individual's health depends on many factors, including the quantity, duration, and
frequency of exposure, the toxicity of the chemical, and the individual's personal
susceptibility. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments list 188 toxic air pollutants that EPA
is required to control, with standards for specific types of industries. As a result of this
approach, EPA has successfully regulated 49 industrial categories and 155 toxic air
pollutants. EPA estimates that the standards issued to date will result in the reduction of
approximately one million tons of hazardous air pollutants nationwide. The Toxic Release
Inventory (TRJ) data show that major manufacturers reduced releases of air toxics by
25,400 tons between 1988 and 1997. This reduction was the result of a combination of
government programs and industry initiatives, including emission controls for ozone and
other pollution prevention efforts (Figure 6).
Air and Gasoline: Getting Better All the Time
Lead was taken out of gasoline starting in the 1970s and no longer poses a public health
threat in fuels. However, many of the one hundred or more compounds that still remain
in gasoline are toxic. When we refuel and drive our vehicles, small quantities of these
toxic compounds are released into the atmosphere. Reformulated gasoline, which
became available in early 1995, resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration
of a number of toxic organic compounds, especially benzene, toluene and xylene.
These compounds have serious immediate and long-term effects on human health,
ranging from narcosis, nausea, and headaches, to severe blood disorders and leukemia.
Since 1995, the concentration of these compounds has continued to decrease with a
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29% reduction in xylene, a 16% reduction in toluene, and a 34% reduction in benzene.
The control program has had a dramatic and positive effect on cleaning the air in New
England. Additional reductions in the concentration of toxic compounds in gasoline are
mandated for the year 2000, and should result in even lower concentrations of toxic
organic compounds in our air. Although our gasoline is improving, it remains a very toxic
substance.
MTBE: Balancing The Benefits
MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) is a compound used in reformulated gasoline as part
of the successful strategy described above to reduce toxic chemical and hydrocarbon
emissions from gasoline. MTBE, however, creates an unpleasant taste and smell in
drinking water even at low levels, and is a possible human carcinogen. In addition, MTBE
is very soluble in water, so even small gasoline spills can put MTBE into groundwater, and
then into drinking water obtained from wells. When the state of Maine discovered MTBE
in many of its wells in the fall of 1998, Governor Angus King asked EPA to allow the state
to stop using MTBE in its gasoline. EPA-Ncw England agreed to let Maine "opt-out" of
the MTBE requirement, provided that the state can work with EPA to find alternatives
that ofler the same air quality benefits as gasoline with MTBE. In November 1998, EPA
commissioned the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee Panel on Oxygenate Use in
Gasoline to study the potential health effects and risks of MTBE, while working hard to
find alternate ways of reducing air toxics and ozone.
Lines of Defense: Protecting the Water We Drink
Protection of public drinking water supplies from contamination by microbes was a major
theme of the recent reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Over the past year,
EPA-New England has begun implementing many of the provisions set forth in the Act by
promoting an integrated, "multiple-barrier" approach to the protection of drinking water
quality. Multiple-barrier protection is a combination of source water protection, filtration,
chemical disinfection and distribution system safeguards that protect drinking water
quality even if one of the barriers fails. EPA-New England has provided $6.3 million in
funding to the New England states under the Source Water Assessment Program to assess
the threats to every public source of drinking water. EPA has also given S63 million for
states to fund improvements in drinking water treatment systems.
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires water suppliers to deliver Consumer Confidence
Reports starting in 1999. These reports are designed to respond to the public's right to
know by educating consumers about the source and quality of their drinking water. The
reports provide a framework within which consumers can obtain information about their
drinking water, including the source water, contaminants detected, health effects of
contaminants when violations occurred, potential sources of detected contaminants, and
availability of source water assessments.
Figure 7
Historical Trends in
Healthy* Air Quality Days
•85 86 B7 «8 89 S»0 <>1 V3 V3 94 95 ^6
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New Chemical Testing
Endootme disrupting
chemicals (EDO's) are
now suspected of
causing adverse health
effects'in humans,
including birth defects,
breast cancer, prostate
cancer, and infertility.
w
Endocrine disrupting chemicals lEDCsi are a category of substances that mimic
natural hormones in the body. These chemicals are used in thousands of common
products, ranging from pesticides to plastics. They have been shown to cause
developmental and reproductive abnormalities in wildlife, and are suspected of
causing adverse birth defects, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and infertility in hu-
mans. Concern is growing about the presence of EDCs in food, water, and the
environment. EPA is instituting a screening program to evaluate the health and
environmental effects of 15,000 chemicals, each of which is produced in annual
volumes exceeding 10,000 pounds. Chemicals that test positive will be subject to a
series of additional tests, including specific tests to determine their reproductive,
developmental, and behavioral effects. The program will also determine the effects of
endocrine disrupters on ecological systems and wildlife and test combinations of
chemicals. As our knowledge grows, we will be able to determine appropriate actions
to deal with this potential threat. Additional information on this topic can be found on
EPA's website (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/opptendo).
The Problem with Mercury
At first glance, mercury is an attractive substance: shiny and slippery, it easily breaks
apart and then recombines almost magically. It is a naturally occurring element that
moves through the emironment as a result of both natural and human activities.
Unfortunately, it is also a dangerous and persistent toxic contaminant that accumulates
in living tissues, a process known as bioaccumulation. Most of the mercury that
contaminates our New England landscape is from air emissions that are subsequently
deposited on land and in fresh water. The primary sources are incinerators and fossil
fuel combustion facilities, both local and outside the region.
The primary source of mercury exposure in people is through the consumption of
freshwater fish contaminated with methyl mercury. All of the New England states have
issued fish advisories about how much and how often to eat locally caught freshwater
fish. The typical New England consumer eating fish from restaurants or grocery stores
is not in danger of consuming harmful levels of mercury, but individuals who depend
on freshwater fish as a main part of their diet may be at risk. More information on fish
and wildlife advisories can be found on EPA's website (http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish).
Historical data for the Lake Champlain Basin show that mercury pollution from rain and
snow varies seasonally, with the greatest amount of mercury deposited from late spring
through the fall. Lesser amounts of mercury are reported for the winter months. The
amount of mercury in rain and snow measured at this site, located on the west face of
Mount Mansfield, is enough to contaminate fish-eating predators, such as smallmouth
bass, walleye, loons, and kingfishers. The pattern and amount of mercury deposition at
this site are typical of other sites in New England.
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11
EPA is implementing a host of regulatory control programs to reduce the emissions of
mercury from municipal waste incinerators—the largest source of mercury emissions in
the northeast—and other sources such as medical waste incinerators. It is expected that
over the next three years these programs will result in a 90% decrease in mercury
emissions from 1995 levels. EPA-New England has worked with all of the states in the
region to develop additional strategies for reducing mercury emissions, including adoption
of even more stringent controls of emissions, reduction of mercury in consumer prod-
ucts, and the virtual elimination of mercury emissions from hospitals. In addition, we have
been a leader in monitoring mercury deposition, supporting a network of mercury
monitoring stations throughout the region.
The Providence Initiative for Public Health
EPA's Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI) focuses on the unique environmental threats
in urban areas. In Providence, Rhode Island, resources are concentrated on three
fundamental environmental and public health issues facing local residents: prevention of
lead poisoning, urban rivers and wetlands, and vacant lots. The Safe Housing Lead Task
Force is developing a follow-up strategy to its report on lead poisoning prevention
and lead-safe housing. A public campaign is underway to educate local residents about
appropriate use of the Woonasquatucket and Blackstone Rivers, which recently
achieved National American Heritage River designation. Finally, EPA is sampling soil
for lead contamination on target urban vacant lots and working with community
organizations, the Department of Planning, and local residents to transfer these lots
to local residents at the cost of only SI.00. In exchange for the reduced cost, resi-
dents have agreed to restore, revitalize, and maintain the lot in cooperation with the
Providence Redevelopment Agency. UEI funds were also used to clean and remove
illegally dumped materials from over 200 vacant city lots.
ERA is sampling soil for
lead contamination on
target urban vacant lots
and working with commu-
nity organizations, the
Department of Planning,
and local residents to
transfer these lots to local
residents at the cost of
only $1.00
Mercury At Home
Mercury is likely to be found in your home in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent
lights, thermostats, and some types of switches. Whenever possible, it is a good idea to
convert to a non-mercury containing product, such as an electric thermometer. Some
states collect products containing mercury (e.g., unbroken fluorescent lamps) as part of
their household hazardous waste collection program. Even small mercury spills must be
property cleaned up. Never use a vacuum, shop vac, or broom to clean up spilled mercury
—a vacuum will spread the mercury in the air; a broom will spread it out and make it harder
to collect If a thermometer breaks on a smooth surface, use two stiff pieces of paper to
scoop up all the beads into a scalable plastic container. If necessary, use an eye dropper to
capture all the beads, then wipe the area with a damp sponge. All the clean up materials
used (paper, dropper, sponge) and the contaminated portion of any rug or carpet should be
placed in marked plastic containers and taken to a local mercury recycling she. If you have
a larger spill, contact your local health department fbrthe best cleanup method.
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12
f Penobscot Beaver Deceiver is a protective
fencing that is constructed and used to protect
culverts and adjacent roads from being
dammed. This device has resulted in a savings
of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the tribes,
as well as assuring the protection of these
streams and rivers.
Photo: Stop Ijste-Penotecot Nanon
Indian Country
List of Tribal Governments
Tribal Governments:
• Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians
• Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
• Passamaquoddy Tribe, Indian
Township
• Passamaquoddy Tribe, Pleasant Point
• Penobscot Nation
• Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah)
• Narragansett Indian Tribe
• Mashontucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Mohegon Tribe
EPA-New England's fundamental goal in working with New England's Native American
tribes is to assist them in protecting tribal members' health and maintaining and restor-
ing the natural integrity of their ancestral lands. Our major emphasis is close involve-
ment with tribal governments in making environmental policy and management deci-
sions. The first Tribal Agreement in New England was signed with the Houlton Band of
Maliseet at a ceremony in December 1997. EPA-New England now has agreements with
three of nine tribes, with another four expected soon. Direct electronic linkages have
been instituted to expedite communication between tribes and EPA-New England staff.
EPA and other federal partners are working with the Narragansett and Penobscot
Nations to provide environmental data about tribal lands. The tribes received grants to
establish programs and purchase equipment to map their lands, boundaries, and
monitoring sites and will be a part of the New England air pollution monitoring net-
work, which tracks paniculate matter, mercury, ozone, and acid rain. This data may
then be compared with New England's state air monitoring data to better understand
the nature and transport of air pollution within Indian Country. Information and data
from the Passamaquoddy cadmium study of livers and kidneys from moose and deer
will be added to the network.
An example of another collaborative project between EPA and the tribes is Little
Moccasins, which developed a lead poisoning prevention manual for tribal day care
centers, clinics, and families and provides information about screening, healthy diet, and
basic preventive steps, along with regulations and resources about lead poisoning. The
Penobscot Beaver Deceiver, a protective fencing that is used to protect culverts and
adjacent roads from being dammed, is being transferred to other Tribes across the U.S.
The Mohegan Tribe is a leader in Indian Country in pollution prevention, mandating
pollution prevention training for all employees and implementing one of the most
comprehensive programs in the nation.
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EMPACT: Your Right To Know
The EMPACT (Environmental
Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) program is a
result of President Clinton's
right-to-know initiative. EMPACT's goal
is to use the latest technology to bring
individuals and communities
environmental information they can
understand and use every day. Almost
all of the following projects use Web
sites, public displays, and other
innovative methods of bringing
information to the public. EPA-New
England has brought over $5 million
in EMPACT funds to the region (out of
a total of $37 million split among all
ten regions and all of EPA
Headquarters offices). The projects in
New England Include the following:
Other EMPACT Projects on the Boston
Harbor/Charles River and the
SUNWISE/Boston program are
highlighted in the Stewardship and
Children's Health sections of this
report, respectively.
Marine Environmental Monitoring
Network, Long Island Sound, CT
Sensors located on a buoy in Long Island
Sound provide continuous real-time
monitoring of water quality and the
health of this Important estuary. The
project tests new techniques for
measuring phytoplankton productivity
and detecting hydrocarbons and
pathogenic bacteria.
Air Quality Information,
Portland, ME
EPA-New England is working In
partnership with Maine's Department of
Environmental Protection to establish an
ambient air pollution monitor in the City
of Portland to measure the
concentrations of eight different air
contaminants. The Portland area
exceeds ozone standards (maximum
daily ozone value exceeded 150 ppb in
1997) and contains a diverse mixture of
air pollution sources including petroleum
product tank farms, a large pulp mill.
significant emissions from traffic, and a
number of small manufacturing facilities
that contribute to ozone formation.
Sustaining Burlington, VT
Burlington, Vermont has made a
commitment to become the most
environmentally sustainable city in the
nation. The EMPACT grant funds a
program that includes an extensive
public involvement process to inform
local communities about collection.
processing, and dissemination of data.
In addition to web sites and other
displays, an Eco-Detectives Club trains
children and adults to collect and
document information on local plants
and animals and make this information
available to the public.
Air Quality, Roxbury, MA
In 1992, the asthma hospitalization rate
in Roxbury (a neighborhood of Boston.
MA) was the highest in Massachusetts.
The area has more than fifteen bus and
truck depots, with more than 1,150
diesel vehicles within a mile and a half
of Dudley Square in central Roxbury. The
Roxbury EMPACT project measures eight
air quality indicators. The air quality data,
along with the training needed to
Interpret it, give residents who are most
sensitive to air pollution-children, the
elderly, and those who are already
sick-the information they need to make
better health choices every day.
Lead Abatement Project,
Boston, MA
In partnership with Boston University
School of Public Health. Dept. of
Environmental Health and the Bowdoin
Street Health Center, EPA-New England
is working on this door-to-
-------
Children's Health
"I was born part of this earth."
—Daniel Western
SUNWISE/Boston
Although one in five Americans develops
skin cancer, it is our children who are
most at risk. Eighty percent of lifetime
sun exposure occurs before the age of
18, and one or two severe childhood
sunburns can double the risk for
melanoma later in life. Because of the
thinning of the natural ozone layer due
to CFC use, UV exposure at ground level
is increasing, amplifying the potential
for health problems from sun exposure.
The good news is that simple steps,
followed early and consistently, can help
individuals avoid UV-related health
problems.
Boston is one of three cities to pilot a
new EPA environmental and public
health education program for elementary
school age children. The program's goals
are to familiarize children with the use of
the UV Index daily in the classroom (using
either the Internet or the local paper), to
educate them about the sun's damaging
rays with classroom materials and teach
simple steps to avoid overexposure to
the sun, and to encourage school
administrators to adopt sun safety
policies and practices such as creating
shade cover in outdoor areas.
President Clinton called healthy children and strong families fundamental
to the future of our nation, emphasizing that protection of the environ-
ment is critical to our children's health. Pound for pound, children eat
more food, breathe more air, and drink more fluids than adults, and
their developing systems make them even more vulnerable to environ-
mental hazards. While we are seeing progress on many environmental problems,
current statistics about increasing rates of asthma among young children and
relatively constant rates of lead poisoning in many urban areas in New England have
caused serious concern. We must increase our vigilance, and protect children from
chemical residues on their food, ensure that the air they breathe — both within their
homes and outside — is as safe as possible, and that the tap water in their homes
and schools runs pure and clean.
Lead Poisoning:
A New England Challenge
One of the most severe threats to children's health in New England is lead poisoning,
which can cause lifelong developmental and intelligence problems. Because of the large
number of older houses that may contain lead-based paint or lead solder for pipes, New
England faces a particularly serious problem. EPA-New England has made the prevention
of childhood lead poisoning a major priority—activities described elsewhere in this report
include the Roxbury/Dorchester EMPACT lead abatement project, the Little Moccasins
project, and the UEI Providence lead-testing initiative, as well as the Manchester Child
Health Champion project described below. An enforcement settlement with the Rhode
Island Department of Transportation will fund a $438,500 project to remove lead from
day care facilities in Rhode Island. It is expected that approximately 120 day care facilities
serving approximately 8,000 children will participate in the project. EPA continues to take
emergency removal actions to de-lead specific sites. EPA has also produced "English as a
Second Language" teaching materials with lead as a subject. These materials are used to
teach English to non-native speakers while also giving them information about lead
poisoning dangers.
Home Away from Home: Environmental Care for Schools
Making sure that our schools are safe and healthy places for children is the focus of EPA-
New England's safe schools initiative. A longer school day, coupled with the need for
extended hours of daycare for families with working parents, has meant that many of our
children are spending up to eleven hours every day in school during the academic year,
and more children are enrolled in American schools than ever before. One of every five
New Englanders works in a school building as a student, teacher, or member of the school
staff. Potential hazards include unhealthy air, the presence of asbestos, and hazardous
chemicals from chemistry labs, art supplies, cleaning equipment, and auto repair classes.
-------
A Special Tool Kit
EPA-Ncw England's Indoor Air Quality (LAOj Tools for Schools kit is one effective way io
identify potential causes of the poor indoor air quality (hat alTects children's health and
learning. The kit includes checklists for different members of the school community.
suggested action plans for resolving problems, and a communications iruide for coordinat-
ing the efforts of teachers, boards, parents, and the rest of the community. The program's
partners—including the New England chapters of the American Lung Association, the
state-based Coalitions of Occupational Safety and Health, the Environmental Health
Policy Program at the Tufts University School of Medicine, and the Harvard School of
Public Health—have sponsored dozens of workshops and conferences introducing the
LAQ_ Tools for Schools approach to various segments of the education community.
"Taking Action," EPA's new nationwide training video on implementing the IAQ Tools for
Schools Kit was filmed by the crew of the popular series "This Old House," using the
Little Harbour School team in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Throughout the region.
more than sixty schools and school systems are implementing the IAQ Tools for Schools
program. Participants include the Massachusetts Health Department, local health
departments, and the Maine Governor's School Facilities Commission. Polaroid Corpora-
tion has initiated an "Adopt-a-School" training program among its corporate environmen-
tal managers to support the use of the IAQ Tools for Schools kit.
Child Health Champions
Manchester, New Hampshire is one of eleven Child Health Champion national pilot commu-
nities engaged in an aggressive local campaign to reduce environmental health risks facing its
children. With the help of 5135,000 in EPA funding from our Office of Children's Health
Protection, a group of organizations representing a broad spectrum of the Manchester
community—from the health department to a local theater group— Avas formed to help the
city's children have a strong and healthy future. In addition, an innovative EPA agreement
with the tity (over sewer rebuilding required by the Clean Water Act) will bring approximately
$500,000 for children's health programs to Manchester over the next five years.
The city's Child Health Champion project offers young families information about how to
create a healthy home, right from the start. The project offers free smoking cessation
classes, so that the children in dose contact with adults who smoke will not be at risk from
the effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. The project also provides in-home services
to reduce asthma allergens and lead dust. The local chapter of the Audubon Society is
offering free after school eco-health programs to children who need a safe place to go
while their homes are being cleaned. The community's theater group is producing a show
that helps young families understand what they can do to reduce children's environmental
health risks. Working together, Manchester's Child Health Champions have become a
national model that demonstrates how a community can come together to make a
difference for their children.
SUNWISE tips:
•Read the UV Index doily
• Wear sunglasses that block UV radiation
• Always use sunscreen when outside on a
sunny day
•Wear a hat with a brim
•Wear light clothing to protect your skin
from strong sun rays
Figure 9
Elevated Blood Lead
Levels in Children*
c 10
1°
8 •
O
"" 4
§• , A
* *
N.H.
average
Monchestei
•children less thon 6 yeors of oge with
blood lead levels greater than
15og/mlgllor 1994-1995
sources: Manchester Health Depi
NH Dept. of Public Health Services
-------
Stewardship in Action
"We need to imagine a prosperous commercial
constructed that it mimics nature at every step, a symbiosis
Figure 10
New England Toxic Waste
Where Generated;
How Managed
Total Toxic Waste
Generated
Rl (75%)
CT (41.4%)
MA (21.6%)
Toxic Waste
Management Profile
Energy 6%
Release/
Disposal 65%
Treatment 33.5%
Recycle 53 9%
Total Waste Generated=
499.4 Million Ibs
source: EPA Tone Relxin Inventory
PA-New England is charged with ensuring that businesses, government
agencies, and individuals are fulfilling their environmental responsibilities.
We are entering our twenty-eighth year of vigorously enforcing federal
environmental regulations through civil and criminal enforcement actions.
Environmental issues today are increasingly complex, and we continually
strive to develop enforcement strategies that utilize our resources efficiendy, maximize
deterrence, and yield the greatest environmental and human health outcomes. These
are the results that our residents want and care about, and they are at the center of all
our protection efforts.
At the same time, EPA-New England's Assistance and Pollution Prevention (A&P2) staff
assists New England businesses, municipalities, tribes, federal facilities, and others to
adopt and thrive on environmentally sound practices and measures to attain or exceed
environmental standards. We build alliances widi the regulated community to promote an
understanding of EPA regulations and develop innovative approaches to environmental
protection. Our goal is to complement traditional approaches to enforcement and
environmental compliance, and to improve the environment by providing information
and assistance necessary to help members of the regulated community become better
environmental stewards.
Assistance for Best Performance
In 1998, the A&P2 office responded to over 13,600 requests for assistance, sponsored 70
workshops, and spoke at more than 250 outreach events. We conducted 143 on-sitr visits
to assist the regulated community, as well as additional visits to provide other forms of
assistance such as educating businesses about available assistance programs. In March
1998, EPA-New England worked with the White House to host a regional conference with
Vice President Al Gore and EPA Administrator Carol Browner. The conference was
designed to address barriers facing innovative environmental technologies and to present
new approaches for environmental protection. The day-long event brought together 500
environmental and business leaders from New England and across the United States.
Participants worked together to develop recommendations ranging from third-party
certification of environmental performance to financial mechanisms for promoting
environmental technology.
EPA-New England began the second year of its innovative StarTrack program, piloting a
new paradigm for environmental management Baaed on the same concept as our
country's system of financial audits, the program requires participating companies to have
their compliance with environmental laws certified by independent third parties. Compa-
nies must have shown a commitment to environmental excellence, by implementing a
formal Environmental Management System (EMS), and issue public environmental
performance reports. In return, they will gain relief from scheduled inspections (though
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17
culture that is so intelligently designed and
of company and customer and ecology."
—Paul Hawken
EPA will continue spot-checking), receive expedited permits, and earn public recognition
as an environmental leader. As companies shift to this model, this will allow EPA stall to
devote more time and resources inspecting the companies with the worst performance
records. StarTrack is developing strategies to continue program expansion, and has
drawn interest from other organizations and eflorts, including the National Academy of
Public Administration and the President's Council on Sustainable Development.
EPA's Project XL initiative continues to encourage companies, states, and communities to
propose innovative mechanisms for achieving superior environmental results. One XL
project approved in 1998 is the Massachusetts Environmental Results Program, which
replaced conventional, time-consuming, state-issued permits for each individual business
with uniform industry-wide environmental performance standards that each business
must certify they are meeting. Current sectors included in this program arc printers, dry
cleaners, and photo processors representing 10,000 Massachusetts companies. The
Massachusetts model is being evaluated around die nation as the next wave of smart
environmental regulation.
EPA-New England's Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA) Team
has developed a strong and exciting partnership with the Chelsea, Massachusetts public
high school. Students were trained to use computer tools to assess potential hazards from
accidental releases of chemicals in their community. The students worked widi the city's
emergency response officials and companies in die area to assess hazards and develop
emergency response plans. As a result of the project, 60 Chelsea companies have come
into compliance widi EPCRA over the past year (only two companies were in compliance
with die Act before die students began diis effort). The Chelsea project is being discussed
on die national level as a successful model for odier communities.
Better Measurement, Evaluation, and Communication
EPA New-England's Office of Environmental Stewardship has several efforts underway
to evaluate compliance widi environmental regulations. This is a multi-faceted effort to
use more sophisticated analytical tools to improve our ability to evaluate compliance
rates, learn more about root causes of noncompliance, and understand the role of
corporate management in environmental compliance.
One example is EPA's work with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), aimed at
evaluating die root causes of noncompliance by die regulated community and assessing
me subsequent effectiveness of formal Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to
address the problem. As part of die settlement of an EPA-New England initiated enforce-
ment action against UTC, die corporation agreed to develop and implement an EMS at
nineteen of its New England business units. After several years of implementation, die
corporation and EPA developed a partnership to evaluate die effectiveness of diese EMS.
Figure 11
Historical Trends
in Toxic Releases
(Total to Land, Air and Water)
'88 '89 'VO ?! ^2 ^3 ^4 ^95 -96 "97
• VT Rl • NH
_ ME • MA • CT
source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory
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18
This analysis is the first of its kind focusing on multiple facilities within a single corpora-
tion and evaluating the effectiveness of EMS. The results of this study will help shape the
future of compliance activities and environmental management.
PCB Cleanup in Pittsfield
In September 1998. EPA-New England,
in association with the U.S. Department
of Justice, state agencies in Mass-
achusetts and Connecticut, and the City
of Pittsfield, reached an agreement in
principle with General Electric (GE) over
cleaning up PCB contamination in
Pittsfield, Massachusetts and the
Housatonic River. The agreement
requires GE to provide for substantial
investments in the cleanup of the
Housatonic River, the GE plant site and
other contaminated properties, as well
as brownfields redevelopment in
Pittsfield and compensation for natural
resource damages.
The negotiating process was long and
often difficult. However, the dedication
of local representatives and the
negotiating parties finally paid off. With
the assistance of outside mediators, an
agreement was reached that avoided
decades of costly litigation, and was
hailed by business, environmental and
community groups as a solution that
addressed all of their concerns. The
agreement was a major victory for EPA-
New England's approach of negotiat-
ing where possible while remaining
commited to pursue whatever alterna-
tives are necessary for strong, successful
environmental protection.
Citizen's Coordinating Council will serve
as a focal point for community
participation and ensure that the cleanup
is managed in a fully collaborative and
cooperative manner.
In addition, the Office of Environmental Stewardship is identifying measures of important
environmental and human health outcomes achieved by our state partners not currently
captured by the Region's data collection systems. For example, inspections of gas stations by
state agencies were not previously recorded in EPA's databases, but in 1998, state inspectors
in New England conducted 5,962 vapor recovery inspections/visits at gas stations and
conducted 1,217 inspections of underground oil and gasoline storage tanks. EPA and the
New England states are looking for ways to better measure the effects of inspections and
other activities on compliance rates, and ultimately on environmental conditions.
Creating Synergy for Enforcement and Compliance Assistance
In the past few years, EPA-New England has stepped up its enforcement effort against
public facilities in New England, filing more than two hundred cases against public
agencies in response to serious noncompliance with environmental regulations. In March
1998, complaints were filed against the Rhode bland Department of Transportation
(RIDOT) for violations of hazardous waste laws and die Clean Water Act. The most
serious violations involved RIDOT's improper handling and storage of large amounts of
hazardous waste in a building in Providence, Rhode Island. EPA inspectors found 938
containers filled with various hazardous materials, including waste paints, solvents, and
thinners. Most of the hazardous waste was ignitable; hundreds of containers were open,
spilled or leaking, and the facility had no fire alarm system or fire extinguisher on site. The
complaint was settled with RIDOT agreeing to pay fines and fund two environmental projects,
the total reaching over $500,000. RIDOT will spend 5438,500 on a project to remove lead
paint in Rhode Island day care facilities (described in our children's health section of this
report). RIDOT will spend an additional SI5,000 to conduct two 1-day environmental
compliance training sessions for municipalities in Rhode Island.
EPA has leveraged this action to encourage future public agency compliance in the region
by sending 1,700 letters to agencies in New England describing the circumstances
involved in the Rhode Island case. Most importandy, die letters also contained compli-
ance assistance information, including Internet addresses where interested parties can
find statute-specific compliance information and listings of available workshops and
training sessions. Response has been extremely positive, with standing-room-only
attendance at the first of these training sessions.
Protecting Drinking Water for Eastern Massachusetts
Boston's drinking water treatment system is operated by the Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority (MWRA) and serves approximately two million people. For over
-------
•19
five years, the MWRA has been violating the Safe Drinking Water Act by not filtering
its drinking water Filtration provides substantial protection against pathogens in
drinking water. Pathogens can cause gastrointestinal illness in healthy people, espe-
cially sensitive people, such as those with underdeveloped or compromised immune
systems (e.g., the elderly, the very young, chemotherapy patients, AIDS patients; and
the seriously ill. Filtration also makes it possible for water systems to use far less
chlorine, which is important because the chemical byproducts of chlorine disinfection
have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems in women. The Safe Drinking
Water Act requires filtration for any major supplier unless they meet strict standards
for the effectiveness of their disinfection system; requirements the MWRA has never
met since the Act went into effect.
After negotiations with the MWRA failed, in 1998 EPA-New England, along with the
Department of Justice, filed suit against MWRA for violations of die Surface Water
Treatment Rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Court hearings are
scheduled for spring 1999. Continued oversight of state enforcement of this rule is an
ongoing priority in the region. This program is consistent with our focus on the most
important environmental and public health issues—particularly those that have a strong
impact on children—and with our effort to secure the greatest public benefit from our
enforcement resources.
Special Superfund Stories
The New Bedford Harbor and Pine Street Canal Superfund sites are examples of
successful efforts in community participation and consensus-building in the Superfund
program. In both cases, community dissatisfaction with the traditional Superfund process
prompted EPA to create new mechanisms to include community and other voices,
resulting in solutions that all parties could accept.
New Bedford Harbor is part of Buzzard Bay in Massachusetts, which has been
designated as one of the nation's most significant estuaries. However, sediment in the
harbor has been contaminated with extremely high levels of PCBs, leading to a fishing
ban and threatening the health of those who use the harbor. Originally, EPA proposed
dredging and on-site incineration of highly PCB-contaminated "hot spot" sediments.
In response to vehement local opposition to on-site incineration, EPA helped to
create a Community Forum to undertake the long and arduous process of building a
consensus for site cleanup. In 1998, the Forum reached consensus on both the 5-acre
"hot spot" cleanup and the 200-acre, $130 million harbor-wide remedy. The consen-
sus included an innovative approach to contain and consolidate the dredged sedi-
ments in several confined disposal facilities. The joint effort of many people and
organizations made New Bedford Harbor a national model demonstrating that the
Superfund program can work within a community to achieve consensus on contro-
versial, but essential decisions.
Water filtration provides
substantial protection
against pathogens in
drinking water—
pathogens can cause
gastrointestinal illness.
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20
With funding from the EMPACT Program,
EPA-New England and the Charles River
Watershed Association have initiated an
effort to collect water quality samples at
key locations along the Charles River and
then post water quality alert flags at
boathouses announcing the results. The
team is planning to install real-time water
quality monitors linked to the world wide
web, enabling people to view the amount
and quality of water flowing into the
Charles on their computer screens.
EPA-New England also used a community-based consensus process to develop a
proposal for cleaning up the Pine Street Canal in Burlington, Vermont, another
controversial Superfund site. For over seventy years, a gas plant located on this site
dumped large volumes of waste into the adjacent wetlands and canal, seriously
contaminating groundwater and harming wildlife. EPA's original plan was met with
massive community opposition for being too expensive and intrusive. After months
of controversy, the Pine Street Barge Canal Coordinating Council was created as a
way to begin a mediated process that ensured meaningful involvement of all parties,
including multiple agencies and local interests. In May 1998, this Council was able to
reach consensus on a site cleanup plan which includes construction of an underwater
cap over contaminated sediments in the canal, wedands restoration, and long-term
groundwater monitoring—at a cost of about one-tenth of the original proposal. In
addition, the responsible parties made voluntary contributions of nearly $3 million in
additional projects of significant environmental benefit to the Burlington area. The
plan has received overwhelming community support and political support from
Vermont's congressional delegation, the governor, and the mayor of Burlington.
Coming Soon: A Fishable and Swimmoble Charles
Efforts to restore the Charles River to fishable/swimmable standards are making
steady progress. Each of the nine lower watershed communities has developed a
Figure 12
Superfund National Priority List Sites - Clean Up Action Construction
planned for
completion
ii
jdlii
u
•91 -92 -93 ?4 -95 -96 -97 -98 -99 -00 -01 <02 "03 t>4 t>5 -06 W -08
source: EPA-Now England
-------
stormwater management plan and continues to identify and eliminate illicit discharges of
sewage through storm drains. Through coordination between EPA and the Massachu-
setts DEP, the Charles River communities secured $75 million in state revolving loan
funds over the past year to finance stormwater treatment and eliminate illegal dis-
charges. Over one million gallons per day of illegal discharges have been removed to
date as a result of EPA action. EPA-New England's A&P2 staff developed a program to
provide the nearly one thousand auto care and repair facilities in the lower Charles
watershed with information about proper stormwater and drainage management. To
encourage compliance, EPA-New England's enforcement office notified all facilities in
the watershed that they had sixty days before EPA inspections would begin. When
inspectors made their rounds, they found most facilities were in very good order.
With the help of the EMPACT Program in the region, EPA-New England and the
Charles River Watershed Association have initiated an effort to collect water quality
samples at key locations along the Charles River and then post water quality alert flags at
boathouses announcing the results. The team is planning to install real-time water
quality monitors linked to the World Wide Web, enabling people to view the amount and
quality of water flowing into the Charles on their computer screens. An EPA grant to the
Watershed Institute, a local environmental education and advocacy group, will help
design a series of field study projects that will allow high school students to track the
recovery of the river by assessing various animal and plant species in and along the river.
Over one million gallons per day of illegal
discharges have been removed to date
as a result of EPA action.
Figure 13
Progress in the
Charles River Basin
Samples Meeting Fecal
Coliform Standards
Dry Weather
100
£
I 80
8 40
20
O-1
•96 -97 '98
| | boating | | swimming
Wet Weather
80
60
f 40
Jl
II
•96 ^7 ^8
I I boating I | swimming
•wet weather samples were collected
after a minimum of 0.5" rainfall.
source: Charles River Watershed Association
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22
Global Partnerships
"Nature is the common, universal language, understood by all"
—Kathleen Raine
Freon Smugglers Convicted
Freon, or CFC-12, used as a coolant and
as a propellant in aerosol, destroys the
planet's protective stratospheric ozone
layer, which screens harmful UV
radiation from reaching ground level.
Strict controls on CFCs were established
by the international Montreal Protocol
enabling legislation in the U.S. After a
two-year investigation, EPA-New
England's Criminal Investigation
Division recently led an effort with the
U.S. Customs Service, IRS. and
Environment Canada to put an end to a
Freon smuggling operation in New
Brunswick, Canada and Bangor, Maine.
In 1993 and 1994,245 tons of CFC-12
were illegally imported through Houlton,
Maine, and then sold for use throughout
New England. The owner of the
business involved had not obtained the
consumption allowances required by
the Clean Air Act to import the product,
nor had he paid the more than $1.6
million in excise taxes due. The owner
received a fifteen-month jail sentence
along with fines for his role in the
offense, and the broker in the operation
was sentenced to eight months
incarceration. This was the first CFC
smuggling case prosecuted in New
England, and the first time EPA-New
England and Environment Canada's
Atlantic Region conducted a coordinated
investigation and successful joint
prosecution of a transboundary
environmental crime.
B
ecause the environment does not stop at our nation's borders, protecting
public health and natural resources requires the cooperation of other
countries. Transboundary pollution of air and water from Canada and other
regions of the world directly affects the environment and well-being of
people who live in New England. Global problems, like ozone depletion and
human-induced climate change, affect us all. EPA-New England is making sure that we are
active not only here in New England, but as part of a connected world.
For example, the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, devel-
oped by EPA and Environment Canada, uses our country's National Response System as
a basis for joint operations in the event that an accident in either country would impact
the ouSer. EPA-New England has worked with Vermont, New York, and the province of
Quebec to conduct oil spill and chemical release exercises—bringing together the local,
state, and federal agencies that would immediately be involved at die scene of a spill or
release in die Lake Champlain area.
Yankee Know-How
In addition to addressing specific threats to our region, EPA-New England is working to
spread expertise and technology developed here to the rest of the world. The U.S. is
seen worldwide as a leader in environmental protection, with New England in particular
known as a center of environmental technology businesses. We work closely with EPA's
Office of International Activities in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), the World Bank, and other partners to identify priority areas for
programs to share environmental technologies.
By introducing the use of environmental technologies that benefit both the environ-
ment and the economy, EPA-New England has helped to build successful environ-
mental training programs in Hungary, Poland, Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia. EPA-
arranged exports of innovative environmental technologies to Brazil, Poland,
Portugal, and Lithuania have paid dividends for New England's environmental
industry through increased exposure to new markets, opportunities to demonstrate
innovative technologies abroad, and expanded access to buyers of environmental
technology overseas. We have promoted the principles of pollution prevention
throughout the international community, while at the same time strengthening our
scientific and technical base at home.
-------
Krakow Air Project, Poland
(see following text)
CANADA
EPA-New England participates on the
bi-lateral St. Crow International Waterway
Commission which does watershed plan-
ning and water quality monitoring studies
on both sides of the border. EPA-New
England and Environment Canada's At-
lantic Region also co-chair the St. Croix
River Advisory Board on Pollution Control.
The Board addresses cross-boundary
water quality threats and advises on en-
vironmental issues in the watershed.
BRAZIL
EPA-New England has developed a
long-term partnership with Companhia
de Tecnologia de Saneamento
Ambiental, the main environmental
agency for the state of Sao Paulo. Build-
ing on an existing environmental agree-
ment, we are providing technical exper-
tise, training, and environmental infor-
mation exchange about pollution pre-
vention, green supply chain manage-
ment, emergency response, air quality
monitoring, risk assessment, and
cleaner production.
RUSSIA
EPA-New England Completed an environmental
assistance project to assist the government, in-
dustries and citizens of Nizhnii Tagil in improving
environmental conditions and human hearth. Ac-
tivities included pollution prevention and control
strategies, environmental law and policy, air qual-
ity monitonng design, and risk assessment.
SOUTH AFRICA
EPA-New England has recently partici-
pated in the design and implementation
of a community-based environmental
capacity building project in Soweto.
Working closely with ONE/CHANE, an ur-
ban community-based organization in
New England, we have trained local en-
vironmental coordinators to administer
environmental grants to community or-
ganizations in Soweto.
HUNGARY
In August 1997, EPA New England pro-
vided assistance in developing an envi-
ronmental management plan for the Altal-
er watershed, assisted in capacity build-
ing in the region and helped to develop a
first-of-a-kmd watershed association. By
providing technical assistance in water-
shed planning and water quality manage-
ment, EPA New England helped to in-
crease government, industnal. and citizen
action to reduce pollution in the area.
VIETNAM
Support from the U.S. Environ-
mental Training Institute and
American Waterworks Associa-
tion enabled EPA-New England
to assist in developing and de-
livering a two-week training
course on environmental man-
agement and source water pro-
tection planning in the Perfume
River basin near Hue City.
INDONESIA
EPA-New England has developed a Sister
Region program with BAPEDAL, Indonesia's
environmental ministry. This five-year
project is funded by the Asian Develop-
ment Bank and enables BAPEDAL to work
with us to design an environmental train-
ing and capacity-building program for In-
donesia. The program focuses on air qual-
ity monitonng, environmental information
management and systems, pollution pre-
vention, integrated watershed and coastal
zone management, and training in en-
forcement and compliance.
Spanning the Globe:
Our International Project Areas
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24
Figure 14
Krakow, Poland
Air Quality
Central Market Square
80
70
i*t~
3. 60
40
30
20
0.0
CO (mfl/m3) •• NO2(ug/m3) —i-
O3 (us/m3) -»- SO2(ug/m3) _»_
PM10(ug/m3) —i—
source: Krakow Air Monitoring Network
Due to an expanded central heating
system for the center city area, both
sulfur dioxide and particulate matter
concentrations have been significantly
reduced since the monitoring network
was installed in 1992. However, the
areas of the city where soft coal is still
the predominate source for residential
heating have not experienced a similar
decline. The reduction in carbon
monoxide is a result of a traffic ban in
the central business district.
Global Warming.- We're All in this Together
EPA-New England has a region-wide initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and help reduce the impacts of global climate change. We are developing greenhouse
gas emissions inventories with the region's federal facilities to determine which
measures can be implemented to reduce emissions from federal facilities. Additionally,
we have funded states to prepare their own greenhouse gas emissions inventories and
action plans. Over the past year, EPA-New England distributed educational materials
about climate change to all public libraries and most public high school libraries in
New England. This information is also available through our web page (http://
www.epa.gov/regionO 1 /steward/cchange/index.html).
One of the programs EPA-New England is promoting to reduce greenhouse gases is
ENERGYSTAR, a program that provides information about how to reduce energy
needs, and thus greenhouse gas emissions, from buildings and equipment. In 1998,
EXERGYSTAR participants in New England achieved a reduction of 995.3 million
pounds of carbon dioxide annually and 6.7 million kilowatt hours of energy use—a
cost savings of more than S31 million a year from all of the 225 companies that are
now part of the Green Lights/E.NERGYSTAR Buildings partnership. This greenhouse
gas reduction is the equivalent of taking 99,000 cars off the road—or planting
136,000 acres of trees. The State of New Hampshire and the cities of Boston and
Cambridge, MA are among the new participants that have joined the E.VERUYSTAK
Buildings program along with a dozen other companies, hospitals, schools, and
government agencies.
Krakow Air Quality Monitoring Project
The city of Krakow, Poland has some of the worst air pollution in Central and Eastern
Europe. The burning of inefficient high-sulfur brown coal for home heating; pollution
from cars, trucks, and buses; and industrial emissions from steel mill operations are all
responsible for the problem (Figure 14). In 1991, EPA developed a bilateral environ-
mental assistance program with the Polish government, with authority and funding
under the Support for Eastern European Democracy (SEED) Act. Equipment for
continuous air monitoring, manufactured in New England, was installed in the city.
EPA-New England provided assistance to local authorities in ways to address air
pollution. As a result of the project, the Polish government is now considering
alternative transportation control policies and strategies, including a program to
phase out lead in gasoline over the next several years and strategies to reduce the use
of soft coal for home heating. Increased capacity at the local level to assess mobile
source pollution will enable city officials to improve monitoring of threats to public
health and develop an effective emission inventory system.
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25
New England's Ecosystems
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."
—Norman Maclean
New England is blessed with clear mountain streams, fertile river \-alleys. numerc >us
lakes and ponds, vital urban rivers, and coastal estuaries teeming with lile. 'Ilic
terrestrial areas mountains, woodlands, meadows, and marshes thai surround
these waters form a network of habitats that make up our region's watersheds.
Clean water, productive land, and healthy habitats depend on the quality of the
sixty-five watersheds within the 14 major river basins in our region Figure 15.
The Watershed Idea
A watershed is a geographic area consisting of all die land that drains to a particular body
of water. Watersheds vary in size, shape, and complexity. All terrestrial animals —including
human beings—live in a watershed and have a direct impact on the quality and quantity
of water and other natural resources in that watershed. Watershed management is based
on understanding each watershed as a single hydrologic and ecological system, and
involving the people who live and work there in decisions about its use and management.
No single agency or group, however, can be responsible for this extensive task. There arc
over 350 active watershed groups, including various state, local, and regional partner-
ships, working on watershed issues in New England. EPA-N'ew England was a major
participant in coordinating the Northeast Watershed Roundtablc, designed to encourage
dialogue and build new relationships between government and other organizations and to
develop creative ways to address water quality, instream flow, riparian buffers, watershed
planning, habitat restoration, growth management, and wetlands protection. Along with a
great deal of excitement and enthusiasm, the Watershed Roundtablc is generating the
Northeast Watershed Strategy—an action plan and set of recommendations for protect-
ing and restoring New England's watersheds.
Watershed Resource Guide
The Watershed Resource Guide is a directory that lists current documents published by
EPA on watershed management for the public to read and use. The guide covers six
categories: watershed planning and management, drinking water, non-point source
pollution, watershed education, volunteer monitoring, and habitat. Copies of the guide
and the documents it describes are available at
no cost to anyone with an interest in protecting our
surf ace water and ground water supplies by calling
1-888-372-7341. We hope that the publications
in this guide will be requested and used throughout
New England by watershed associations, town
officials, conservation commissions, students, and
anyone else interested in understanding the
watershed approach.
Figure 15
Major River Basins in
New England
St John
Penobscot •
Kennebec
Adroscoggin _
Maine Coastal
Soco
Merrimock III
Connecticut
Mass-Rhode Island Coastal •
Connecticut Coastal ^H
St Francois
fcchelieu
Upper Hudson BH
Lower Hudson
source: EPA-New England
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26
Aquatic Life & Fish
Consumption in
New England Waters
States, federal agencies and local
organizations are making co-
ordinated efforts to assess the
conditions of our waters. Nutrients,
bacteria, metals, organic chemicals
and destruction of shoreline and
natural habitats are generally at the
top of the list of causes of
impairment to New England waters.
Although we are reducing point
sources of pollution, non-point
sources continue to present a
challenge to local, state and federal
agencies. We need more pollu-
tion prevention and innovative
approaches and technology to
reduce non-point source stresses.
Statewide fish advisories to limit
consumption due to mercury
continue in all states except Rhode
Island and remain a national
concern.
Impaired New England Waters
Designated Ua
(Measure of Km/Stream Lab/Pond Estuorine
Mike Acres Sq.Nhi
KV)V wnfc lid
Orn 16% 3%
/H 2Kv ^^k
(AMwto)
Swimming
(Btodi (tains)
Aqurfcl*
EPA-New England is actively participating in the Clean Water Action Plan announced by
Vice President Gore in 1997 on the 25th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. The plan is
designed to build on the success we've had in cleaning the nation's waters over the previous
years, and to more aggressively clean up remaining problems. The Plan's three major goals
are to enhance protection from the threats to public health that are posed by water
pollution, to more effectively control polluted runoff, and to promote water quality on a
watershed basis. In New England, we will be working together with other federal agencies,
Indian tribes, the states, communities, and their citizens to tackle outstanding water
quality issues, emphasizing innovative approaches to pollution control wherever possible.
Nutrients: Too Much of a Good Thing
PoorHabfW)
As part of its Clean Water Action Plan, EPA is initiating a new national nutrient criteria
program to develop region-specific nutrient target ranges for phosphorus and nitrogen.
Excessive phosphorous is the primary cause of eutrophication in freshwater lakes,
streams, and rivers, while in coastal and marine systems, nitrogen is the main contributor.
Symptoms include extensive algal blooms, low levels of dissolved oxygen (resulting in fish
kills), high turbidity, and loss of submerged aquatic vegetation. Nutrients reach New
England's waters from sewage treatment plants, stormwater runoff from developed areas,
leachate from septic systems, agricultural runoff, and in the case of nitrogen, atmospheric
deposition. Many streams and rivers in New England have been altered by construction
of flood control or hydroelectric dams, exacerbating the effects of nutrient enrichment
and resulting in eutrophication.
A study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in streams in Connecticut from
1980 to 1992 found decreases in ammonia and phosphorous levels although the total
nitrogen concentrations were unchanged. These changes came after more effective
wastewater treatment was installed and significant improvements in water quality resulted.
From 1992 to 1995, the USGS as part of its National Water Quality Analysis (NAWQA)
program sampled 61 stations for nutrient concentrations in Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Vermont and New Hampshire. In general, nutrient concentrations for both nitrogen and
phosphorus were higher in streams draining predominantly urban areas, than in streams
draining agricultural or forested areas. The median concentration of total phosphorus in
urban streams exceeded the commonly used benchmark of 0.1 mg/1, indicating the
potential for eutrophic conditions. More information on NAWQA can be found on the
following website (http://wwwrvares.er.usgs.gov/nawqa/nawqa_home.html)
Free Flowing Waters
Restoring the ecological integrity of our rivers is a major objective of the Clean Water
Act. A critical step in acheiving this goal is removal of obstructions to migrating anadro-
mous fish such as Atlantic salmon, shad, and alewives, which live as adults in saltwater, but
migrate up rivers and streams to spawn. EPA-New England has been involved in river
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restoration throughout the region. It participated in a multi-agency team that helped the
Federal Energy Regulatory Comission (FERC) in its decision to deny relicensing and order
the removal of Edwards Dam on Maine's Kennebunk River; this will allow striped bass,
rainbow smelt, and the endangered shortnose sturgeon to access their historic ranges on
the river. EPA also supported the Coastal America Initiative to remove three dams on
tributaries to the Penobscot River, and was a key participant in the settlement process for
the relicensing of the Fifteen Mile Falls Project on die Upper Connecticut that will
generate funds for river restoration and dam removal.
In addition to hydroelectric dams, a growing problem threatening improvements to river
and stream water quality is die ever-increasing withdrawal and diversion of water for
snowmaking, industrial and commercial use, agriculture, and municipal water supply-
Besides habitat loss, the loss of the seasonal respite afforded by natural flow fluctuations
can weaken native species, deplete dieir food supplies and make them more susceptible to
disease. EPA-New England is working with the six New England states and the Now
England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission to develop a set of standards to
deal with flow restoration and to ensure that anti-degradation regulations and policies
adequately address activities that have an impact on water quality.
The Massachusetts Watershed Initiative
For the past two years, EPA-New England has been an active participant in the Massachu-
setts Watershed Initiative, a multi-agency partnership including state and federal represen-
tatives, watershed councils, and community partners. It was organized to develop plans
and target agency resources toward protecting aquatic ecosystems and restoring water
quality to fishable and swimmable status throughout the state's watersheds. EPA participa-
tion involves assistance for citizen volunteer monitoring efforts, conducting water quality
and sediment toxicity sampling, Geographic Information System (GIS) support in devel-
oping watershed maps and data layers, and training volunteers to collect data on point
and non-point sources of pollution.
Our American Heritage Rivers—The Connecticut and the
Blackstone/Woonasquatucket
The American Heritage Rivers Initiative is designed to help communities revitalize their
rivers—and the streets, historic buildings, natural habitats, and parks along their shores in
celebration of river history and heritage. The goal of the program is to coordinate the
existing programs and funding of the federal government to improve the delivery of
services to rivers and river communities. EPA and other federal agencies work cooperatively
with state agencies and local individuals and organizations to restore and enhance die river
services that are valued by both humans and wildlife. New England is proud to be home to
two of the fourteen nationally designated American Heritage Rivers, die Connecticut River
and the BlackstoneAVoonasquatucket Rivers. For general information on the American
Heritage River Initiative, visit EPA's Rivers website (http://www.epa.gov/rivers).
Photo: Roy Crystal
Pollutant Tradinq:Sudbury River
When Congress Group Ventures wanted
to redevelop an old Raytheon site in
Wayland. Massachusetts, they faced a
problem: the development would
require a small water treatment plant,
but because the Sudbury River was
already overpolluted with phos-
phorous, by law they could not be
granted a permit for the plant.
EPA-New England came up with an
innovative permit for the development.
Under the terms of the permit, the
developer can go ahead with the
development, but for every pound of
phosphorous discharged from the
development, they must eliminate three
pounds from elsewhere in the watershed.
This will be easily accomplished by
connecting some of the many leaky
septic systems in the area to the
development's treatment plant.
This innovative permit allows the
development to go forward, increasing
the town's tax rolls and allowing the reuse
of an old site instead of developing open
space elsewhere. At the same time, the
development will actually leave the river
cleaner than before. EPA-New England is
looking forward to applying this approach
elsewhere in the region.
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Disappearing Shiners
Historically, the bridle shiner (Notrop/s
bifrenatus), was one of the most
common minnows in Massachusetts
ponds, but the species is intolerant of
nutrient over-enrichment from failing
septic systems; runoff from golf
courses, roads, lawns, and other
shoreline development; water level
manipulation; and introduction of
non-native plants and fish. Recent
surveys by the New England Aquarium
of sixty-nine sites in eastern
Massachusetts failed to find bridle
shiners in 75% of the ponds where they
were formerly found. EPA's EMAP
(Environmental Monitoring Assess-
ment Program) recently found bridle
shiners in only two of twenty-five lakes
surveyed in the state, suggesting an
even greater decline. Massachusetts
has designated it a Species of Special
Concern. EPA-New England is helping
to develop the tools needed to manage
wastewater flow and promote less
dense pondside development and
natural vegetation buffer zones around
undeveloped ponds to maintain
healthy shiner habitat and pond
ecosystems for the future.
The Connecticut River is New England's longest river, stretching approximately 410 miles
from the Canadian border through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and
Connecticut to Long Island Sound. Communities along the river identified sixteen
different projects, including agricultural preservation and natural resource protection;
habitat restoration, riverbank stabilization, and water quality protection; and urban
riverfront revitalization as part of its bid for heritage designation. The Upper Connecticut
River Project is a local, federal, and state partnership focused on reducing bank erosion,
water contamination, identifying and cleaning toxic hot spots, restoring natural
streamflow characteristics, making the river swimmable in all places, reducing the impact
of invasive species, and improving the resident and anadromous fisheries and fishing
opportunities. EPA-New England has helped fund a study to analyze the river's flow
regimes and the impact of these regimes on its physical and biological functions, and
provided technical assistance in establishing a website (http://www.crjc.org) for the
Connecticut River Joint Commissions.
The Blackstone and Woonasquatucket Rivers flow into Providence Harbor, meeting to form
the head of Narragansett Bay. The rivers represent an extraordinary range of environmen-
tal conditions—from pristine rural landscapes to densely populated inner-city neighbor-
hoods of Worcester and Providence. More than a century of industrial manufacturing has
left toxins embedded in river sediments and degraded wildlife habitat along the shore.
American Heritage River designation is helping to reclaim the rivers as community assets by
improving water quality, preserving historical and natural resources, and rejuvenating
neighborhoods along the riverfront through federal, state, and community efforts.
Watershed Stories:
The Hoosic River
The Hoosic River watershed covers 720 square miles. The river's tributaries begin in the
Green Mountains of Vermont, the Taconks of New York, and the slopes of Mount
Greylock, the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. As a member of the Hoosic River Water-
shed Team, EPA-New England has provided technical help to the Hoosic River Watershed
Association and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in conducting
water quality sampling and analysis for PCBs, heavy metals, and other toxic substances,
developing watershed maps, and facilitating an inter-agency Watershed Ecosystem Partner-
ship to promote ecosystem preservation and restoration of the Hoosic River Watershed.
The Salmon Falls-Piscataqua River
EPA-New England has initiated a targeted approach to improve water quality in the
Salmon Falls/Piscataqua River that forms a portion of the border between Maine and
New Hampshire. EPA funding enabled the New England Interstate Water Pollution
Control Commission to perform an economic analysis of various treatment alternatives
for the municipalities discharging wastewater to the river. As the pressure for more
development increases, however, the biggest challenges for protecting water quality will
: A/netta KotBefi
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29
be from diverse non-point sources of pollution. The river has already exceeded the
amount of phosphorus it can tolerate. EPA-New England, the states, and other federal
partners such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will work with
communities to control pollution from non-point sources and minimize future costs of
wastewater treatment.
The Pawcatuck Watershed
The Pawcatuck watershed has been targeted as one of EPA-New England's Special Places,
with several centuries of historical resources in a remarkably rural and unspoiled natural
setting. It is rich in Native American sites, family-owned farms, small-scale industrial
villages, summer colonies, and a vital, picturesque downtown area. The watershed
supports a high diversity of species, including neotropical migrant birds, freshwater
mussels, river invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians. Covering about one fifth of Rhode
Island, it nevertheless contains about 70% of Rhode Island's rare species and natural
communities. The nature of the Pawcatuck watershed, however, is not secure. Human
population growth is leading to accelerated non-point source pollution and to habitat
fragmentation. Control over many of the existing and potential threats to the environ-
ment will increasingly depend on those who live and work there. EPA-New England is
participating in the Pawcatuck Watershed Partnership, a new effort to protect this
watershed, promote sustainable economic vitality, and maintain healthy communities in
this unique and special place.
The Quinnipioc Watershed
The Quinnipiac River in south central Connecticut suffers from its historic contamina-
tion, heavy development, dense population, and the high demand for its water. The river
continues to be degraded by stormwater runoff and excessive water withdrawals from the
river and underlying groundwater. EPA-New England along with the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection is working with the communities along the river
to improve the condition of the watershed and reduce non-point source pollution in its
river and tributaries: Activities include efforts to increase recreational access to the river,
write model river ordinances, restore fish passage, and improve water quality.
National Estuary Program
During the past decade, EPA's National Estuary Program (NEP) has become a model for
watcrshed/ecosystem-based environmental management. In New England, these projects
have resulted in comprehensive conservation management plans involving local residents,
agencies, and organizations in Massachusetts Bays, Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay,
Casco Bay, Great Bay, and Long Island Sound. Working with local communities, partici-
pants in each of these major estuaries designed strategies to restore water quality and
safeguard coastal ecosystems and embayments, maintain the region's historically strong
shellfishcry, and conduct monitoring studies to identify and eliminate sources of toxic and
nutrient pollution.
Figure 16
At-Risk Fish, Mussel, and other
Freshwater Invertebrate Species
Number of species per watershed
OB 3 • '
• S Hi 13
source: The Nature Conservancy and the
International Network of Natural Heritage
Programs and Conservation Data Centers
Areas with globally at-risk freshwater species
require greater conservation attention to
protect from the effects of sprawl and other
environmental degradation.
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30
Figure 17
Estuarine Shellfish Water Acreages
in New England
Photo: Ed Rerar
Partners in Flight
Birds are a central element of New
England's biodiversity. They are vital to
our economy through their control of
agricultural pests, they provide enjoy-
ment and recreation to millions of
people, and they serve as critical
indicators of environmental quality.
While northern New England woodland
species were generally increasing over
the last decade, southern New England
woodland species, especially ground
and low nesting species have been
declining. Factors include the increasing
fragmentation and urbanization of
our landscape and possibly increased
predation by racoons, crows and
domestic cats. Migratory bird pop-
ulations are also declining as a result of
habitat fragmentation in New England
breeding grounds, deforestation in their
Central and South American wintering
grounds, and pesticide poisoning. In
response to these trends, a coalition
known as Partners in Flight (PIF),
including EPA-New England, was
established in 1990 to improve
monitoring, research, management and
education programs about birds and
their habitats.
Conditional/
Restricted
Prohibited
Unclassified
Approved
1985
1990
1995
2000
0 500 1000 1500
Acres in thousands
source: Notional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1995
The projects under the National Estuary Program have far-reaching, long-term
benefits to local residents and watersheds. For example, the New Hampshire Estuaries
Project's work has made it possible to reopen large portions of the Seabrook Middle
Ground clam flat for recreational harvest for the first time in a decade. The Middle
Ground flat is the most productive softshell clam flat in the state. The New Hamp-
shire Estuaries Project has been directly involved in water testing, pollution source
identification, and pollution reduction efforts in partnership with local and state
agencies, towns, and a large number of individual volunteers. Significant improve-
ments in water quality resulting from increased municipal sewerage coverage in the
Town of Seabrook and other pollution control measures around Seabrook Harbor
have made clamming on the flat possible once again.
Reconsidering the North Woods
Although essentially healthy, New England forests are under constant attack by a variety
of pests, pathogens, and ecological and anthropogenic stresses. Forest health monitor-
ing throughout the six states has shown that the region's forests are also experiencing
damage from ground-level ozone pollution. Research has suggested diat increases in
temperatures and changes in precipitation regimes could harm forests growing in
marginal conditions and those forests which could not endure more serious summer
drought. Depending on the type of tree species and the specific growing conditions,
some forests may continue to grow and function well, while others may decline in health
or die. Spruce, which is important to New England's timber industry, is likely to decline
in response to warming and drying.
Use of pesticides, especially herbicides, in forests has been a significant issue for
several years in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Major concerns include
pesticide drift from target application areas, impacts of the chemicals on public health
and the environment, and clear-cutting and other forest management practices that
use herbicides to suppress hardwoods and enhance conifer competitiveness. The
New Hampshire Pesticide Control Board recently revised its rules to provide more
notification and greater opportunities for public input. Vermont has initiated a
moratorium on the application of herbicides as a forestry practice, which will remain
in effect until 2003. Although the Maine Board of Pesticide Control rejected a
petition to ban aerial application in 1995, the Board is sensitive to forest herbicide
issues and has begun to implement improved notification and oversight measures.
EPA is responsible for regulating pesticide use and funding the New England states to
implement these pesticide regulations.
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Liveable Communities
There is an old saying that some of the best things in life arc free. Clean air cannot be
bought in a store. Neither, we are realizing, can livable and sustainable communities. New
England has a rich heritage of well-designed communities' our human-scale colonial
villages and our urban neighborhoods like Boston's North Find are seen as national models
for patterns of living that are both environmentally sound and foster a sense ol community
among the residents. But as our population and economy continue to swell, many of these
qualities are being compromised by haphazard, sprawling development Poorly planned
development has serious adverse impacts that affect the environmental integrity and quality
of life of our communities. Open space disappears, waterways become polluted, roads
become clogged even as people must drive farther and farther, with more driving threaten-
ing air quality gains. Worst of all, our sense of place and connection with our neighbors is
eroded. Brownfields, properties abandoned because of real or perceived contamination,
are left in the inner cities, while fields, farms, and forests continue to be lost.
EPA-New England believes that it has a responsibility to help communities grow in a way that
protects our most valuable natural resources. In the fall of 1998, EPA-New England devx-1-
oped its action plan for liveable communities and released it at an EPA-sponsored smart
growth conference in February 1999.
Because land-use decisions are made on a local level, a major component of the Action
Plan is building the capacity of local communities to better manage growth. We will be
designing a Smart Growth training program, and bringing it to towns and municipalities
throughout New England and training them in tools to manage growth. We will also be
awarding $300,000 in liveable community grants to projects that combat sprawl, and will
be working to see our state partners target their resources toward smarter growth
initiatives. Finally, EPA-New England's Action Plan includes our lederal partners in the
Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. We havr signed an
agreement to build on the elements of President Clinton's Livability Initiative and target
federal resources for smart growth in New England.
EPA-New England is committed to seeing all of our programs encourage better planning
and growth. We will continue and expand our Urban Environmental Initiative and
Brownfields programs to encourage development within cities rather than in undevel-
oped open space. We will be aggressively using our review authority for federally funded
projects and wetlands impacts to oppose those projects that encourage sprawl. And we
will be working to give states clean air credits for transportation policies that encourage
compact development and reduce vehicle miles traveled.
Working together, we can ensure that the settlements we leave our grandchildren will be
as livable, as environmentally sound, and as full of a sense of community as the ones our
grandparents left us in New England.
Figure 18
New England Land Use
l .voter
urban or suburban
1 quarries or gravel pits
forest
I agriculture
wetlands
source: Multi-Resolution LAND Characteristics
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J.J.J.
S. i
EPA's Websites
Want to know about your environment? Visit EPA's websites and find out.
EPA-New England is http://www.epa.gov/regionl *
Teacher Resource Center (http://www.epo.gov/regionl/students)
Information for teachers on Regional/National programs and videos, curricula and grants that are
available along with information for students including environmental careers, internships and student
centers.
Press Releases (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/pr)
Peruse through a comprehensive listing of all press
releases from EPA-New England in
chronological order —allows for an easy search.
« New England Ozone (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/oms)
For help in coping with changes in air quality, daily information regarding ground-level ozone
concentrations and smog can be found through the use of color maps provided each summer day.
Superfund Site Information (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/remed/superfund)
The Superfund web page will help answer your questions, provide guidance and opportunities for community members to be better informed
and involved with Superfund sites in New England.
EPA Headquarters (http://www.epa.gov)
EPA's National website provides information on EPA programs and projects, laws and regula-
tions, publications, links to EPA regions and much more.
Surf Your Watershed (http://www.epa.gov/surf)
A service to help you locate your watershed, gather environmental information about your
place and ways in which each of us can protect and restore our own watershed.
KIDS Page (http://www.epa.gov/kids)
Lots of fun and interesting things to read and do for kids including information on air, water, plants & animals, garbage & recycling and
you & your environment.
Envirofacts (http://www.epa.gov/enviro) *
Search the Envirofacts Warehouse to retrieve environ-
mental information and generate maps on topics
including Superfund sites, drinking water, toxic and air
releases, hazardous waste and Biennial Reporting System
data, water discharge permits, and grants information.
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EPA-New England Contacts
Toll Free Numbers:
Customer Assistance Line:
(888)EPA-REGI (888-372-7341)
Emergency Response:
(for reporting spills/environmental
incidents):
(800) 424-8802
EPA-New England Library:
(8881 EPA-LJBR (888-372-5427;
ites listed in this report:
EPA-OIBcc of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances
www.epa.gov/opptintr/opptendo
EM-Office of Water, Consumption Advisories
www.epa.gov/ost/fish
EPA-New England Office, Global Climate Change
www.epa.gov/region01/steward/cchange
USGS-Nalional Water-Quality Assessment Program
wwwrvarcs.cr.usgs.gov/na\vqa/nawqa_home.hlml
EPA-American Heritage Ri%vrs
www.epa.gov/rivers
Connecticut River Joint Commissions
www.crjc.org
Form Approved
OMB Control No.2090-0019
Approval expires 10/31/99
Please give us your comments on the 1999 State of the New England Environment Report.
1. a. Is ihis report easy to read and understand? YES NO
b. What would make the report easier to read and use?
2. Were you satisfied with the topics in the report? Why or why not?
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Academic — Small Business — Home — Local Community — Industry — Other
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Thank you for your response.
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Region 1, New England
lceipingfauidwfortlfe^
on^
^
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Credits
The 1999 State of the New England
Environment report is published by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Office
1 Congress St. Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Project Managers
Carol Wood & Maureen Hilton
Policy Coordinator
Andrew Spcjewsld
Editing
Taaana Brailovskaya, Nercus Communication, Inc.
Graphics Design & Loyout
Elizabeth Montesi, SES
GIS Support
Ellen Carney & Jim Fritz, Signal Corporation
Photos
Roy Crystal, Amelia Katzen, Jim Keleher, Ed Reiner, EPA-New England;
Skip Lisle, Penobscot Nation; Juliet Stone, freelance photographer
Special thanks to the following:
The Nature Conservancy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Susan Beede; Jim Chase; New England Aquarium; Les Kaufman,
Boston University; Karsten Hartel, Harvard University; Partners-in-Flight; Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics; International Network of
Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers; Voivodeship Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Krakow, and the Charles
River Watershed Association.
Thanks to EPA's New England Office staff for their contribution, including the following members of the 1999 Workgroup:
Ralph Abele, Margery Adams, Rob Adler, Anne Arnold, Dan Arsenault, Eric Beck, Norm Beloin, Eugene Benoit, Jim Berry, Jennie Bridge,
Rich Burkhart, Lucy Casella, Cindy Catri, Rich Cavagnero, Bob Cianciarulo, Deb Cohen, David Conroy, Tim Conway, Brooke Chamberlain Cook,
Mel Cote, Betsy Davis, Dave Davis, Beth Deabay, Dave Dickerson, Trish Garrigan, Diane Gould, Nancy Grantham, John Haederie, Brenda Haslett,
Greg Hellycr, Man Hoagland, Warren Howard, Amy Hovt, KiraJacobs, Alice Kaufman, Diane Kelley, Peter Kenyan, Robert Koethe, Marcia Lame),
Susan Lancey, Matt Liebman, Patty Ludwig, Karen Lumino, Kathy Lynch, Molly Magoon, Bob McConnell, Wendy McDougall, John McNeil,
Rosemary Monahan, Jackie Morris, Michael Ochs, Margo Palmer, George Papadopoulous, Jerry Pesch, John Podgurski, Steve Rapp, Kristi Rea,
Ann Rodney, Bruce RosinofT, James Sappier, Myra Schwartz, Matthew Schweisberg, Catherine Smith, MaryBeth Smuts, Gerry Sotolongo,
Mark Stein, Diane Switzer, Ray Thompson, Elissa Tonkin, Tara Tracy, Dennisses Valdes, Alan VanArsdale, Olga Vergara, Mark Voorhees,
Bill Walsh-Rogalski, Jeri Weiss, Norm Wfflard, Steve Winnett
All data is from EPA or individual New England states unless otherwise noted.
Toll Free Numbers:
Customer Assistance Line:
(888) EPA-REG1 (888-372-7341)
Emergency Response:
(for reporting spills/environmental
incidents):
(800)424-8802
EPA-New England Library:
(888) EPA-LTBR (888-372-3427)
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