United States Environmental Protection Agency Region I Office of Public Awareness J.F. Kennedy Federal Building Boston, MA 02203 December 1979 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR'S ANNUAL REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN NEW ENGLAND •^ \ I ------- REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR'S ANNUAL RETORT QUALITY IN NEW ENGLAND 1979 ------- Foreword from the Regional Administrator: This is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fifth annual report on environmental quality in the six New England states—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It covers air, surface water, and drinking water quality, and solid waste management. In addition, this year's report contains new sections on pesticides, radiation, noise, hazardous wastes, the Construction Grants Program, and energy. Generally speaking, we have continued to make steady progress in most areas during the past year. Progress has not always been as rapid as we—or the public—had hoped, or as Congress had envisioned, but we are making significant gains against the pollution that threatens our health and compromises the recreational and aesthetic value of our environment. For example, I believe that we have turned the corner in our water pollution control effort in New England. Many rivers which were once extremely polluted have been restored enough to support fish and aquatic life and to permit swimming and other water-contact sports. The biggest challenges that lie ahead in the water area are cleaning up Boston Harbor and improving sewage treatment facilities in Providence, Rhode Island. These may be the most expensive, most complex and most controversial projects we have ever undertaken. We have been working on initial studies for these projects for several years, and in the next decade, we will move ahead with the implementation of these clean-up programs. We have also made great strides in cleaning up air pollution in New England. The biggest challenge that remains in this area is control of the auto-related pollutants carbon monoxide and ozone. Rhode Island has implemented an auto inspection and maintenance program during the past year, and Massachusetts and Connecticut have passed enabling legislation. Once fully implemented, these programs will assist us in our auto pollution control efforts. Another high priority of this Agency over the next year will be hazardous waste management—not only protecting the public from the effects of abandoned disposal sites, but also implementing new cradle to grave waste management techniques to ensure that we do not create any more sites to cause problems twenty years from now. Before we look in more detail at the progress we have made this year, I would like to mention four major management-type initiatives which will significantly further our ability to effect environmental protection and preservation. One of the Agency's major initiatives in the last year has been program integration. EPA's programs have traditionally been aligned according to medium, e.g. air, water, solid waste. Since pollution does not ------- always recognize our programmatic divisions, we are making efforts to integrate our programs. We have made a good start in our efforts to consolidate our grant and permit programs. The integration of programs in water quality, drinking water, solid waste, hazardous wastes, and underground injection can serve as a good model for other program areas. A second initiative has been strengthening the federal-state partnership in pollution control envisioned by all federal environmental legislation. The development of State/EPA Agreements has been one of the most significant aspects of this initiative. The Agreements are specifically tailored for each state, and they identify priorities, examine solutions, and identify sources of funding. In short, the Agreements establish the administrative and institutional framework to improve environmental programs at all levels. Another major initiative this year has been the delegation of program responsibilities to the states. As you read this report, you will notice that in almost every program area, certain specific authorities have been delegated to states that have evidenced the ability and willingness to accept them. In the next year, we will continue to work with states to help them accept the remaining programs and to ensure that the programs that have been delegated are adequate to meet statutory requirements. A fourth major initiative this year has been public involvement in Agency decision-making. All of EPA's enabling legislation contains or will contain provisions requiring that interested citizens have the opportunity to comment on and contribute to rule-making and decisions that affect them. In addition, local citizens can play a strong watchdog role in making sure that environmental laws are enforced in their areas. The goal of all these (initiatives is to make environmental programs more responsive to environmental needs and to vest authority for the programs with states and local bodies, close to the people whose interests they protect. I think we have come a long way toward meeting this goal. Much remains to be done, but I am confident that together we can achieve clean air, clean water, and a beautiful land for all of us. William R. Adams, Jr. ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword from the Regional Administrator Air Quality Page 1 Table 1: PSI Values 6 Figure 1: TSP, So2, 00 Values, Bangor, ME 7 Figure 2: TSP, SO,/ CO, O3 Values, Manchester, NH 8 Figure 3: TSP, SO2, O3, CO Values, Burlington, VT 9 Figure 4: TSP, SO2, CO, O3 Values, Boston, MA 10 Figure 5: TSP, SO2, CO, O3 Values, Hartford, CT 11 Figure 6: TSP, SO2, CO, O3 Values, Providence, RI 12 Figure 7: New England Air Quality Control 13 Regions (State Portions) Figure 8: AQCR's Containing TSP Violations 14 Figure 9: AQCR's Containing SO2 Violations 15 Figure 10: AQCR's Containing O., Violations 16 Figure 11: AQCR's Containing CO Violations 17 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 18 Table 2: Urban Grant Program 21 Pesticides 22 Radiation 23 Noise 24 Toxic Substances 25 Surface Water Quality 27 Figure 12: New England Water Quality 35 Summary 1976-1978 Table 3: 208 Grant Awards in New England 36 ------- Construction Grants 37 Table 4: Preliminary Status of Construction 39 Grants Funds Drinking Water 40 Table 5: Water Supplies Contaminated 44 by Organic Chemicals Enforcement 46 Figure 13: No. of Major Air Pollution 49 Sources in Compliance 1978-1979 Figure 14: Rate of Compliance with 50 Water Pollution Regulations—1979 Energy 51 ------- AIR QUALITY Introduction The federal Clean Air Act requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to set ambient air quality standards designed to protect the public health (primary standards) and the public welfare as measured by effects of pollution on vegetation, materials, and visibility (secondary standards). Once such standards have been established, the states are required by law to develop State Implementation Plans (SIP's), consisting of regulations and other controls to provide for the attainment and maintenance of these standards. EPA has established ambient air quality standards for six pollutants; sulfur dioxide, total suspended particulates, carbon monoxide, ozone (smog), nitrogen dioxide and lead. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 extended the deadline for the attainmment of ambient air quality standards to no later than 1982 or the end of 1987 for areas with difficult ozone and/or carbon monoxide problems. Also, the Act strengthened requirements to prevent significant deterioration of clean air areas. During 1978, the groundwork was laid for meeting the requirements of the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments. States developed new State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to attain standards in areas classified as non-attainment by further regulating emissions from existing stationary and transportation- related sources, and carefully reviewing proposals for construction of major new pollution-emitting facilities. All six states have developed and submitted SIP revisions which EPA is currently reviewing. Until these plans are approved, which should happen late this year or early next year, states will, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, be unable to permit construction of major pollution sources in areas that are currently classified as non-attainment for the type of pollutant the source emits. Monitoring A network of monitoring stations throughout the six states provides data which are used to ascertain trends and to warn people of unhealthful pollutant levels in any locality. During 1978, states monitored levels of total suspended particulates, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. Connecticut also monitored ambient lead, and other states are developing lead monitoring networks. Recently promulgated regulations aimed at improving the data gathered from this network require quality assurance measures and the use of reference methods or their equivalent at all sites. Additionally, all sites which are part of the national network must be reviewed and approved by EPA. These changes will help to standardize the data and provide more reliable information. -1- ------- Pollutant Standards Index The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is a standardized reporting system for advising the public of potential adverse health effects due to air pollution. The Index converts the pollutant concentration measured in a community's air to one number on a scale of 0 to 500. Intervals on the PSI scale are related to the potential health effects of the daily measured concentrations of carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide , sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Air quality is reported by such descriptive words as "good," "moderate,11 "unhealthful," and "hazardous" (Table 1). The emphasis of the PSI is on acute health effects occurring over a very short time period — 24 hours or less — rather than long term chronic health effects. Figures 1-6 illustrate trends in pollutant levels on the PSI scale at various locations throughout the six state New England area. Air Quality Trends Total Suspended Particulates - Sources of particulate matter are classified as either traditional or non-traditional. Traditional sources include fuel burning, industrial processes and incineration. Non- traditional sources include reentrainment of road dust caused by traffic, automotive tailpipe emissions, rubber tire wear, upaved parking lots and construction/demolition activities . Total suspended particulate (TSP) levels were generally moderate (on PSI Scale) . However, violations occurred at several sites throughout the Region during 1978 (Figure 8). Non-traditional sources, particularly reentrainment of road dust are causing TSP violations in New England. An in-depth study of TSP violations near roadways in southern New England was initiated in 1978. The data from this study will be valuable in TSP attainment planning. Sulfur Dioxide - Sulfur dioxide (SOo^ *s eroitt6^ from sources burning sulfur-containing fuel, mainly coal and oil. In New England these sources include power generating stations, industrial boilers, pulp mills, and residential and commercial heating units. Levels of SO7 were moderate during the past year as they have been since SO2 data were first gathered in 1974. During 1978, violations of the primary SO7 standard were recorded in Millinocket, Maine and in Berlin, New Hampshire at stations established to monitor the effects of local industrial activity. EPA anticipates compliance with the standard no later than December 31, 1982 in these areas. Although violations were recorded only at these two sites (Figure 9), the level of SO2 must be closely monitored if the trend toward burning higher sulfur fuels increases due to non-availability and/or increased costs of low sulfur fuels. -2- ------- Ozone - Ozone (photochemical oxidants or smog) and other oxidants are formed in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight and other pollutants including volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Automotive emissions are responsible for approximately 50 percent of emissions of volatile organic compounds in New England. Other sources include dry cleaning and degreasing operations, fabric coating, printing and painting, gasoline storage and distribution, fuel combustion and incineration. Each of the six New England states has at least one site where unhealthful levels of ozone were recorded. Violations of the standard were recorded at 27 out of the 34 monitoring stations in the Region (Figure 10). Carbon Monoxide - Virtually all of the carbon monoxide found in New England results from motor vehicle emissions. Carbon monoxide (CD) is a localized problem, occurring primarily in urbanized areas subject to traffic congestion. The 8-hour primary standard was violated at 14 of the 21 monitoring sites. Although CD levels remain unhealthful at many locations, the levels did show a decline during 1978. Nitrogen Dioxide - Principal sources of nitrogen dioxide emissions are electric utility and industrial boilers and motor vehicle emissions. Nitrogen dioxide (NO-) causes respiratory irritation and lowers the body's resistance to respiratory infection. In the presence of sunlight, it unites with hydrocarbons to form ozone and other ingredients of smog. Since N02 is a difficult pollutant to measure, a reliable monitoring technique was not approved until 1976. All areas in New England have been designated attainment for NO-. Lead - Lead or lead compounds enter the air mainly from auto emissions. A small amount comes from industries that smelt or process lead. Since the standard is so new (1978), no monitoring or trends data are available yet. Other Federal Programs Some other federal programs mandated by the Clean Air Act to help states attain air quality standards include: (1) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) which limit emissions of TSP, SO-, and NO- from major sources; (2) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Pollutants (NESHAPS) which limit emissions of mercury, beryllium, asbestos, and vinyl chloride; (3) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) which prevents further pollution degradation in clean air areas. All six states in Region I have been delegated some authority for the NSPS, and NESHAPS programs. EPA continues to work with the states to help them adopt PSD programs the same or equivalent to EPA's. -3- ------- Inspection and Maintenance Inspection and Maintenance (I/t\) refers to state-operated programs to control the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC's) from automobiles by requiring periodic inspections of motor vehicles and emission related maintenance for those cars which fail to meet established inspection standards. Motorists bring their cars to an approved inspection station where a probe is inserted into the tailpipe to measure CD and HC. If the car does not pass the inspection test, it must be repaired and retested. Rhode Island currently has an I/to program in operation; Connecticut has legislation and will implement its program by 1981. Massachusetts is expected to pass I/M legislation shortly. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, because of their small populations, are exempt from the program. Energy and Air Quality After the 1973 energy crisis, Congress passed legislation giving the Department of Energy (DOE) authority to prohibit the use of very large amounts of oil and natural gas at fuel burning facilities. These prohibition orders, which require the concurrence of the governor of the affected state, essentially mandated coal burning. In 1977, five New England power plants received such orders—Brayton Point and Mt. Tom in Massachusetts; Norwalk Harbor and Middletown in Connecticut; and Schiller Station in New Hampshire. The Brayton Point power plant received the concurrence of the Massachusetts governor and coal conversion at this facility will take place in 1981. To ensure the maintenance of clean air, EPA is responsible for studying the facilities receiving the prohibition orders to determine the earliest date at which they could comply with primary and secondary standards. This date is the date on which the facility must begin to burn coal. Facilities with prohibition orders are eligible to request Delayed Compliance Orders, (DOO) from EPA. The DOO allows coal to be burned before the compliance date set in the prohibition order if primary standards will not be violated and the schedule for achieving full compliance with all standards is as expeditious as practicable. A public hearing was held in October 1979 to determine whether to issue a DCO to the Brayton Point facility. EPA is now evaluating public comments on its proposal to issue this DOO. New England Power Company estimates a 30 million dollar savings for its customers during the first few months of coal burning if the DCO is issued. There has been considerable interest in allowing the burning of higher sulfur oil in the Northeast due to cost and supply problems as well as requests to burn coal during emergency short term fuel crises. In response to these concerns, EPA and the New England Staff for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) sponsored a workshop on fuel shortages and air quality in June, 1979. EPA, the state air program directors, and ------- energy representatives from the six New England states, New York and New Jersey began planning for the anticipated shortages of home heating oil and other fuels. The group proposed a regionwide plan to respond to emergency fuel shortages. EPA and NESCAUM have inventoried major fuel burning sources and have assessed the environmental concerns associated with emergency fuel changes and have proposed a scheme to evaluate non- environmental concerns. A task force was established to gather more current and complete information on the fuel situation in the Northeast. In the event of a short term emergency, EPA and the states will have available information needed to deal with the problem of fuel allocation. Other energy-related activities include providing technical assistance to states to review existing regulations on sulfur content of fuel, and reviewing proposed SIP revisions to ensure that use of higher sulfur fuels does not result in violation of air quality standards. Also, EPA's particulate attainment plan requirements have supported the phase-out of out-dated inefficient burners in Worcester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. The replacement of these burners with modern, more efficient ones will save fuel and money, as well as contribute to cleaner air. ------- TABLE 1 COMPARISON OF PSI VALUES WITH POLLUTANT CONCENTRATIONS, DESCRIPTOR WORDS GENERALIZED HEALTH EFFECTS, AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS INDEX VALUE — 100-— — - 50 — 0 AIR QUALITY LEVEL _SIGNIFICANT_ HARM • NAAQS — — -50% OF NAAQS- TSP (24-hour). PB/^ 75b .-- _o— POL S02 (24-hour), pg/m3 _0__ LUTANT LEV CO (8-hour), mg/m3 -» 40(g — • in n .__ -_o__ . ELS Oa (Vhour), fig/m* __^OQQ __ ~ 235 "" -•120 — — 0 1 . . , N02 11-hour), jjg/m* HEALTH EFFECT DESCRIPTOR HAZARDOUS VERY UNHEALTHFUL UNHEALTHFUL MODERATE GOOD GENERAL HEALTH EFFECTS Premature tlulh o| Ul end tldcrly. Healthy people will experience ad- ¥iru tymplomt thai alleei their normil Mildly. Primiture ontef ol cirliin dimiti in iddilion to lignilieanl aggrtvi- lion ol lymplomi *nd dicitind •xirclii loltrincf in hcillhy ptrtoni. Signifkinl tggrivilion ol tymplomt ind decr««ttd (Niiciu loleranct in > pertont wild h«*ri w lung dittm, with widntprtad tymplomt in ih« ' haallhy populiiion. Mild aggravation ol tymptomt HI luiceplible pettont. wiih unuiiun tympiomt in Ihi htalthy popula lion. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS 1 All ptitont ihould rtmain indoort, hMpmy windowi 4nd dooii cloicd. All pt'iont ihould minimif* phyu- c«l imriiun and avoid iraHie. Elderly and pcrtnn« with axiiting diM4tat ihould tUy indoori jnd avoid phyiiMl «x«ruon. Gtncral population tliould avoid outdoor i activity. Elderly and piriom with Milling 1 heart or lung diuate ihould tlay indoort and riduce phyncal activity. i Pirtom with cxitting heart or nipualury ailminli ihould reduce phyucal eneilion and outduor activity 'No inrl«n valuei reported at concentration level* below (how specified by "Alert Levil" criteria. ''Annual primary NAAQS. •400 fig/m3 wai uteri inttead ol the 03 Alert Level of ZOO/jg/m3 |>t« lent). ------- PSI BANGOR, ME 200 . 150 100. 1974 1975 1976 1977 = TSP: Central Street = SO.: Central Street = CO : Central Street Particulate levels except for 1975 were moderate. However, at this and other sites in the Bangor area violations to secondary particulate standards were recorded in each year. Sulfur dioxide levels have been moderate. For carbon monoxide the levels have decreased since 1975; however, they are still unhealthful. Ozone is not measured in the Bangor area. The State's ozone site is at Cape Elizabeth where the ozone levels in 1978 were unhealthful. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE -7- ------- MANCHESTER, NH 20ft 10 » 5CL 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 = TSP: Merrimack Street = SO,,: Merrimack Street = CO : Merrimack Street = 0- : Merrimack Street Particulate levels were moderate, although the secondary particulate standards have been exceeded at this site each year. Sulfur dioxide levels remained moderate. Carbon monoxide values at this site have declined and are now moderate; however, this site does not meet EPA criteria for a peak middle scale carbon monoxide site. Ozone levels have remained unhealthful.in southern New Hampshire. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE 2 -8- ------- PS I 300i 200. 100. BURLINGTON, VT 1974 1978 = TSP: S. Winooski Avenue = SO.: S. Winooski Avenue ft = O_ : S. Winooski Avenue = CO : S. Winooski Avenue The particulate levels are moderate; however, in 1977 both an annual primary and secondary particulate standard violations were reported. This may have been due to construction in the area. Sulfur dioxide levels are moderate. Carbon monoxide levels have shown a decline, and currently levels are moderate. Ozone levels are unhealthful. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population- exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE 3 ------- PS I BOSTON, MA 200- - 100. > 1974 1975 1976 = TSP: Kenmore Square = S0_: Kenmore Square = CO : Kenmore Square = O Fellsway and Route 16 0 : West Newbury At Kenmore Square particulate levels have declined; however, violations of secondary particulate standards have been recorded at this and other sites in the Boston area for the period 1974 to 1978. Sulfur dioxide levels have remained unchanged and are moderate. At Kenmore Square/ which is a middle scale site, carbon monoxide levels have shown a decrease over this period from very unhealthful to unhealthful. Maximum ozone levels in the Boston area continue to be unhealthful. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE 4 ------- p I 300 • HARTFORD, CT 200 100 19.74 1975 1976 1977 1978 = TSP: Library = SO 2: West Street = CO : Old State House = CL Enfield - Elm Street Particulate and sulfur dioxide levels were moderate from 1974 to present. However, violations to secondary particulate standards continue to be recorded at the library site as well as other sites in the Hartford area. (At the Old State House site, which is not a peak middle scale site, the carbon monoxide data continues to show that air quality levels are unhealthful.) Ozone levels remain unhealthful. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE 5 -11- ------- PSI 200. 100 PROVIDENCE, RI 1976 1977 1978 = TSP: Westminster Street = SO : Dyer Street £t = CO : Dorrance Street = 0 : Attleboro, MA Particulate levels at the Westminster Street site have been moderate; however, violations to the secondary particulate standards were reported in 1977, and a violation to the annual primary standard was reported in 1978. Additional violations for both primary and secondary standards have been reported at other Providence sites for all years during this period. Sulfur dioxide levels are moderate. Carbon monoxide levels have shown a slight decline; however, the levels are still unhealthful. Ozone levels remain unhealthful in the Providence area. The general terms which describe the air quality (good, moderate, unhealthful, very unhealthful and hazardous) are defined in Table 6. It should be noted that the pollution levels chosen on this chart represent second maximum daily averages and are not representative of average population exposure but rather of the maximum pollution levels for the year. FIGURE 6 -12- ------- NEW ENGLAND AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGIONS (STATE PORTIONS) AROOSTOOH INTRASTATE 008) CHAMPLAIN VALLEY VERMONT INTERSTATE INTRASTATE 1(221) NORTHWEST MAINE INTRASTATE (111) DOWN EAST INTRASTATE CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE INTRASTATE 049) ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY INTERSTATE (107) METROPOLITAN PORTLAND INTRASTATE (110) MERRIMACK VALLEY-SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERSTATE METROPOLITAN BOSTON INTRASTATE (MS) CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS INTRASTATE die) NEW HAVEN SPRINGFIELD INTERSTATE (42) METROPOLITAN PROVIDENCE INTERSTATE (120) NEW JERSEY-NEW YORK-CONNECTICUT INTERSTATE (43) EASTERN CONNECTICUT INTRASTATE (*') FIGURE 7 ------- VIOLATIONS NO VIOLATIONS NO DATA FIGURE 8= AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING TSP VIOLATIONS IN 1978 -14- ------- NO VIOLATIONS NO DATA FIGURE 9= AQCRs (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING S02 VIOLATIONS IN 1978 -15- ------- NO VIOLATIONS NO DATA FIGURE 10-- AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING 03 VIOLATIONS IN 1978 -16- ------- NO VIOLATIONS NO DATA (CONNECTICUT DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER 1979) FIGURE 11= AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING CO VIOLATIONS IN 1978 -17- ------- SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) has three basic objectives: to abate open dunping of solid waste, to regulate hazardous waste from cradle to grave, and to stimulate resource conservation and recovery programs. Both the Region I Office of the Environmental Protection Agency and the New England states are in the early stages of implementing RCRA. Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites During the past year, EPA has made major shifts in resources to address the problem of environmental and public health threats from uncontrolled hazardous waste dumping. National events such as Love Canal in New York and Valley of the Drums in Kentucky have perhaps been most widely publicized, but New England has experienced similar problems. The Regional Office, in cooperation with the states, has identified at least sixty incidents of inadequately controlled hazardous waste disposal, a number of which have resulted in contamination of public drinking water supplies. The Region has established a full time coordinator to ensure that all available expertise is brought to bear to assist states in containing and/or removing hazardous waste. EPA's authority, however, does not extend to the physical removal of abandoned wastes, either directly or by financial assistance. In the fall of 1979, several bills were pending in the U.S. Congress to authorize such financial assistance and direct clean-up action by EPA. Hazardous Waste Management During the past year, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut passed solid and hazardous waste legislation, expanding their authority to control hazardous wastes. Massachusetts has similar legislation pending. The states of Rhode Island and Vermont had previously passed comprehensive hazardous waste laws in 1978 and 1977 respectively. The passage of such legislation represents an inportant first step in the development of state hazardous waste programs equivalent to the requirements of RCRA. Once a state has enacted the necessary legislation, it must then adopt implementing regulations. Several New England states have begun to develop specific hazardous waste regulations modelled after the federal regulatory program established under RCRA. In August, 1979, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued regulations on hazardous waste management facility operating permits for landfills. Additional regulations dealing with generators, extremely hazardous wastes, incineration and transport and storage are due to be developed by January 1, 1980. The states of Vermont and Maine have prepared drafts of conprehensive hazardous waste management regulations which will control the transport, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. -18- ------- The New England Regional Commission has completed a nine-month hazardous waste study requested by the New England governors. The objective of this multi-state effort was to provide information and recommendations for a system of hazardous waste facilities in New England. The final report made specific recommendations concerning approaches to facility siting, public information, and the development of regionally-consistent state hazardous waste programs, and called for establishment of regional facilities to meet New England's need for adequate hazardous waste management sites. In conjunction with this effort, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection established an Industrial Waste Management and Recovery Task Force to specifically address the hazardous waste facility needs and siting problems in the state of Connecticut. Solid Waste Management The Technical Assistance Panels Program authorized by RCRA provides for teams of personnel consisting of federal, state and local employees as well as technical consultants to EPA to provide assistance to state and local governments in solid waste management. The Regional staff, along with a federal consultant and state solid waste personnel, has performed over 20 assistance programs. Copies of various Technical Assistance Panels reports are available. During the next fiscal year, state solid waste agencies will be responsible for conducting inventories of all existing solid waste disposal sites. Sites will be classified according to federally- established criteria which define environmentally acceptable land disposal practice. All non-complying facilities will be put on compliance schedules not to exceed five years, requiring either upgrading or closure. The states will enforce the compliance schedules. These classification criteria also serve as guidelines for land disposal of sludge from publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants. Guidelines for the development and implementation of state solid waste management plans were published in the Federal Register in August 1979. Each state is now in the process of initiating development of its own solid and hazardous waste plan. Resource Recovery President Carter's Urban Policy includes a Resource Recovery Development Program which provides front end planning monies to communities to analyze the feasibility of resource recovery facilities and/or source separation programs. Twenty-five communities in New England submitted pre-applications for these funds, and seven were successful in obtaining funding (See Table 2). Total funding for the seven projects is $1.3 million for the initial phase, with $700,000 expected to be awarded for follow-up planning. -19- ------- New England already has seven resource recovery facilities either in operation, in start-up or under construction. These facilities are: 1) Saugus, Massachusetts, RESCO 2) Braintree, Massachusetts, Municipal Resource Recovery Facility 3) East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Combustion Equipment Associates 4) Groveton, New Hampshire, Diamond Paper Company 5) Bridgeport, Connecticut, Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority's refuse derived fuel plant 6) Auburn, Maine, municipal modular incineration facility 7) Pittsfield, Massachusetts, municipal modular incineration facility In addition to the seven urban grantee projects, and the seven existing or under construction projects listed above, fifteen other projects are in various stages of planning. Should all projects go to construction, these plus the existing facilities would have the potential for saving five million barrels of oil per year. -20- ------- TABLE 2 URBAN GRANT PROGRAM Grantee Claremont, N.H. Conn. Resources Recovery Authority New Britain, CT R.I. Solid Waste Management Corp. Rutland Regional Planning Commission Type of Project Resource Recovery Resource Recovery and Source Separation Source Separation Resource Recovery and Source Separation Resource Recovery Initial Phase 'EPA Funds $99,875 375,000 76,950 325,875 33,000 Anticipated Follow-on EPA Funds $100,000 350,000 198,750 83,000 Springfield, MA Mass BSWD Resource Recovery 188,000 Worcester, MA Mass BSWD Resource Recovery 213,000 $1,311,825 $731,750 -21- ------- PESTICIDES With the approval this year of the Massachusetts and Connecticut plans, all of the states in New England have approved plans for the certification of applicators of pesticides classified for restricted use. Completion of this important step helps to ensure that only trained and competent applicators will use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides, substantially reducing the likelihood of adverse effects to human health or the environment. By September 1979, 10,592 private and 4,280 commercial applicators had received training and certification in the proper use of pesticides in New England. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was amended in September 1978 to give authorized states primacy in pesticide use enforcement, and EPA continues to support such state programs through cooperative enforcement agreements. By July 1979 five New England states had been granted primacy for use enforcement. The remaining state, Rhode Island, has entered into a cooperative enforcement agreement with EPA. The assumption of such enforcement responsibility by the states will provide greater protection to public health and the environment. As a result of epidemiological data gathered in the Pacific Northwest, EPA issued an emergency order suspending the use of products containing 2,4,5-T and Silvex. The Regional Office worked closely with the New England states to implement this suspension. More than 580 Stop Sale Orders were issued to ensure that these products were removed from the market and returned to the manufacturer. The Region also responded to a special request from the Maine Department of Conservation to assist in a determination of proper pesticide use in a special forest use situation. In order to protect valuable forest resources from loss by spruce budworm infestation, Maine determined to apply insecticide to about three million acres of spruce/fir forest. The area included many different kinds of terrain, some with intermittent streams and other areas temporarily flooded under spring rain conditions. Regional personnel conducted ground and aerial reconnaissance of questionable terrains, and recommended that certain areas not be sprayed. Maine acted on those recommendations. In a separate spraying program for forest management in eastern Maine, aerial application in a manner inconsistent with labeling resulted in spray drift and plant injury to approximately 200 gardens. This incident dramatizes the need to use pesticides in a proper manner to avoid adverse effects to the environment. -22- ------- RADIATION The accident at the Three-Mile Island Nuclear Station in March resulted in greatly increased monitoring by all state Radiological Health Programs. Both the EPA Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) stations (one air and one precipitation sampling station per state) and state network monitoring stations were activated. The nuclear power station networks and many university sampling stations were also particularly alert for indications of fallout from the accident. No increase in radioactivity attributable to the accident was detected at any of the monitoring stations in New England. As a result of the Three-Mile Island accident, the states have taken a fresh look at the status of their emergency response plans. Connecticut is the only state in the Region with a plan in which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concurred. This plan is currently being updated and revised. At the urging of Governor Snelling of Vermont, the governors of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as Vermont, have named coordinators to update or completely rewrite their state emergency response plans. These four states have been briefed by the Federal Regional Advisory Committee on what will be needed for a state plan to be considered acceptable. In addition, Rhode Island is developing an emergency response plan, although it does not have a nuclear power plant. Parts of the state, however, fall within fifty miles of three operating nuclear power plants (Haddam, Millstone and Pilgrim), and the state also serves as a transportation corridor for radioactive shipments from Pilgrim. As a result of these activities, state capabilities to respond to future radiation emergencies are already greatly improved. Other steps, already initiated, should result in at least minimally acceptable emergency response plans and capabilities being in place in all New England states within the next nine months. -23- ------- NOISE Under the provisions of the Quiet Communities Act of 1978, the Regional Office has awarded grants to and signed cooperative noise agreements with several localities and states to help identify the best available techniques for local noise control. EPA awarded $35,000 to Connecticut to continue its state ECHO (Each Community Helps Others) program. ECHO enables communities to obtain technical assistance from other communities with successful noise control programs. EPA has also awarded $25,000 to New Hampshire to help start a state noise control program. In addition, EPA has awarded $12,000 to Stamford, Connecticut to establish a local noise control program, and $12,000 to Brookline/Newton, Massachusetts to develop noise legislation affecting both communities. Also under the Quiet Communities Act, EPA has awarded $31,000 to the Massachusetts Port Authority to study the feasibility of soundproofing public buildings, and $90,000 to the University of Hartford to establish a Regional Noise Technical Assistance Center. The Center will coordinate research, and offer supplemental technical assistance to communities and states within the Region. The Regional Noise Office conducted two workshops, one in Connecticut and the other in New Hampshire, to inform local and state officials of ways to establish or implement noise control legislation. -24- ------- TOXIC SUBSTANCES Implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act at the national level has proceeded on a broad front with development of testing standards, an inventory of all chemicals in use as of July 1, 1979, a premanufacturing notice program, and recommendations for testing by the Interagency Testing Committee. In Region I the program has emphasized interface with industry and the public, enforcement of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) rules, implementation of the voluntary asbestos program, provision of a central source of information on EPA's chemical regulatory authorities, and coordination with the Interagency Regulatory Liaison Group (IRDS). PCB's EPA has worked closely with utility companies and other users of PCB- containing transformers and capacitors to ensure compliance with the disposal provisions of the PCB rules. Material has been prepared for distribution through the utilities to industrial owners of PCB equipment that EPA cannot otherwise contact. Three enforcement actions have been initiated where clear violations of the rules were observed. Asbestos The fibrous minerals known as asbestos, used in many different kinds of products and applications, have entered the environment in both occupational and non-occupational settings. The lung disease asbestos is, and some cancers of the lung, abdomen, and other parts of the body have been clearly related to asbestos exposure. In March of 1979, EPA announced the initiation of a technical assistance program to provide guidance to state and local school officials for detection and evaluation of potential hazardous asbestos conditions in schools. In May, sixty-five officials from the six New England states, municipalities, and school districts attended a training session on the EPA program. Additional training or training materials have been provided to officials in Maine and New Hampshire. EPA asbestos program guidance documents were distributed to 1542 public school districts and to 1168 non-public schools throughout New England. Each of the New England states now has a state-directed program to detect and correct asbestos exposure problems. State program inspectors and EPA advisors have completed inspections of 2078 school buildings. Spray-applied asbestos-containing insulation or asbestos insulated boilers, ducts, or pipes were found in 429 schools. Asbestos was found to be friable, accessible, and damaged or deteriorating in 218 schools, posing a potentially hazardous exposure condition such that corrective action was recommended. Corrective action of removal, encapsulating or enclosing the asbestos to render it inaccessible to building occupants has been completed in fifty schools. The condition of the insulating material in the remaining 211 schools was such that periodic re- evaluation was recommended. -25- ------- Inspections and evaluations will continue until all schools built or renovated between 1943 and 1978, the period when spray application of asbestos was common, have been checked. EPA banned spray application of asbestos in 1978. Although the EPA program is specifically directed to schools, information and assistance is also provided to contractors, workers, and individuals who are concerned about exposure to asbestos in buildings. Public Inquiries The Regional Office has responded daily to five to ten calls from the public on the effects of specific chemicals. The most frequently asked about are insulating materials, including urea-formaldehyde foam, chlorinated organic solvents in water at low levels, spilled chemicals, PQBs, and a variety of industrial chemicals. Our capacity to respond should improve during the next year as we make greater use of available computer data bases. IRLG The Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Food Safety and Quality Services of the Department of Agriculture, have agreed to work closely together as the Interagency Regulatory Liaison Group (IRLG) to improve the public health through sharing information, avoid duplication of effort and develop consistent regulatory policies. The organizations have agreed to work together through 1) cooperation of field staffs in inspection referrals, whereby an inspector from one agency refers observed violations to another agency; 2) sharing facilities, office equipment and expertise; and 3) holding joint seminars. This cooperation has improved our use of resources and enabled us to better meet our public health and environmental protection responsibilities. -26- ------- SURFACE WflTER QUALITY The goal of the federal Clean Water Act is the restoration of the nation's waters to a quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water by July 1, 1983. Although the major thrust of water pollution control efforts nationwide has been to restore polluted streams to fishable/swimraable status, a crucial element of an effective water quality management system for New England is the preservation of those waters which are currently of good quality. New England has an abundance of priceless clean lakes and streams whose quality must be protected and preserved to maintain their value. A major part of our future water quality management activities must be directed toward preserving the recreational and aesthetic potential of these resources. State water quality standards are established according to the category of use for the surface waters involved. Class "A" waters are suitable for water supply without further treatment except simple disinfection. Class "B" waters are suitable for swimming and fishing, and Class "C" waters can be used for fishing, but not swimming. By these definitions, only Class "A" and Class "B" waters would meet the national fishable/swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act. Generally, the state standards established for the New England rivers, lakes, and coastal areas provide for fishable/swimmable waters. Current Water Quality and Clean-up Success Stories The major thrust of water quality efforts in New England has been controlling the pollution discharged from municipal and industrial point sources. The primary weapons in this effort are the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits and the program for wastewater treatment plant construction grants. As these point source control programs move into high gear, we are starting to realize some of the successes the programs are designed to achieve. In 1978, EPA reported that 53 percent of New England's major streams met the 1983 f ishable/swimmable goal of the Clean Water Act. Three thousand six hundred and fourteen of the total 6,798 miles of major river mainstems and tributaries assessed were suitable for fishing and swimming. This represents a five percent improvement in stream quality during calendar year 1978, and a seven percent improvement since 1976 (see Figure 12). The 1977 revisions of the Clean Water Act changed the states' reporting requirement from an annual to a biennial basis beginning in 1980. Therefore, overall state and regional statistics through 1978 are cited in this year's report. Specific examples of documented water quality improvements are described under the individual state headings. The five percent improvement in overall water quality reported in 1978 is generally the result of controlling point sources of pollution. Hundreds -27- ------- of millions of dollars worth of municipal wastewater treatment facilities are under construction or are just now coming on line, and all of the major industrial dischargers in the Region have been issued enforceable "clean-up" permits. As a result many of the Region's streams are starting to demonstrate considerable improvement . Connecticut - In May of 1977, a young Connecticut fisherman caught a 29- inch Atlantic Salmon in the Connecticut River. It was the first salmon caught in the Connecticut River or its tributaries since 1874. By 1978, an astonishing 89 salmon were caught in the Connecticut River. The return of salmon does not indicate that the Connecticut has returned to pristine conditions, but it does demonstrate the improvements caused by concerted public and private clean up efforts. Federal money to the tune of $100 million was granted to the communities in the Massachusetts and Connecticut portions of the river to control municipal sewage. Industry has installed water pollution control treatment technology, and fish ladders were installed at two dams too high for the fish to leap. As a result of the installation of pretreatment facilities at several metal finishing companies and a dye house, the quality of the Mad River (a tributary to the Naugatuck River) has been significantly improved. All industrial dischargers in the Naugatuck basin have now applied the required treatment or pretreatment. A statistical analysis of the water areas assessed in Connecticut shows that the water quality of the state's major streams is improving. Of the 92 tests performed, 77 percent show signs of improvement. Dissolved oxygen levels and stream turbidities have been steadily improving, but coliform pollution remains a problem in most major areas. PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) continue to cause water quality problems in the Housatonic. :Combined sewer overflows in Massachusetts and Connecticut contribute to severe pollution in the Connecticut River from the state line to below Hartford. Combined sewer overflows are also responsible for water quality standards violations in the Thames River downstream of Norwich and in the coastal waters around the major urban centers of New Haven and Bridgeport. The French, Quinebaug, Quinnipiac, Hockanum, and Pequabudc Rivers suffer dissolved oxygen sags due to large municipal and industrial discharges to areas with minimum stream flows. In 1978, Connecticut reported that 42 percent of the state's major river miles assessed met fishable/swimmable standards. This represents an eight percent improvement over the 34 percent reported in 1976. If all streams in Connecticut, including smaller upland tributaries, were evaluated, approximately 92 to 94 percent of the state's total stream miles would meet the fishable/swimmable goal of the Act. Connecticut projects that 68 percent of major stream miles and 98 percent of total stream miles will be fishable/swimmable by 1983. Control of urban runoff and combined sewer overflows are the major problems that remain to be addressed. -28- ------- Maine - The tourist industry is crucial to Maine's economy. Thus, the quality of the state's lakes, streams, and coastal areas which attract tourists is very important. In 1978, Maine reported that 62 percent of the state's 1,930 miles of major streams met the fishable/swimmable standard. During 1978 and 1979, Maine has documented more clean up successes than any state in the region. The following water areas have shown recent significant water quality improvements: the Penobscot River, Haley Pond, Rangeley Lake, the St. Croix River, and numerous coastal areaso Years of planning and a commitment of about $50 million for pollution abatement facilities have resulted in dramatic improvements in the water quality of the Kennebec River. Recent water quality tests of the Kennebec River were compared with data obtained before the multi-million dollar cleanup was undertaken. Two-thirds of the Kennebec River showed dramatic increases in total dissolved oxygen content, with corresponding reductions in biochemical oxygen demand, nutrients, suspended solids, and bacteria. The segment of the Kennebec below Augusta still has high levels of pollution due to untreated systems in the basin's communities, the entire Kennebec will probably meet the swimmable/fishable goals by 1983. Commercial shellfishing is also important to Maine's economy. In the early 1970's, approximately ten percent of Maine's shellfishing beds were closed to harvesting due to water pollution. In the period 1974 to 1977, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Department of Marine Resources surveyed the coastal communities and recorded a total of 2,450 discharges into shellfish waters. As expected, single family homes located on or near the shore proved to be the most significant polluters of overlying shellfish waters. As a result of abating these discharges, 1,121 acres of shellfish beds that had been closed have been restored for harvesting. Another 1,236 acres were restored through the construction of municipal wastewater treatment plants; and an additional 1,701 acres were reopened due to controls on other sources of domestic sewage such as clusters of homes, businesses, and housing developments. According to state tabulations, the total 4,058 acres that have been restored have commercial values of $6.6 million. Massachusetts - Although Massachusetts had New England's lowest percentage of major stream miles meeting the fishable/swimmable goals in 1978, the state's waters show the highest rate of improvement in the Region. Water quality improvement is demonstrated by clean-up successes in the Nashua River and the Merrimack River. In the 1960's, the Merrimack River was a foul-smelling sewer whose sole distinction was not having a single mile of water suitable for swimming. Since the passage of strong federal water pollution control legislation, federal, state, and local governments united in a massive cleanup effort. Over $443 million in construction grant funds were obligated to municipal sewage treatment projects in New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities along the Merrimack. In addition, all the industries that had been polluting the Merrimack were put on strict schedules to clean up their wastes. Although the river still has a long way to go, people are -29- ------- rediscovering the recreational potential of the river. This summer, canoe races on the river and road running races along the banks helped to publicize the tremendous recreational benefits associated with a clean Merrimack. Fishing has also improved, as bluef ish and Atlantic Salmon have been caught in the mainstem, and flounder, bass, blues, pollack, and mackerel have been taken from the mouth of the river. The Nashua River, which was considered to be one of the nation's dirtiest rivers in the 1960's, is now demonstrating signs of dramatic water quality improvement. The massive local, state, and federal efforts that went into cleaning up the Nashua can be described as one of the first true water quality clean-up success stories in America. Areas that were covered with floating scum and emitted foul odors have been restored to such an extent that canoeists and fishermen now use and enjoy these same portions of the river. New Hampshire - In the period between 1976 and 1978, the percentage of New Hampshire mainstem stream mileage meeting fishable/swimmable goals rose from 43% to 52%. As in Maine, clean water is crucial to the recreation industry, which in turn is important to the economic base for the state of New Hampshire. The construction of aerated lagoons and a modern spray irrigation system at one of the large White Mountain hotels helped to restore the recreational potential of the Ammonoosuc River. When the system was completed in the fall of 1978, the water quality of a thirteen-mile stretch of the Ammonoosuc below the hotel improved in quality to once again meet fishable/swimmable standards. Improvements have also been documented in the following reaches of New Hampshire's waters: eight miles of the Warner River, four miles of the Merrimack River, and 42 miles of the Connecticut River. The diversion of several discharges to the Laconia wastewater treatment plant, and the upgrading of this facility to provide phosphorus removal has reduced nutrient loading and improved the water quality of Lake Winnisquam. Nineteen seventy eight was the first year since 1961 that the application of copper sulfate to control algae blooms was not necessary on Winnisquam. Although conditions are improving on the Androscoggin, there are still dissolved oxygen and coliform problems as a result of municipal and industrial discharges. Combined sewer overflows and urban runoff in Manchester and Nashua add significant coliform and solids loadings to the Merrimack River. Ninety-six percent of New Hampshire's major stream miles are projected to meet the fishable/swimmable goals by 1983. Rhode Island - Rhode Island reported that 64 percent of its major stream miles and 92 percent of the estuarine areas meet the fishable/swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act. Rhode Island's biological monitoring program has indicated various degrees of water quality improvement at stations located on the Branch River, Blackstcne River, Pawcatuck River, -30- ------- and Fry Brook. These improvements are associated with improved treatment at upstream pollution sources. By the early 1900 's, water pollution and hydroelectric dams had wiped out the shad and salmon population on the Pawcatuck River. The first step in the restoration of shad and salmon to the Pawcatuck was controlling the water pollution. Under the Construction Grants Program, EPA has awarded $14.4 million to communities in Rhode Island and Connecticut to build sewer and treatment plants. These projects are now nearing completion. State Fish and Wildlife officials feel that there is hope of reestablishing a significant shad run in the river, and there are now plans to release salmon into the river within the next year. Major combined sewer overflows and urban runoff problems in Providence and Newport cause coliform and solids violations in the Providence River, Wconasquatucket River, and Narragansett Bay. Large municipal and industrial discharges coupled with minimal assimilative capacities result in dissolved oxygen problems in the Pawtuxet River and Mashapaug Brook. The Blackstone River and Mount Hope Bay have dissolved oxygen and coliform problems as a result of combined sewer overflows and municipal and industrial discharges. The positive effects of major treatment plant construction in Wocnsocket (Blackstone River) and East Providence (Providence River) should significantly improve water quality in these areas over the next years. Rhode Island projects that 73 percent of the state's major stream miles will meet the Clean Water Act goals by 1983. Vermont - Not surprisingly, Vermont has the highest percentage of fishable/swimmable waters in New England. In 1978, Vermont reported that 67 percent of its 1,196 miles of major streams were meeting the fishable/swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act. If all of Vermont's smaller upland streams were included in this assessment, approximately 93 percent of the state's waters would be suitable for fishing and swimming. In past years, Vermont has reported water quality clean-up successes on the Stevens Brock of the Wincoski River and the West River in southern Vermont, and the state's waters should continue to show improvement as more municipal and industrial pollution control facilities are completed. By 1983, 94 percent of the major stream miles are projected to meet fishable/swimmable goals. Even in Vermont's rural environment, there are critical water quality problems that must be faced by a strong pollution control effort. Coliform bacteria violations exist in many of Vermont's streams due to non-point source pollution originating from agricultural, silvicultural, and urban activities. Combined sewer overflows cause localized coliform and solids problems in water courses near nineteen Vermont communities. Otter Creek and the lower Wincoski River suffer major dissolved oxygen and coliform problems because of combined sewer overflows and municipal point source loadings. -31- ------- Section 208 Water Quality Management Planning As the point sources of water pollution are brought under control through the Construction Grants and NPDES permit programs, nonpoint sources of pollution have an increasingly significant impact on water quality. Section 208 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to administer an areawide waste treatment management program designed specifically to deal with non-point sources of water pollution. The so-called "208" planning programs are designed to control complex water quality problems including urban runoff, agricultural and silvicultural runoff, septage management and lake eutrophication. As of September 1979, more than $19.9 million in 208 grants have been made to the sixteen designated areawide planning agencies and to the six New England states to prepare these 208 water quality management plans (see Table 3). Most of the initial areawide 208 plans are undergoing the final review phase leading to state certification and EPA approval. Several areawide plans have already been certified and approved including: Portland, Southern Maine, Androscoggin Valley, Southern Kennebec, Northern Maine, Southeastern Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard Commission, and Old Colony Planning Council. Several of the 208 agencies have already been successful in achieving implementation of strategies identified by 208 plans which are now resulting in actual water quality improvments. EPA will place stronger emphasis on carrying out the 208 plans once participating local governments have agreed to them. EPA will channel future 208 grants to those areas where real progress is being made toward solving serious state and local pollution problems. Following are some of the early 208 implementation successes. The Old Colony (Brockton area) 208 agency in Massachusetts assisted local comnunities in documenting salt contamination of groundwater supplies and in developing a solution to the problem. The Androscoggin Valley 208 agency in Maine drafted six model ordinances designed to provide for orderly development of land and water resources. Several towns adopted subdivision regulations based on the draft ordinances that will give the local towns authority to more strictly regulate nonpoint sources of pollution resulting from subdivision construction. The Portland Maine 208 agency worked with the Maine legislature to propose and enact a statewide bill to control conversion of seasonal dwellings to year-round use. The bill requires homeowners wishing to convert sunnier homes to year-round use to have an inspection to ensure that the system will provide adequate sewage treatment. This law will help preserve Maine's lakes and rivers which are crucial to the state's tourist industry, and it will save taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing the need for centralized sewer systems in many areas. -32- ------- In western Massachusetts the Berkshire County 208 agency mapped the area's most significant aquifers and recharge areas, developed land use guidelines for protection of the major recharge areas, and drafted zoning by-laws to implement the guidelines. The 208 agency then helped communities revise local zoning ordinances to incorporate the groundwater protection guidelines. In Connecticut the 208 program is assisting communities in the development of Sewer Avoidance Plans. These plans would provide local water pollution control authorities with a mechanism to guide town development to areas where it is most environmentally suitable. These plans will save tax dollars by eliminating the need for the construction of costly unplanned sewers caused by inefficient land use patterns. As most of the initial 208 plans are completed, many of the 208 agencies are moving into high gear in assisting local communities to implement the nonpoint source control programs developed. The next year will see the development and implementation of many innovative and cost effective water pollution control programs in the local communities all over New England. Clean Lakes Lakes are one of New England's most valuable aesthetic, recreational, and economic assets. Eutrophication, or accelerated aging, threatens the usefulness of many of New England's lakes and impoundments. Pollutants— particularly phosphorus and nitrogen from municipal wastewater treatment plants and non-point sources—and sediments can contribute to excessive growth of aquatic weeds, or eutrophication. Eutrophication reduces a lake's ability to support a balanced population of aquatic life and limits the recreational potential of the lake. Eutrophicaticn is an inevitable natural process, although it can be speeded up by human activities, so all lakes and impoundments, whether or not they currently exhibit eutrophic signs, should receive special protection and management. Many of the significant lakes in New England are showing signs of eutrophicaticn. For example, Maine lists twenty culturally stressed lakes including large areas of Sabattus, Sebasticcok, and Cobbosseecontee Lakes. New Hampshire has classified 22 lakes as eutrophic. Studies carried exit several years ago showed twenty percent of the significant lakes in Massachusetts and 24 percent of the Connecticut lakes were suffering from the same problem. In 1975, EPA initiated the Clean Lakes Program under the Clean Water Act. The program provides for federal participation in lake rehabilitation and preservation. EPA has supported lake restoration projects at Little Pond, Maine; Morses Pond, Massachusetts; Lake Cochituate, Massachusetts; Big Allum Lake, Massachusetts; Annabessaocok Lake, Maine; Lake Bonoseen, Vermont; Lower Charles River Impoundment, Massachusetts; Lower Mystic Lake, Massachusetts; and Nutting Lake, Massachusetts. The Little Pond project has been completed and has resulted in significant reduction in nuisance plankton populations. The reductions were achieved -33- ------- by introducing juvenile alewives into the lake. The improved water quality resulted in a cost saving to Damariscotta sinoa the community, which uses the lake as a water supply, needed less chlorine at the water treatment plant. Elimination of municipal and individual wastewater discharges into Annabessacook Lake, Rangeley Lake and Haley Pond in Maine and Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire has resulted in significant water quality improvement in these lakes. EPA has awarded grants to five of the New England states to assist them in classifying their freshwater lakes. The ultimate product will be a priority list of lakes for preservation/restoration activities. Also, under the Urban Clean Lakes Program, a component of the President's Urban Policy designed to support the restoration of urban lakes, EPA has made a $60,000 grant to restore Spy Pond in Arlington, Massachusetts. -34- ------- FIGURE 12 NEW ENGLAND WATER QUALITY SUMMARY 1976 - 1978 PERCENT Of MAJOR STREAM MILES MEETING OR EXCEEDING CLASS B STANDARDS (FISHABLE/SWIMMABLE) T« 77 78 REGION I TOTAL ------- TABLE 3 208 Grant Awards in New England Connecticut Maine Portland S. Maine N. Maine Androscoggin S. Kennebec Subtotal Massachsuetts Berkshire Cape Cod Central Mass. MAPC Martha's Vineyard Montachusett N. Middlesex Old Colony SRPEDD Subtotal New Hampshire S . Rockingham Lakes Subtotal Rhode Island Vermont Total Region FY 1975 770,000 488,000 207,900 339,100 380,000 2,185,000 374,000 350,000 1,035,000 2,292,000 216,000 377,000 456,840 650,000 1,132,000 6,882,840 270,300 532,880 803,180 2,300,000 12,171,020 FY FY 1976 1977 1,000,000 60,000 405,000 119,168 38,400 31,875 405,000 189,443 320,000 261,120 3,000 22,913 9,000 26,367 20,700 320,000 343,100 337,000 20,782 15,000 44,218 337,000 80,000 412,000 50,000 2,474,000 722,543 FY 1978 996,435 416,818 17,889 434,707 404,980 36,750 59,979 14,062 57,000 43,394 9,488 42,194 674,097 500,000 500,000 450,000 3,055,239 FY 1979 409,790 352,554(1) 5,523<2) 36,000 32,731 426,808 391,777 11,146 6,250^2) 2,904(2) 19,500 431,577 119,225 22,875 24,900 167,000 28,825 113,000 1,577,000 TOTAL 2,466,225 3,640,958 8,651,614 1,887,180 2,328,825 1,025,000 19,999,802 <1) Includes $159,759 of FY 78 commitment (2) FY 78 commitment NOTE: Does not include National Urban Runoff Program funds awarded in PY 79 Massachusetts $444,700 New Hampshire $ 75,000 -36- ------- CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM The Construction Grants Program is mandated by the Clean Water Act and authorizes grants of 75 percent (or in some cases 85 percent) to local governments for needed wastewater treatment facilities. This year, EPA and the New England states succeeded in obligating the Region's entire §297 million construction grants allocation for fiscal 1978, thereby preventing loss of unobligated funds. Thirty-two new, expanded or upgraded wastewater treatment facilities were completed this year. Twenty new and upgraded facilities were completed last year. The benefits of these projects are evident in the number of rivers that have been restored for recreational use (see Surface Water Quality). This year was the first full year of operation under the new regulations mandated by the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977. These regulations strengthen the federal-state partnership in water pollution control and provide for funding of many different kinds of water pollution control technology that were not fundable under previous legislation. One of the most significant amendments is the so-called Cleveland Wright Amendment which provides for delegation of the Construction Grants Program management to the states. States which have this authority are eligible to use up to 2% of their construction grant allocation to administer the program. All the New England states except Rhode Island received construction grants management authority in the past year. This delegation of management authority should result in a stronger federal- state partnership in our clean water efforts. Another important amendment involves use of Construction Grants funds for alternative and innovative wastewater treatment technologies. Regulations would allow for grants of 85 percent—as opposed to 75 percent—for projects meeting EPA's definition of alternative or innovative techniques. Cost effectiveness guidelines would be revised to allow a 15 percent credit for alternative or innovative projects. In addition, if an alternative or innovative project fails, the proposed regulations would permit 100 percent funding for modification or repair. In the past year five projects have met the criteria for alternative projects and been funded at 85 percent. The projects are in Peru, Patten, and Isleboro, Maine and Middlebury and Montpelier, Vermont. In addition, a proposed project in Portland, Maine has been determined to use alternative technology and a project in Hillsboro, New Hampshire to be innovative, and these projects are eligible for 85 percent funding. The first solar-powered treatment plant in the nation was dedicated in Wilton, Maine this year. The plant is designed to meet about 20 percent of its own energy needs. The Wilton experience with passive and active solar heating will be useful in the planning and operation of the Hillsboro plant. -37- ------- The Construction Grants Program has teen called the largest public works program in the country, because each million dollars creates about 1,500 on-site and perhaps twice that many off-site jobs. However, the program was not conceived of and is not now primarily a public works program, but an environmental program, a program that is far from finished. Although the burden of responsibility for meeting the goals is shifting to the states, EPA will continue to exercise an active overview role and to offer its technical environmental expertise to the states. -38- ------- TABLE 4 Preliminary Status of Construction Grants Funds (In Thousands) STATE CONNECTICUT I MAINE MASSACHUSETTS NEW HAMPSHIRE RHODE ISLAND VERMONT REGION I TOTALS FY 73-76 77i 78* 793 Total 73-76 77i 783 79J Total 73-76 TTi 782 793 Total 73-76 771 782 793 Total 73-76 771 78| 793 Total 73-76 77j T83 79 Total 73-76 TTJ 782 79J Total ALLOTMENT $ 308,685 12,195 1*9,821* 1*5,858 $ 1»16,562 $ 153,097 S.^S 33,728 31,01*3 $ 223,321 $ 573,905 27,662 132,939 122,357 $ 856,863 $ 153,817 6,7^2 39,6U5 36.U89 $ 236,693 $ 90,909 3,966 23,63l» 21,753 $ -1UO,262 $ 1*5,397 3,272 17,302 20,709 $ 86,680 $1,325,810 59,290 297,072 278,209 $1,960,381 OBLIGATED $ 307,271 10,840 49,824 195 $ 368,130 $ 152,832 5,453 33,728 4,005 $ 196,018 $ 573,856 27,662 132,939 33.642 $ 768,099 $ 152,797 6,742 39,645 23r718 $ 222,902 $ 85,067 3,966 23,634 16.434 $ 129,101 $ 45,373 3,265 17,302 10.891 $ 76,831 $ 1,317,196 57,928 297,072 88,885 $ 1,761,081 UNOBLIGATED $ 1,414 1,355 -0- 45,663 $ 48,432 $ 265 -0- -0- 27,038 $ 27,303 $ 49 $ -0- -0- 88.715 $ 88,764 $ 1,020 -0- -0- 12r771 $ 13,791 $ 5,842 -0- -0- 5.319 § 11,161 $ 24 7 -0- 9.818 $ 9,849 $ 8,614 1,362 -0- 189,324 $ 199,300 % OBLIGATED 99 89 100 01 88 99 100 100 •n 88 99 100 100 02 92 98 100 100 65 95 94 100 100 75 92 99 99 100 53 89 99 98 100 32 90 1. PY 77 Expires 5-03-80 2. FY 78 Expires 9-30-79 3. PY 79 Expires 9-30-80 -39- ------- DRINKING WATER The Safe Drinking Water Act was passed by Congress to ensure that water supply systems serving the public meet minimum national standards for the protection of public health. These standards, as prescribed by the Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations promulgated under this Act, established maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for inorganic and organic chemicals, turbidity, and bacteria. In addition, the regulations require periodic testing, including monitoring, of public water supplies for the specified contaminants and public notification if any of the MCL are exceeded. Approximately 3,135 community and 14,778 non-community water supplies in New England are covered by these regulations. The public water systems are distributed as follows: Community Non-Community Connecticut 827 4000 Maine 384 3500 Massachusetts 600 1600 New Hampshire 700 1800 Rhode Island 94 378 Vermont 530 3500 There were a total of 465 bacteriological, 97 turbidity, and 19 chemical MCL violations in Region I during FY 78. Monitoring violations totalled 1,368. In the last quarter of FY 77, there were a total of 1,138 bacteriological, 73 turbidity, and eight chemical MCL violations. Monitoring violations totalled 563. The intent of the law is for states to have primary enforcement authority as soon as they can demonstrate their ability to enforce standards at least as stringent as the federal standards. In June, 1979, Connecticut became the second state in the United States to assume primacy for its safe drinking water program. Maine and Massachusetts assumed primacy in 1977, and New Hampshire and Rhode Island in 1978. The remaining state, Vermont, anticipates assuming primacy in 1980 when the legislature reconvenes to vote upon the bill. In 1978, EPA set up an office in Essex Junction, Vermont to work with the Vermont State Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Organic Contamination of Water Supplies During the past year, more than thirty water supplies in New England have been found to be contaminated with organic chemicals. Most of the contamination has been in groundwater, and the predominant contaminants have been the widely used solvents trichloroethylene and 1,1,If -40- ------- trichloroethane (methyl chlorof orm). Table 5 lists sites of contamination, the principal contaminants, and possible sources of contamination. N.B. People who live in these areas are not drinking contaminated water. All contaminated systems that pose a threat to human health have been closed down and alternative supplies have been procured. EPA will propose maximum contaminant levels for substances such as those listed in Table 5 in 1980. In additon, EPA will promulgate regulations to control trihalomethanes such as chloroform in drinking water late this year. Lead Amendments to the National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations require community water supply systems to initiate corrosion control programs to prevent lead contamination of drinking water supplies. These amendments are the result of extensive research and corrective action for lead contamination performed in New England. The problem of lead in drinking water in New England derives from two basic factors. First, the water supplies in New England are very soft and corrosive. The second factor is the widespread use of lead service pipe. The corrosive water dissolves lead from pipes as it passes through, producing in many instances lead levels in drinking water which are several times in excess of EPA's standard of 0.05 milligrams per liter. The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) which supplies water to the metropolitan Boston area has been treating its water supply to raise the pH (reduce acidity) and control corrosion since May 1977. EPA monitoring has shown a general reduction in lead concentrations since that time. Lead concentrations were at their lowest point in January of 1979 and have been on a gradual uptrend since that time because of fluctuations in pH. We expect that with better pH control, lead concentrations will again go down and stay at a level considerably below 0.05 mg/1. Bennington, Vermont also had a problem with lead contamination of drinking water, and instituted corrosion control in May of 1977. Monitoring results again showed dramatically reduced lead concentrations, well below 0.05 mg/1. In May of 1979, an equipment breakdown at the water treatment plant resulted in a drop in pH and a significant increase in lead concentrations. After the equipment went back on line, sampling showed that lead concentrations had again dropped to a very low level. Both of these cases point out the continuing need for proper operation and maintenance of water treatment facilities. Surface Impoundment Assessment The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes research and studies to -41- ------- investigate direct and indirect causes of drinking water contamination. The Surface Impoundment Assessment evaluates both current and potential impact of waste disposal impoundments in underground recharge areas on groundwater supplies. Three states, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, have contracted with the Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center to locate and count the impoundment sites. The remaining states are using a combination of existing state aerial photographs and office files for their location and count. On a national level, the data from this program will be incorporated into a five-year program established in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The following chart is a first round approximation of the surface impoundments in Region I: CT ME MA NH RI VT Estimated # of sites 250 200 425 156 55 300 Estimated # of impoundments 625 400 2890 289 55 360 Estimated # of impoundments to be assessed 625 400 425 289 55 360 Highways and Their Effects on Drinking Water Quality The Regional Office of EPA has been concerned with two major interstate highway construction projects with potential impacts on drinking water quality during the past year. Interstate-190 is a proposed connector from Worcester to j Leominster, Massachusetts which will cross approximately nine miles of the Wachusett Reservoir watershed, the terminal reservoir in a system supplying drinking water to almost two million people in Boston and surrounding communities. Highway construction involves clearing large areas of land of all vegetation which can result in extensive soil erosion from rainfall and runoff. Since the Metropolitan District Commission which operates the system does not filter water coming from the reservoir, suspended materials in water can pose a significant threat to health by harboring potentially pathogenic organics and interfering with the disinfection process. EPA has entered into an agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Public Works to provide on-site construction monitoring to assure that all reasonable protective measures are taken during the construction of 1-190. Interstate-84 which will connect Providence, Rhode Island and Hartford, Connecticut is now in the planning process. At present, the proposed path of 1-84 crosses approximately 12 miles of the Scituate Reservoir watershed, which is the sole source of drinking water for Providence and surrounding communities. Almost one-half the population of Rhode Island or one-half million people, depend upon.the Scituate Reservoir for water. -42- ------- EPA has expressed concern over the construction of any alignment of 1-84 of which would take it through the Scituate watershed. The Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the Federal Highway Administration states that there will be adverse impacts on the Scituate Reservoir as a result of this project. First, the construction process itself may add large quantities of turbid water to the reservoir. Secondly, storm water runoff from the road will significantly degrade the quality of the water in the reservoir by the addition of sodium, chloride, deicing chemicals, and other contaminants from storm water drainage. The third threat is from oil and other hazardous chemical spills due to accidents involving trucks traveling on the highway. And finally, 1-84 would spur further development in the watershed that could only increase the threat from other construction activities, other sources of storm water drainage, spills and a variety of other contaminants. New England's philosophy in the past has been to develop the purest possible sources of drinking water and to protect these sources from degradation. With the growing number of contamination problems that have arisen, and the concern over the health implications of trace metals and trace organics in drinking water, EPA believes that it would be a serious error to abandon that basic philosophy of maximum protection of drinking water sources and therefore opposes any alignment of 1-84 which would cross the Scituate Reservoir. Water Conservation As the demand for more and higher quality water rises, water conservation becomes an increasingly important issue in New England. Although water conservation alone may not ensure the continued availability of a high quality water supply, resourceful implementation of conservation measures can result in a considerable reduction in consumer costs related to the construction and operation of water and wastewater delivery and treatment systems. Additionally, many environmental and social benefits are potentially obtainable, such as the minimization of impacts associated with the expansion of existing supplies or the development of new ones. A number of environmental programs currently administered by Region I address the water conservation issue. The Construction Grants Program, in its review function under the Clean Water Act, ensures that reported water consumption values and associated wastewater production values indicate a reasonable in-place water conservation program. The Water Quality Management Program places an emphasis on water conservation activities in areas where existing or potential water supply quality or quantity problems exist. Finally, EPA's Environmental Impact Statement preparation process includes discussion of water conservation management alternatives. Currently, Region I has two employees assigned to the New England River Basins Commission and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Federation specifically to work on water conservation projects. EPA works with these and other organizations helping to develop water conservation guidance and technical material. -43- ------- TABLE 5 WATER SUPPLIES CONTAMINATED BY ORGANIC CHEMICALS State Connecticut Canton (private wells) Colchester (well #3) Danbury (Lakeview MHP) Farmington Industrial Park (wells 2,3,4) Norwalk (Layne #2 well) Plainfield (well # Plainville (well #3) Prospect (well #7) Southington (wells 4,5,6} Thomaston (well #1) Windham (well #1) Woodbury (well #2) Maine Gray (private wells) Rowland Massachusetts Acton (Assabet wells #1,2) Auburn Bedford (4 wells) Belchertown (3 private wells) Burlington (wells #3,4) Canton (well #7) Danvers (well #1) Primary Contaminant trichloroethylene benzene 1,1,1 trichloroethane tri chloroethylene 1,1 ,l_.t rich loroe thane tetrachloroethylene tri chloroethylene trichloroethylene 1,1,1 trichloroethane 1,1,1 trichloroethane 1,1,1 trichloroethane tetrachloroethylene tetrachloroethylene 1,1,1 trichloroethane trichloroethylene dimethyl sulfide TRIS benzene 1,1 dichloroethylene gasoline dioxane trichloroethylene trichloroethylene trichloroethylene trichloroethylene Probable Source of Contamination industrial waste gasoline spill unknown industrial waste discharge industrial waste industrial waste industrial waste unknown industrial waste industrial waste unknown unknown discharge discharge discharge discharge discharge industrial waste dump spill industrial waste storage gasoline and diesel fuel leak industrial waste discharge industrial waste discharge unknown unknown unknown ------- TABLE 5 (Cont'd) State Massachusetts (cont'd) Dartmouth (well) Dedham-Westwood (wells 3,4) Groveland (wells #1,2) N. Reading (wells #3,4) Norwood (Ellis Wellfield) Provincetown (S. Hollow Wellfield) Rehoboth (private well) Rowley (municipal well) Westport (7 private wells) Wilmington (wells #1,2) Woburn (wells F and 6) New Hampshire Pease Air Force Base, Portsmouth Primary Contaminant di chloroethylene 1,1,1 trichloroethane trichloroethylene trichloroethylene trichloroethylene gasoline trichloroethylene trichloroethylene gasoline trichloroethylene trichloroethylene trichloroethylene Probable Source of Contamination dump industrial wastes unknown industrial wastes unknown gasoline leak dump industrial wastes oil and gasoline dumping unknown dump disposal of solvent wastes Rhode Island Newport (Brenton Pt. State Park) tetrachloroethylene unknown ------- ENFORCEMENT Region I and the New England states made steady progress during the past year to bring the Region's major sources of air and water pollution into compliance with federal and state regulations. The principal accomplishments and the problems still remaining are these: Air Compliance New England has led the nation in achieving compliance by large sources of air pollution. Figure 13 shows that Region I states have continued to reduce the number of sources out of compliance during the past year. The Region has also conducted a vigorous enforcement program to ensure that unleaded gasoline is available for motorists whose automobiles have catalyst emission controls requiring unleaded gasoline. More than $70,000 in penalties was collected from violators of the regulations during the past year. Water Compliance The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is the primary tool in the water enforcement program. Anyone who discharges into a navigable waterway of the United States must obtain an NPDES permit to do so. These permits are not licenses to pollute. Rather they prescribe strict limitations on the kinds and amounts of pollutants that can be discharged. If an industry or municipality cannot immediately comply with prescribed effluent limitations, the permit contains an enforceable compliance schedule. Permits are issued either by EPA or by states to whom EPA has delegated this authority. In New England, Vermont and Connecticut have NPDES authority. During 1978, Region I achieved a very high level of compliance by industries with the Clean Water Act's requirement to install water pollution control facilities and made reasonable progress in the planning and construction of municipal treatment works. During 1979, therefore, the Region has increasingly focused its attention on whether the treatment plants that have been built are achieving the level of pollution reduction required by their permits. Figure 14 shows two things: First, it shows that the level of compliance by industries with their permit limitations is high and increasing. Second, it shows that the level of compliance by municipalities is not as high and has, in fact, decreased over the year as more new plants come on line and begin operation. Improving the level of municipal compliance has therefore been the highest priority of EPA's water enforcement program. -46- ------- Why are so many municipal plants failing to achieve the pollution reduction expected and required? Here are some of the reasons: - older, overloaded facilities - toxic industrial wastes - infiltration/inflow of stormwater - lade of adequately trained staff - insufficient funding for operation - inadequate design - problems with mechanical equipment Identifying and implementing solutions to these problems is a difficult task. It has required cooperative efforts by all of the water pollution offices at EPA and in the states as well as the efforts of the municipalities themselves. Solving municipal compliance problems has required federal and state grants, technical assistance, consultant reviews, sampling evaluations, and the use of enforcement orders to spell out responsibilities and timetables for action. Region I's accelerated effort to improve municipal compliance is demonstrated by the fact that during the past year, 60% of EPA's administrative orders were issued to municipalities and numerous other cases were handled by state agencies. Oil Spills and Spill Prevention The Clean Water Act provides penalties for spilling oil into the nation's waters and requires facilities that use and store significant quantities of oil to have plans to prevent spills. EPA and the Coast Guard assess penalties for violations. To date, about $20,000 in penalties has been collected. This money is paid into an oil spill cleanup fund and helps to minimize damage from other spills. New Directions in Permitting and Enforcement Programs During the past year, Region I's Enforcement Division has been at work on a number of new initiatives, in cooperation with other EPA Divisions and the Region I states. Several of these important new programs are: Pretreatment - The Clean Water Act requires industries to apply pretreatment before discharging wastes to municipal treatment facilities. The purpose of pretreatment is to neutralize toxic substances which might otherwise pass through the plant into the river or other receiving water, and to remove substances which might upset the biological treatment processes. -47- ------- Several of New England's most important industries, including tanneries, textiles, and electroplating, produce wastes that would require pretreatment before discharge to a municipal treatment plant. Thus, many of the Region's cities will be required to develop programs to enforce pretreatment standards applicable to their industries. Connecticut and Vermont already have state programs to enforce pretreatment standards. EPA personnel have held 6 workshops for community representatives to help them prepare to run strong pretreatment programs. Federal funding is available to help start the programs. Ocean Discharge Waivers - The Clean Water Act allows communities that discharge into the ocean to obtain waivers of the requirement to build secondary treatment plants if they can show, among other things, that primary treatment is sufficient to protect the marine environment, including water quality and aquatic life. Six Massachusetts cities and towns, including MDC-Boston, and one city in Maine have applied for waivers. EPA expects the review and decision-making process to take at least one year. If a waiver is granted, the city will not be required to install secondary treatment but will have to provide highly effective pretreatment and toxic pollutant control programs to protect the marine environment. Asbestos Pollution - EPA has stepped up enforcement of national standards for hazardous pollutants, especially the standards limiting asbestos dust emissions from building renovation and demolition. EPA has conducted several renovation/demolition inspections during the year and, as a result, has issued nine enforcement orders for violation of the notification and material handling provisions of the regulations. Hazardous Waste Enforcement - The Enforcement Division is actively involved in investigating hazardous waste disposal practices that may endanger public health or the environment. The Division's role in carrying out Region I's strategy for responding to hazardous waste incidents is to help to identify responsible parties and, where possible, to prepare legal action to require those parties to remedy the problem. The Division also provides technical and legal support to state investigations and enforcement actions. Cooperation with Other Federal Enforcement Agencies - Region I has worked to strengthen its ties with other federal enforcement agencies to improve coordination and joint action. EPA works with the Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food Quality and Safety Services of the Department of Agriculture under an interagency agreement to call possible violations of other agencies' laws to their attention and to follow up on problems referred to EPA by them. This past year, EPA investigated sixteen potential air, water, and pesticides violations referred by other agencies, and took eight enforcement actions. Further cooperative efforts such as joint inspections, an asbestos workshop, a lead seminar, and cross-training of personnel are planned for next year. -48- ------- FIGURE 13 NO. OF MAJOR AIR POLLUTION SOURCES IN COMPLIANCE FY 1978-79 1978 1979 UNKNOWN STATUS 1978 1979 IN COMPLIANCE 1978 1979 41 86 1025 1073 IN VIOLATION ------- FIGURE 14 RATE OF COMPLIANCE WITH WATER POLLUTION REGULATIONS-1979 1st QTR. 84% 2nd QTR. 87% 3rd QTR. 88% RATE OF COMPLIANCE OF MAJOR INDUSTRIALS WITH FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITS 1st QTR. •': :•• j; ;g: >x: •;" '-••'- ^ -••••-:-^<.;;"; $$. $ •.:' --•x :;v:; >: ;• gi:; £ g;:;:;; :g; §; :-;-; - •..: . ••.; •--..:..-:.- •; •:-• .•-.::;••;•;:; ;•; .;-..;. ;-•..-.: •--.-.•.• •.-.-.-'..-- .-:•:-.-:•'. •-.-. :_:•.<-: • 84% 2nd QTR. 82% 3rd QTR 76% RATE OF COMPLIANCE OF MAJOR MUNICIPALS WITH FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITS -50- ------- ENERfflf Review of environmental impacts of energy development has been a high priority issue in New England during the past year. In addition to the review of specific energy proposals, the Region participated in policy planning with other agencies and the public to ensure that environmental imperatives were set forth early and clearly in the energy planning process. EPA has also played a major role in the Federal Regional Council Energy Development Task Force and has participated in the policy determinations of the New England Energy Congress. Although New Englanders have conserved more than any other region in the country, additional conservation is possible. Conservation plus load management schemes can help hold energy growth to around two percent per year or less without harm to our economy or our life style. However, the need to accommodate even this reduced growth and the desire to reduce dependence on imported oil (70% of New England's energy is derived from imported oil) have led to the development of proposals for energy facilities ranging from the Dickey-Lincoln hydro project through oil facilities and off-shore oil drilling to windmills. Hydro Electric Under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act the Regional Office has reviewed several small low head facilities and the Dickey-Lincoln project. Small dams are a significant potential energy source for New England. As much as 2300 megawatts of electric energy may be available from this source alone (as compared to our total capacity from all sources of about 21,000 megawatts). Currently, eighteen low head projects are under review early in the licensing stage. These are all small and privately or municipally funded (with federal loans or grants in some cases). On the other end of the scale is the large federally funded Dickey-Lincoln project proposed to be built by the Corps of Engineers in northern Maine. While the project will be capable of generating 830 megawatts in its first stage, it cannot do so continuously because of limitations in water flow. Consequently, it is expected to be in operation about 20% of the time and is targeted primarily to supply peaking power for metropolitan New England. The revised draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on the project was circulated by the Corps of Engineers in late 1978. Since then the Corps has turned its attention to a study of the impacts to Canada and, in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a mitigation plan for damage to fish and wildlife resources. This mitigation plan was released in late October. In associated EIS action, the Department of Energy (which is responsible for marketing power from federal projects) has announced that they will revise their power line EIS to include a power line from Littleton, New Hampshire to West Compton or Franklin, New Hampshire instead of the originally proposed Littleton to Montpelier or Burlington, Vermont line. It is not clear at this time how the Corps of Engineers will incorporate all this information into a comprehensive EIS. However we hope that there -51- ------- will be a public comment period on these reports prior to their incorporation into the final EIS. The final EIS may be out as early as fall of 1980. When these reports are made public, EPA, Other agencies and the public will have the opportunity to comment en the adequacy of the information and the acceptability of the impacts. A comprehensive final EIS is now scheduled for June of 1981. Oil Related Facilities The Pittston Company's proposal to build an oil refinery in Eastport Maine has been extremely controversial. Environmentalists have challenged EPA's issuance of a PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) air quality permit. Pittston Company and other parties have appealed EPA's denial of an NPDES water discharge permit, and the Company has appealed the findings of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that whales and eagles would be endangered by the project. Following an agreement by the Court to delay the air permit proceedings until the water permit and endangered species issues were resolved, an endangered species board was convened to decide on the merits of the endangered species appeal. After refusing a request to dissolve the board, an administrative law judge heard testimony in Washington on the timeliness of the appeal. Meanwhile, the preliminaries to the appeal to the NPDES permit move on and will culminate in a hearing scheduled to begin in Boston in January 1980. Three other preliminary refinery proposals have been made. North Country Refinery has proposed a 20,000 barrel/day refinery for Lancaster, New Hampshire, Cumberland Farms has proposed a small (about 70,000 barrel/day) refinery in Fall River, Massachusetts and the North Atlantic Refining Corporation has proposed a 145,000 barrel/day refinery, also in Fall River. These proposals are in the earliest stages. No definitive information has been discussed. Generally the trend seems to be toward smaller proposals which may not require any federal permits at all and away from the large proposals we have seen in the past. Outer Continental Shelf Leasing After several years of study and maneuvering, the federal action on the Georges Bank lease sale is finally taking shape. During the past year, a supplemental EIS was filed by the Department of Interior, and workshops were held by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce on the nomination by the Conservation Law Foundation and others of Georges Bank as a marine sanctuary. In September 1978, Commerce announced that Georges Bank would be removed from its list of candidates for marine sanctuary status while Interior deleted twelve out of the 128 Georges Bank tracts proposed for lease, announced the establishment of a Biological Task Force to advise the supervisor of the lease sale area and proposed to hold the lease sale on October 30 (this date was later changed to November 6). EPA signed the Task Force charter in late October 1979. -52- ------- The total petroleum available in the lease sale area is estimated to be equivalent to seventeen days of national demand and 170 days of New England's. At presstime the leasing schedule was being challenged in the federal courts by the Massachusetts Attorney General and the Conservation Law Foundation. Nuclear The only active application before EPA on a new project was for the New England Electric System plant proposed to be built on surplus federal land at Charles town, Rhode Island. Work was suspended on the project after the General Services Administration completed a court-ordered EIS on the disposal of the surplus property and determined that the land would not be released to the private sector. As an alternative to this facility, New England Electric made a bold proposal of demand reduction for the system to be accomplished primarily by load management. Coal Coal is New England's most abundant energy resource and will probably play an important role in our energy and environment future. * Central Maine Power's proposal to build a 600 megawatt coal-fired plant at Sears Island is currently before the Maine Department of Public Utilities awaiting a decision on the need for the plant. Several proposed conversions from oil to coal are discussed in the Air Quality section of this report. *U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1 979 • 602-394/300 -53- ------- |