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


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REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR'S
      ANNUAL RETORT
                 QUALITY
     IN NEW ENGLAND
          1979

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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

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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.


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                           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

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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

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                               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-

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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-

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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-

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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

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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.

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                                                                    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).

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   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-

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                                        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-

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   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

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  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

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   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-

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  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-

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      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

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                                              VIOLATIONS
                                              NO VIOLATIONS
                                              NO DATA
FIGURE 8= AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING TSP VIOLATIONS IN 1978
                            -14-

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                                            NO VIOLATIONS
                                            NO DATA
FIGURE 9= AQCRs (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING  S02 VIOLATIONS IN 1978
                            -15-

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                                            NO VIOLATIONS
                                            NO DATA
FIGURE 10-- AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING  03 VIOLATIONS IN 1978
                             -16-

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                                           NO VIOLATIONS
                                           NO DATA
                                       (CONNECTICUT DATA WILL BE
                                       AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER 1979)
FIGURE 11= AQCR's (STATE PORTIONS) CONTAINING CO VIOLATIONS IN 1978
                            -17-

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                   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-

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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-

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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-

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                                         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-

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                                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-

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                                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-

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                                  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-

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                            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-

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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-

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                           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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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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-

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                       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-

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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-

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                                           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-

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                             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-

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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-

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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-

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                                                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

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                                             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

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                                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-

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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-

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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-

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                   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

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                         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-

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                                  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-

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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-

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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-

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