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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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-
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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
-------
TABLE 5 (Cont'd)
State
Massachusetts (cont'd)
Dartmouth (well)
Dedham-Westwood (wells 3,4)
Groveland (wells #1,2)
N. Reading (wells #3,4)
Norwood (Ellis Wellfield)
Provincetown (S. Hollow
Wellfield)
Rehoboth (private well)
Rowley (municipal well)
Westport (7 private wells)
Wilmington (wells #1,2)
Woburn (wells F and 6)
New Hampshire
Pease Air Force Base,
Portsmouth
Primary Contaminant
di chloroethylene
1,1,1 trichloroethane
trichloroethylene
trichloroethylene
trichloroethylene
gasoline
trichloroethylene
trichloroethylene
gasoline
trichloroethylene
trichloroethylene
trichloroethylene
Probable Source
of Contamination
dump
industrial wastes
unknown
industrial wastes
unknown
gasoline leak
dump
industrial wastes
oil and gasoline dumping
unknown
dump
disposal of solvent wastes
Rhode Island
Newport (Brenton Pt.
State Park)
tetrachloroethylene
unknown
-------
ENFORCEMENT
Region I and the New England states made steady progress during the past
year to bring the Region's major sources of air and water pollution into
compliance with federal and state regulations. The principal
accomplishments and the problems still remaining are these:
Air Compliance
New England has led the nation in achieving compliance by large sources of
air pollution. Figure 13 shows that Region I states have continued to
reduce the number of sources out of compliance during the past year.
The Region has also conducted a vigorous enforcement program to ensure
that unleaded gasoline is available for motorists whose automobiles have
catalyst emission controls requiring unleaded gasoline. More than $70,000
in penalties was collected from violators of the regulations during the
past year.
Water Compliance
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is the primary
tool in the water enforcement program. Anyone who discharges into a
navigable waterway of the United States must obtain an NPDES permit to do
so. These permits are not licenses to pollute. Rather they prescribe
strict limitations on the kinds and amounts of pollutants that can be
discharged. If an industry or municipality cannot immediately comply with
prescribed effluent limitations, the permit contains an enforceable
compliance schedule.
Permits are issued either by EPA or by states to whom EPA has delegated
this authority. In New England, Vermont and Connecticut have NPDES
authority.
During 1978, Region I achieved a very high level of compliance by
industries with the Clean Water Act's requirement to install water
pollution control facilities and made reasonable progress in the planning
and construction of municipal treatment works.
During 1979, therefore, the Region has increasingly focused its attention
on whether the treatment plants that have been built are achieving the
level of pollution reduction required by their permits.
Figure 14 shows two things: First, it shows that the level of compliance
by industries with their permit limitations is high and increasing.
Second, it shows that the level of compliance by municipalities is not as
high and has, in fact, decreased over the year as more new plants come on
line and begin operation. Improving the level of municipal compliance has
therefore been the highest priority of EPA's water enforcement program.
-46-
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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
-------
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
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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.
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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
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