United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Regionl, New England Office
RAA
EPA901-R-97-001
April 1997
Slate of the
New England
ronment
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This report is dedicated to the memory of
U.S. Senator Paul E. Tsongas of Massachusetts
1941 - 1997
His honesty, good humor, optimism, and perseverance served
New England's environment well and stand as guideposts
for all of us in our journey toward the cleaner, healthier
planet for which he fought so hard.
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Even if you're on the right track,
you'll get run over if you just sit there.
-Will Rogers
The character of New Englanders reflects a culmination of influences as disparate as they are positive.
Fiercely independent, yet rooted in community; strongly traditionalist, yet consistently revolutionary in
action; we are a people as varied and vital as our natural setting.
These crosscurrents have defined EPA's work in New England over this past year as well. Our use of
traditional means of environmental protection has been sharpened a record year in criminal enforce-
ment actions and aggressive use of our authority under the National Environmental Policy Act, for
example even as we have developed exciting new approaches StarTrack, CLEAN, State Perfor-
mance Partnership Agreements, and Brownfields among them to respond to new challenges.
Will Rogers once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." We
have taken those words to heart. The course we charted three years ago to bring about cultural and
organizational change within our agency, utilize sounder science and stronger economics in our efforts,
and transform this office into a force for education and empowerment of others is serving the envi-
ronment and the taxpayers well.
We have focused on places, not programs, and addressed environmental problems more holistically. We
have striven to enlighten the regulated community, working with them on an industry by industry basis,
and in the process, we have increased compliance and reduced pollution. We have opened our ears and
extended our hands to New England communities, environmental advocates, and businesses, and learned
from them how to better target our all-too-limited resources.
To complete the task, we have to move forward with even greater energy and discipline. In many ways,
it will mean building and expanding on the directions initiated by previous generations of environmen-
tal policy makers. In others, it will mean forging new paths and generating new ideas for making EPA
better able to handle the complex, ever changing challenges of environmental protection.
It has been said that environmental protection is the most successful area of public policy in our
generation. Here in New England, we will not forget the lessons that have made our efforts successful.
But neither will we walk into the future with our gaze fixed over our shoulder. Combining new tools
with past experience, we will continue to work hard on behalf of New England's environment.
In this next year, as we have over the past twelve months, we at EPA will work with all of you to help
bring common sense to our common problems for the common good and to make all of New England a
safer, healthier, more beautiful place for all who follow.
John P. DeVillars
Regional Administrator
EPA's New England Office
Please note, signatures have been removed from this document.
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CONTENTS
We shall not cease from exploration
and the end of all our exploring
shall be to arrive where we started
and know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
NEW ENGLAND ECOSYSTEMS
PUBLIC HEALTH & OUR ENVIRONMENT
"'"S *;' l«
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
l*f> iflj
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH
K 9 ifli
NEW DIRECTIONS
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INTRODUCTION
You grasp the bark by a rugged pleat,
And look up small from the forest's feet.
The only leaf it drops goes wide,
Your name not written on either side.
-Robert Frost
New England has a special identity^-
United States. It is a distinct part of our sense of history, our sense of place on the continent. It is familiar to
us even if we live in other parts of the country; its forests, rivers, and coasts were the first places the pilgrims
settled; it is the place where our democracy began. It is filled with Native American history, with legends and
traditions, with seasons.
Our mountains and forests are not part of a distant
wilderness, they are where we live and work and play.
The ocean, too, is just outside our door. All of New
England's natural environment is within our reach.
This proximity, this mixture of people and nature,
makes our work here particularly meaningful. In New
England, we are face to face with the challenges and
consequences of managing both human needs and
environmental protection.
At EPA's New England Office, we recognize that the
work we do to protect the environment becomes a
lesson for the larger world as well. What we learn,
how well we work together, how creatively we
approach a task, and how effectively we judge the
results can serve as a model for environmental
protection everywhere. To better meet these chal-
lenges, EPA's New England workforce has directed
our organizational resources by using "place-based"
approaches and "performance-based" results. We are
developing innovative alternatives that go beyond
ordinary "end of the pipe" treatments, enabling us
to achieve higher environmental protection stan-
dards, and to measure our results and successes
through tangible improvements in the environment
around us.
This report is about the state of the environment in
New England, but it also about the state of our ability
to ask the right questions and to build an approach to
environmental protection based on cooperation and
collaboration among many diverse interests.
Throughout this report, we highlight stories that
illustrate results or innovative ideas put to work to
benefit the environment and the people of this region,
now and for future generations.
INDICATORS OF PROGRESS
Information about the state of New England's envi-
ronment provides us with the means to assess our
current situation and direct our efforts toward the
future. How do we find information that paints an
accurate picture of the health and quality of New
England's environment and the people who reside
here? Through cooperative efforts with our New
England states, we have identified a set of key
environmental indicators. These are used throughout
this report to describe important information about
environmental quality.
Indicators are chosen to give us measurable data
about environmental conditions that can be com-
pared over time. For example, we can measure
ecological health by the percentage of our rivers,
lakes, and estuaries that support healthy aquatic
communities, or assess the impact on our health by
the number of days with good air quality. Environ-
mental indicators contribute to our understanding of
the state of our environment, the progress we are
making in protecting it, and the changes and chal-
lenges we are likely to face in the future.
The better the information we have about the
environment, the better our management of the
environment will be, the more accountable we will be
in our protection of it, and the more accessible and
participatory the process of environmental
decision-making can be. Building an approach to
environmental protection based on cooperation and
collaboration among many diverse interests, and
working together toward a common goal, are central
to fulfilling our mission.
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NEW ENGLAND
ECOSYSTEMS
Nature is in it for the long haul.
Jim Harrison
New England is home
to a variety of diverse ecosystems. From the dense
Northern Forest to wind-blown salt marshes and salt ponds, our region's ecosystems provide a range of
habitats for wildlife as large as the black bear to the smallest crabs living among blades of eelgrass. Hu-
man activities can significantly alter our environment by affecting interrelated ecosystems throughout our
region. Environmental indicators help us characterize the level of stress in an ecosystem, describe an
ecosystem's response to human activities and disturbances, and predict where harm to living organisms is
likely to occur.
WATERWORLDS:
AQUATIC LIFE & BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Every year, state, local, and federal agencies, along
with numerous volunteer monitoring groups,
collect information about water quality in streams,
rivers, lakes, ponds, and estuaries. Information
about water quality, toxicity, and the composition
of biological communities forms the basis of most
assessments. The presence and numbers offish
species and small aquatic organisms (macro-
invertebrates), for example, are good indicators of
Ecosystems Figure 1
water and sediment quality, since some are more
sensitive to pollution than others.
More than 80% of New England's rivers, and more
than 60% of our lakes and estuaries, fully support
aquatic life (Figure 1). The most significant
problems that have been identified for aquatic life
are eutrophication from agricultural and sewage
sources, siltation and runoff from silviculture
(forestry practices), nuisance aquatic species such
as zebra mussels or weeds, stormwater runoff, and
low water flow.
Fewer Lakes & Rivers Support All Uses
New England Waters Supporting
All Uses, Such As Swimming & Fishing
New England Waters Supporting
Healthy Aquatic Organisms
100
, 80
! 60
40
20
, 80
! 60
1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Estuaries (sq. mi.)
1992 1994 1996
Rivers/Streams (mi.) Lakes/Ponds (acres)
Source: Stale 305(b) Water Quality Inventory Reports and Fish Consumption Advisories
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Ecosystems Figure 2
Sediments in New England
Locations with potential adverse environmental
effects, based on current sediment data
High likelihood
A Moderate likelihood
Little (or no) likelihood
Source: National Sediment Inventory
PROBLEMS IN THE MUD:
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS
Toxic chemicals in water from industrial facilities,
sewage treatment plants, and urban and agricultural
runoff tend to settle and accumulate in the bottom
sediments of rivers and bays. These contaminants,
which include PCBs, pesticides, and metals, can
affect the benthic (bottom-dwelling) community or
move up the food chain to other fish, birds, and in
some cases, humans.
Results obtained from EPA's National Sediment
Inventory (NSI) show that, where samples have
been collected and reported, sediment contamina-
tion is widespread in many New England watersheds
(Figure 2). EPA studies have shown that approxi-
mately 40% (by area) of southern New England's
small coastal estuaries have benthic communities
that have been impacted by elevated levels of
sediment contamination.
MEANINGFUL MUSSELS:
AN INDICATOR SPECIES
Measurements of mussel tissues are often utilized to
determine contaminant concentrations in coastal
waters because they mirror overall water and sedi-
ment quality in an area. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been
measuring close to 100 different contaminants in
mussels at twenty-nine New England sites almost
every year since 1986. High concentrations of certain
contaminants, such as PCBs and polychlorinated
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) near New Bedford
Harbor and in urban environments such as Boston
Harbor or coastal Connecticut, have been detected in
areas where known contaminant releases have
occurred (Figure 3).
Between 1986 and 1993, both in New England as a
whole and nationally, concentrations of many contami-
nants in mussels have decreased, some have remained
constant, but none have increased. Those chemicals that
have declined include: PCBs and the pesticide chlor-
dane, which have either been banned or are no longer
used; butylins, formerly used as ingredients in anti-
fouling boat paints but since restricted because of their
toxicity; and copper, which has not been restricted.
Ecosystems Figure 3
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PAHS) in Mussels
Aw. FofHewEnglaiHH + Am. For Northeast*
BOSTON HARBOR
LONG ISLAND SOUND
MASSACHUSETTS BAY
NARRAGANSETT BAY
BUZZARDS BAY
PENOBSCOT BAY
SOUTHERN NAINE
(APE COD
0 400 800 1200 1600
Average Concentration (NG/G or PPB DRV WEIGHT)
'Northeast is Delaware to Maine Source: NUM. Status I Trends. 199S
SPECIAL PLACES
EPA has embarked on a series of Resource Protection
Projects to identify high priority natural resources and
to develop and implement strategies to protect them
six priority areas in New Hampshire, nine in Rhode
Island, and nine in Connecticut. EPA has targeted
twenty-five watersheds and other special places as part
of our Community-Based Environmental Protection
focus. We are working with community groups, and
state and local governments, to set tangible environ-
mental goals and to develop action plans that combine
targeted enforcement actions, technical assistance,
grant funding, and public education. For example, the
Lower Charles River Initiative has set a goal to be
fishable and swimmable by Earth Day 2005.
GIANT STEPS IN
CLEANING A HARBOR
New Bedford Harbor on Buzzard's Bay in Massa
chusetts has the potential to provide significant
economic and recreational benefits to the region,
but decades of inappropriate industrial waste dis-
charges have made it one of the largest
PCB-contaminated Superfund sites in the nation.
As a result, the Massachusetts Department of Pub-
lic Health has restricted lobstering and fishing
over a 18,000-acre area. As part of a Phase One
"hot spot" remedy for the site, 14,000 cubic yards
of the most contaminated sediments were dredged
and placed in temporary storage.
In 1996, after working with surrounding harbor
communities, EPA's New England Office estab-
lished a broad-based consensus on a Phase Two
cleanup approach to dredge and isolate another
500,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and
explore alternatives for its treatment. Our work
in New Bedford has begun the process of restoring
the harbor on a scale that can revitalize both its
true ecological and economic opportunities.
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MORRIS BROOK DAIRY FARM:
PROTECTING AQUATIC LIFE
Dale Lewis owns a dairy farm located on Morris
Brook, a tributary that feeds into the Connecticut
River in New Hampshire. In 1991, he volunteered
to join with EPA and the New Hampshire Depart-
ment of Environmental Services in a project to con-
trol erosion and runoff of cow manure and fertil-
izer entering the brook. Manure storage areas,
concrete pads in heavy animal use areas, house and
barn roof drains, and a brook crossing were con-
structed. Volunteers and staff from the Connecti-
cut River Watch Program collected and analyzed
water and macroinvertebrate samples to determine
whether the biological community would respond
to reduction in sediment and manure runoff.
Macroinvertebrates*
in Morris Brook
Increasing EPT** and Decreasing Worms
Indicate Improving Water duality
BUT** Pnnllftat lilrfiniaT
OP I KGIIE* niUfleS
1993 I 1994
fllh«M
UHIEif
"faddisflies. StMeflies. t Mayflies
Some: Rnrer Watch Network 1992-1994 Monitoring Report
After implementation of runoff controls, the
macroinvertebrate community downstream from
the Lewis Farm significantly improved; the rela-
tive abundance of pollution-tolerant organisms de-
clined, while pollution-intolerant species increased.
This improvement can be directly linked to reduc-
tions in sediments and manure running off into the
stream. As a result of his efforts, Dale Lewis was a
recipient of EPA's Environmental Merit Award.
WASHING IN AND RAINING DOWN:
EUTROPHICATION & ATMOSPHERIC
DEPOSITION
Discharges from sewage treatment plants and
non-point sources, such as agricultural runoff and
atmospheric deposition, result in increased amounts
of phosphorus and nitrogen in New England's lakes,
rivers, and coastal bays. This inadvertent over-
fertilization causes increased growth of aquatic
plants and algae. When these plants die and decom-
pose, the supply of dissolved oxygen in the water is
depleted, leaving less oxygen available for other
aquatic organisms. This process, called eutrophica-
tion, results in low dissolved oxygen, extensive
algal blooms, high levels of turbidity (suspended
material), fish kills, and loss of sensitive benthic
(bottom-dwelling) animals in the ecosystem. Indica-
tors show that about 32% of New England's lakes are
eutrophic (Figure 4). Symptoms of eutrophication
in estuaries, which include declining eelgrass
populations and growth of nuisance algae, have
worsened in Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, Long
Island Sound, and Waquoit Bay since the 1970s.
Records from sewage treatment plants in the region
show that the total loads of nitrogen and phosphorus
from wastewater treatment plants have either
remained the same or increased slightly from 1991
to 1995 (Figure 5).
Progress has been made in reducing nitrogen re-
leased by sewage treatment plants into some estuar-
ies, particularly in Long Island Sound. Partnerships
with local, state, and federal agencies are also needed
to stem the increase in eutrophication of New
England's lakes and coastal bays.
Atmospheric deposition also contributes to eutrophi-
cation, particularly since New England has the
highest atmospheric nitrogen loadings in the nation.
This is the result of New England's location "down-
wind" from major sources in the industrial Midwest,
automobile traffic in the Washington-to-Boston urban
Ecosystems Figure 4
High Levels of Nutrients
in New England Lakes
1986-1996
Over 30% of New England's Lakes Are Eutrophic*
'86 '88 '90 '92 '94 '96
- Healthy Eutrophic
Overfed with Nutrients
Source: Stale 305(b) Reports
Ecosystems Figure 5
Total Pollutants Discharged
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
in New England
1991-1995
120
'91 '92 '93 '94 '95
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
* Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH -N)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Phosphorus (TP)
SOUKBI EPA Permit ConplKincG
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corridor, and heavier rain and snowfall than other
parts of the country. Although sulfate levels have
declined since the passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments, which control sulfur emissions from
power plants, nitrate deposition has not declined
significantly (Figure 6). EPA is working with the
New England states to reduce nitrogen oxides by
capping power plant emissions and promoting mass
transportation and alternative fuel technologies.
In addition to its role in eutrophication, the air over
New England influences both terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems in other ways. Air pollution can damage
or inhibit plant and animal growth, and disrupt the
chemical balance of life-supporting soil and water.
Lead, particles, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and other air
pollutants have been measured in New England since
the late 1960s as part of an EPA-sponsored ambient
air monitoring network. Over the past decade, air
quality indicators show that both emissions, and
concentrations of particulate matter and sulfur
dioxide have decreased. Concentrations of ozone
and ozone precursor emissions, however, do not show
significant reductions. More reductions are needed
to help us stop long-term damage to our ecosystems,
climate, and human health.
ECO-RISK
EPA inventories help identify the sources and
extent of contamination of our ecosystems. Another
tool for assessing the effect of contamination on
ecosystems, which helps evaluate the probability of
harm from contaminants, is ecological risk assess-
ment (called "eco-risk"). To date, EPA and the New
England states have used "eco-risk" extensively in
waste site remediation, and this approach will have
a greater role in the overall cleanup, restoration,
and management of many ecosystems in the future.
For example, eco-risk is being used in EPA's
Waquoit Bay Case Study to develop a model for
watershed protection that identifies stressors in the
aquatic habitats of the watershed and assesses their
impacts on aquatic species.
THE CUMBERLAND FARMS SETTLEMENT: PRESERVING HABITAT
Protecting wetlands requires creative vigilance from local, state, and federal agencies. One approach
includes land conservation in tandem with enforcement. In 1996, a federal district court in Boston
approved a civil consent decree between the United States and Cumberland Farms, Inc., resolving a
long-standing action against Cumberland Farms for unpermitted filling of 180 acres of wetlands in
Halifax and Hanson, Massachusetts. Under the consent decree, Cumberland is required to deed 225
undeveloped acres to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for permanent conservation.
In addition, the company will establish a 30-acre wildlife and wetlands corridor on the most seriously
damaged wetlands and will pay a $50,000 civil penalty.
This settlement will preserve a total of 490 acres of undeveloped habitat and represents the largest perma-
nent preservation of habitat arising from a federal enforcement action in New England.
Ecosystems Figure 6
Air Quality in New England
Ozone (0,), VOC, NOx*
Nitrate & Sulfate in
New England Rain & Snow*
35
« 30
^ 25
3 20
I"
i 10
3 I
79 '81 '83 '85 '87 '89 '91 '93 '95
-MO, -S04
Participates (PM-10)**
'86 '89 '92 '95
PN10 (ug/m3) * PN10 Emissions
'89 '92 '95
0, VOC NOx
Suiter Dioxide (SO,)**
Source: National Atmospheric Deposition Pn
IUUDP1996)
86 '89 '92 '95
SO, (ppb) » SO, Emissions
Air Quality data are yearly/seasonal means for selected air quality sites; Source: AIRS/NARIP
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10
A QUIET INVASION:
BIOLOGICAL NUISANCES &
ALIEN SPECIES
Even though they were not originally part of our
ecosystems, most of the 4,000 non-native plant
species and 2,300 non-native animal species in the
United States pose little threat. Those that cause
damage, however, do so on a grand scale. Just
seventy-nine of these species have cost the economy
$97 billion to date. They alter the character of our
ecosystems, place additional pressure on species that
are already at risk, and adversely impact native
species. Expanding global travel and trade provide
still more opportunities for biological nuisances and
alien invaders to reach our shores.
Eurasian watermilfoil, a submerged aquatic plant,
has infested all New England states except Maine,
restricting recreation, harming fisheries, and out-
competing and eliminating native plants. Accidentally
introduced into the United States in the 1940s, Eurasian
watermilfoil has no known natural controls and can
adapt to a variety of environmental conditions.
LEAD AND MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN NEW ENGLAND LOONS
Lead and mercury are two of the most prevalent toxic heavy metal compounds threatening loons.
Since 1989, more than 400 dead or dying loons have been collected from freshwater and coastal areas
of all six New England states. These birds died as a result of trauma, ingesting metal fishing gear, and
disease. Lead fishing gear was found in over half the loons from freshwater lakes. In heavily used
areas, such as Lake Winnepasaukee, more than 80% of loon deaths were related to lead poisoning
from ingesting lead sinkers. Loons are very sensitive to lead poisoning and die rapidly after ingesting
even small amounts of lead. Legislation in the United States has been proposed, but not enacted, to
limit lead fishing gear. Alternatives to lead shot and sinkers are beginning to be marketed. Samples
taken from New England loons show that mercury levels are also significantly elevated and higher
than those found in loons in other regions of the United States. Fish-eating birds, such as loons and
bald eagles, evidently bioaccumulate mercury because of the elevated levels in many New England
lakes and rivers.
Purple loosestrife, a native of Eurasia, was first seen
in North America in 1814 and has since spread to
wetlands throughout the United States. It is particu-
larly abundant in disturbed wetlands in all six New
England states, crowding out native plants and
threatening rare amphibians and butterflies depen-
dent on native vegetation. Known for its bright pink
flowers, purple loosestrife is still sold commercially
for landscaping in some areas.
PROTECTING & RESTORING LAKE CHAMPLAIN
On November 16, 1990, Congress enacted the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act, identifying the
lake as a resource of national significance and establishing a goal to bring a variety of stakeholders
together to create a comprehensive plan for protecting the lake and its surrounding watershed. Home to
more than 600,000 people 180,000 of which use it for drinking water the Lake Champlain Basin stands
as a unique environmental, cultural, recreational, and economic resource that should be preserved for
future generations. In 1990, the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) was established to coordinate the
ecosystem and watershed-based activities envisioned in the Act. As a lead agency of the LCBP, EPA has
provided more than $8 million and countless hours of technical and policy assistance in an effort to
develop a pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan for the basin.
The payoff for all of this hard work came on October 28, 1996, when EPA and the states of Vermont and
New York signed "Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain
Basin." Highlighting the need for phosphorus, toxic substance, and nuisance aquatic plant reduction strat-
egies, the plan is now moving into the implementation phase another step toward the long-term preser-
vation of a precious New England resource. The Plan sets goals for phosphorus reduction throughout the
lake, aiming for a 25% reduction every five years for the next twenty years.
The common reed (Phragmites) is a tall perennial
grass found in all New England states. In disturbed
wetland areas associated with stormwater runoff,
Phragmites often forms dense, single-species stands,
disrupting wetland habitats and their associated
wildlife. Both coastal and inland wetlands are
threatened by its proliferation.
Zebra mussels are small mollusks native to Eastern
Europe, first introduced to the United States in the
Great Lakes in 1986. Currently, they are spreading
throughout Lake Champlain and may soon reach
the Connecticut River. Zebra mussels pose a threat
to all New England waters and may eliminate many
native freshwater mussels already under stress from
pollution.
Most non-native species can never be eliminated,
although their spread can be controlled. Eurasian
watermilfoil and zebra mussels can be controlled by
removing and properly disposing of all plant
fragments and removing mussels from boats. The
best control mechanism in the case of purple
loosestrife and Phragmites is to keep wetlands intact
and minimize other kinds of wetland disturbances as
much as possible.
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11
WETLANDS
Because of their importance as habitat, their role in
sustaining and restoring water quality, and their
recreational values, wetlands in New England are
protected by federal, state, and local laws.
New England's wetlands have been seriously im-
pacted by human activities. Estimates of original
wetland coverage and losses since the 1700s vary
widely. Currently, we have approximately 11
million acres of freshwater wetlands ranging from
marshes to forested areas and 270,000 acres of
estuarine wetlands. Vermont estimates that 118
acres of freshwater wetlands have been lost and 265
acres impaired since 1990. New Hampshire esti-
mates that up to 250 acres have been altered or lost
over the last couple of years. Connecticut and
Maine, however, estimate that 250 acres per year
are altered or lost. Primary reasons for current
wetland loss in New England are filling, draining,
and dredging associated with agriculture, and
urban and suburban sprawl.
EPA's New England Office
is vigorously curtailing
wetland loss and
degradation by
supporting state and
local efforts to protect
and restore this vital
resource. In partnership
with the Corps of Engineers
and the states, regulations
are being streamlined,
becoming clearer and
fairer to applicants,
and getting more
protective of important
public resources. EPA's
enforcement arsenal is also used
to restore wetlands and penalize
those who flagrantly violate wetland protection
laws.
SEARS ISLAND: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
For more than fifteen years, the Maine Department of Transportation (ME DOT) planned to
construct a major cargo port at Sears Island, a 940-acre undeveloped island off of the coast of
Maine. The project would have eliminated 12 acres of productive eelgrass beds (vitally impor-
tant for several species, including lobsters, crabs, and menhaden), roughly 15 to 30 acres of
valuable freshwater wetlands, and 12 acres of valuable intertidal habitat supporting high densi-
ties of softshell clams.
During 1996, two significant events occurred:
First, ME DOT suspended plans for the cargo port at Sears Island, removing the most immediate
threat to its freshwater and marine environment for the foreseeable future. Proposed moderniza-
tion of nearby Mack Point's existing port an industrial Brownfields site is in the conceptual
planning stage and would involve substantially less environmental harm than one constructed at
Sears Island.
Second, EPA and ME DOT settled the enforcement case arising from illegal filling of 10 acres of
freshwater wetlands at the island. Under a consent decree, ME D OT will put $800,000 toward
wetland restoration and land preservation projects on Sears Island and on the mainland near Penobscot
Bay. ME DOT will:
remove the fill from and restore 3.2 acres of freshwater
wetlands on the island, at site of ME DOT's proposed port;
create at least one vernal pool at the restored area;
restore 0.75 acres of wetlands at the south/central end of the
island, which were degraded when unknown persons re-
moved the topsoil;
acquire and restore 17 acres of degraded pasture land
resulting in the land reverting to wetland - along the Dyer
River, a tributary to the Sheepscot River that is habitat for
the Atlantic Salmon a species the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service proposes to be listed as threatened; and
invest at least $ 100,000 toward the purchase of valuable
wetlands along the Ducktrap River, which also acts as critical
habitat for Atlantic salmon.
Furthermore, under the decree, three contractor defendants who did design and construction
work on the port project will pay a $10,000 cash penalty.
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12
PUBLIC HEALTH The health °fNew Engenders
AND OUR
ENVIRONMENT
is directly linked to the condi-
tion of our environment. From the quality of our air and the water we drink, to water quality in our lakes and
rivers, to the presence and cleanup of hazardous waste, our environment is a constant influence on our lives
and physical well-being.
Every human has a fundamental
right to an environment of
quality that permits a life of
dignity and well being.
-U.N. Conference on the
Human Environment, 1972
Many of the environmental indicators we present in
this section show that significant progress is being
made in lowering public health risks for the citizens
of New England, but there is a long way to go before
all environmental risk factors are brought under
control. We must continue to address issues of air
quality, water quality, and hazardous waste treatment
if we are to leave a healthier New England environ-
ment for future generations.
GOOD NEWS ABOUT CLEAN AIR
The total number of healthy days each year those
days when all significant air pollutants are at or
below 50% of the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards is an important air quality indicator.
The news is very good. The number of healthy air
quality days for the last ten years in six urban
counties in New England shows improvements in air
quality (Figure 1). If we compare today's situation to
the past, we find that air quality varied greatly across
the region twelve years ago from more than 320
healthy days in Vermont to only 150 healthy days in
New Haven, Connecticut. By 1995, however, there
were nearly 300 healthy days in each of these urban
areas.
Although we have made significant progress in our
efforts to improve air quality, our work is not over;
we still have days during the summer that exceed
acceptable ground-level ozone standards. In addition,
new research shows health effects associated with
exposure to ozone and particulate matter at levels
that are below current standards. These studies
suggest that children playing outdoors and outdoor
workers experience respiratory problems, such as
asthma attacks and shortness of breath, when they are
exposed to lower levels of ozone in summertime
smog for six to eight hours. Studies also point to a
connection between exposure to very fine particulate
matter (less than 2.5 microns in diameter), aggrava-
tion of respiratory and heart disease, and premature
deaths. EPA is evaluating this research and has
proposed new National Ambient Air Quality Stan-
dards to address these issues.
Public Health Figure 1
Good* Air Quality Days
in New England
350
300
|150
z 100
50
85 '87 '89 '91 '93 '95
-*- CT-New Haven Co -*- NE-Cumberland Co
MA-Suffolk Co NH-Hillsborough Co
* Rl-Providence Co -*- VT-Chittenden Co
Good Air Quality Is any day «
are 50% or less ofthe National Ambient Air Quality
irds
Source: EPA AIRS
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13
Fletcher's Paint Site: Bad Dust
The Fletcher's Paint site, located in Milford, New Hampshire, manufactured paints and stains from 1948
until 1991, and was listed as a National Priority List (NPL) Superfund site in 1989. Earlier cleanup actions
had included temporary gravel covers on contaminated soils, removal of almost 1,300 drums of waste, and
demolition and disposal of a storage shed. Investigations undertaken between 1991 and 1994 showed
PCBs as the greatest contaminant still of concern at the site. Dust samples from eight nearby homes
showed that all eight were contaminated with low levels of PCBs. Working with the New Hampshire
Department of Public Health Services, EPA determined that the contaminated soils presented a health risk
to the residents. After several months of negotiation, EPA ordered the excavation of all PCB-contaminated
soils containing more than one ppm (parts per million) PCB from the yards and driveways of these
residences. The excavation took place in August 1995. Four families took part in a voluntary relocation
program offered by EPA for the duration of the removal activity. A total of 780 tons of contaminated soils
was removed from the properties, preventing wind-blown dust from spreading PCB contamination.
A SERIOUS CONCERN
Asthma has become a major public health problem
it is the leading cause of chronic illness in our
children and is the leading cause of school absentee-
ism due to sickness. The number of Americans with
asthma increased by 42% in the last decade and
continues to rise, elevating asthma to the unfortunate
status of "the environmental disease of the decade."
Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation
of the airways that makes it hard to breathe. It is
increasing both in prevalence and severity. The
number of asthma deaths has increased by 58% in
this decade. In New England, asthma is the cause in
one out of every 100,000 deaths. Although this is
low when compared to the rest of the nation, there is
reason for concern. In Boston alone, it is estimated
that more than 100,000 children are affected by
asthma. One survey found an average of two
asthmatic children per Boston classroom. The
highest rate for asthma hospitalization is in the
poorer neighborhoods of the inner city.
A host of air pollutants, such as particles, nitrogen
oxides, tobacco smoke, ozone, allergens, and chemi-
cals, aggravate asthma. Our environmental indica-
tors show that we have reduced ambient air levels of
many of these pollutants. Unfortunately, even brief
or low-level exposure may be a problem, and
children, minorities, and the urban population are at
the greatest risk. Asthma prevention is an important
element of EPA's commitment to public health and
environmental justice.
Public Health Figure 2
Releases of Carcinogens*
In New England
1991-1995
10
i *
I 6
i 4
2 2
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
CT NA Rl
NE NH VT
Releases Inliude Air, Land, t Water
Source: EPA Ink Release Inventory
Most New Englanders spend more than 90% of their
time indoors. This means that indoor air pollutants,
which can also aggravate asthma, are another con-
cern. EPA has determined that poor indoor air
quality is among the greatest health risks to the
population. We are trying to help people identify
and control indoor air problems. For example,
exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is an
undisputed trigger for asthma in children. EPA is
working with schools and community groups to
distribute information about secondhand smoke and
indoor air. The agency has developed a Tools for
Schools Kit, which provides information about
conducting home asthma evaluations and promotes
a team approach to indoor air quality.
GETTING DANGEROUS
CONTAMINANTS OUT OF
THE ENVIRONMENT
Working in partnership with the New England states
and private industry, EPA has achieved a significant
reduction in the amount of cancer-causing sub-
stances (known as carcinogens) released into the air,
land, and waters of New England. Taken from EPA's
Toxic Release Inventory, these environmental
indicators show a drop in the release of carcinogens
from 9.5 tons per year in 1991 to just over 6 tons per
year in 1995 (Figure 2). The New England Environ-
mental Assistance Team, through their pollution
prevention activities and outreach efforts, is focusing
on four industrial sectors printing, metal finishing,
electronics, and municipalities in our pursuit to
reduce the use of toxic compounds.
CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR BENZENE:
MORE GOOD NEWS
The gasoline we use in our cars is composed of a
complex mixture of more than 100 organic com-
pounds. Prior to the 1970s, gasoline contained small
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14
Public Health Figure 3
New England Superfund Program
Total Wastes Treated Through 1996
Groundwater
Liquid Waste
Surface Water
Contaminated Soil ft Other Solid Wastes
Sediment
6.5 billion gallons
1.2 million gallons
300 million gallons
1 million cubic yards
14.000 cubic yards
quantities of lead and other toxic compounds. Lead
was removed from gasoline in the 1970s and no
longer poses a public health threat. Many of the other
toxic compounds, however, still remain. Benzene is
among the most toxic of these. Research shows that
people who are exposed to benzene can suffer
immediate and long-term effects ranging from
narcosis, nausea, and headaches, to severe blood
disorders and leukemia.
The Clean Air Act Amendments passed by Con-
gress in 1990 required gasoline refiners to produce
reformulated gasoline (RFG) by January 1, 1995 that
contained smaller amounts of toxic compounds such
as benzene. The reformulated gas program has had a
dramatic and positive effect on cleaning the air in
New England. In 1995, summertime concentrations
of benzene in RFG had decreased by 60% from levels
only a year earlier. Additional reductions in the
concentration of toxic compounds in gasoline are
scheduled to take effect by 1999.
CLEANING UP THE MESS
Correcting the damage caused by decades of
hazardous waste dumping is an immense task, but
we have begun to make visible progress. Since
1980, EPA's New England Office has taken ninety-
three immediate actions at National Priority List
(NPL) Superfund sites and made 274 emergency
responses at other hazardous waste sites and material
spills to address imminent threats to public health.
At the eighty-one Superfund sites under remediation,
nineteen have met cleanup goals for land, surface, or
ground water, fifteen sites have partial goals met, and
forty-seven have ongoing cleanup activities.
Public Health Figure 4.
Classified Shellfish
Water Acreages
in New England Estuaries
Total Acres Classified
s
1
20
15
10
5
I
I
1971 1980 1990 1996
Approved Prohibited
Conditional/Restricted Nonproductive
Source: HOAR. Slate 305IW Water Quality Inventory
Johns Manville Removal Project
From 1900 to 1985, the Johns Manville Com-
pany operated an asbestos insulation manufac-
turing facility in one of the oldest neighborhoods
of Nashua, New Hampshire. During its opera-
tion, manufacturing wastes containing asbestos,
PCBs, and other hazardous materials were stored
or buried throughout two site buildings and the
surrounding property. Located within a one-mile
radius of the site are 13 schools, a hospital, and
13 elderly and low-income housing develop-
ments. The site was condemned by the City of
Nashua in October 1994, to avoid a potential pub-
lic health hazard and to prevent trespassers from
entering the buildings. In response to an emer-
gency request by the state, EPA activities at the
site began in the summer of 1995, when our staff
conducted a removal of more than 370 tons of
asbestos-containing materials, 630 gallons of PCB
oil, and 500 containers of flammable and toxic
materials. Recognizing that without our help this
abandoned site would remain a threat to local
residents, EPA constructed a long-term strategy
to clean up this site.
Heavy snowfall in 1996 caused several roof sec-
tions to collapse, increasing the potential for an
asbestos release to the surrounding neighborhood,
and creating the need for quick, concerted ac-
tion. Working with local and state agencies and
community groups, EPA invested $3.7 million
in a major removal effort at the site. Since Au-
gust 1996, EPA has removed more than 1,800
tons of asbestos-containing material and has be-
gun the demolition of the collapsing buildings,
with an ultimate goal to return this site to benefi-
cial economic use.
Based on the amount of hazardous waste treated
(Figure 3), there appears to have been a steady
decrease in risks to people and ecosystems. But we
still have a lot of work to do, and Superfund cleanup
teams are improving their efficiency and using
innovative technologies to get the job done.
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15
Public Health Figure 5
Drinking Water Quality Improving
Percent of Water Systems In Compliance
with the Safe Drinking Water Act
1996
In Compliance
95%
(92% In 1995)
Organic*
Inorganics (.3%)
Turbidity (2%)
Source: EPA Safe Drinking V
,1996
WATCHING WHAT WE EAT
Monitoring and managing shellfish flats in New
England is a way to determine the health of this
habitat while protecting public health. While there
has been an increase in the total acreage approved
for shellfish harvesting over the last twenty-five
years, the number of shellfish bed acres closed for
public health concerns have doubled (Figure 4).
The greatest number of closed beds are near popu-
lated areas and are associated with contamination
from municipal discharges, combined sewer over-
flows, failed septic systems, and overboard dis-
charges from boats.
Five of the six New England states have issued
statewide fish consumption advisories for the
general population, with additional restrictions for
subsistence fishermen and sensitive subpopulations,
including children, nursing mothers, and pregnant
women. Mercury has been found at levels of
concern in fish everywhere in New England. In
some local areas, PCBs, dioxins, and some pesti-
Partnerships in the Northern Oxford County Project
The Northern Oxford County Coalition (NOCC) was formed to address citizen concerns about air quality
and environmental health in the towns of Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield, and Peru in northwestern Maine.
Some citizens in the county were concerned about the possibility that poor air quality was contributing to
elevated rates of cancer and respiratory diseases. The major business in the area is a pulp and paper mill,
situated in a deep river valley in Rumford. Although existing environmental quality standards had not
been exceeded, EPA became involved as a coalition partner at the communities' request in 1994, and
subsequently, has played a leading role in the coalition's work. The NOCC helps citizens of Northern
Oxford County make informed decisions about their environment and improve the quality of life in their
communities. The coalition includes the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state
Bureau of Health, citizens of the four towns, local governments, businesses (including the pulp and paper
mill), health care providers, and EPA. A long-term air monitoring plan will be developed from data
gathered during year-long monitoring of air pollutants in valley fog, and by April 1997, the NOCC will
offer a series of recommendations for improving air quality and public health.
cides are also a problem. To find out more about
eating fish in your community, contact your local
health agency.
QUENCHING OUR THIRST
Safe, potable drinking water is central to a region's
health and its economy. In 1996, 95% of our public
drinking water systems were in compliance with all
drinking water standards (Figure 5). Most of the
remaining 5% were in violation because of contami-
nation by bacteria that were subsequently found to
pose no direct threat to human health. Nevertheless,
water-borne bacteria, viruses, and protozoans in our
water supply will continue to be of concern as we
move into the next century.
Preventing pollution of the lakes, rivers, streams,
and groundwater that serve as drinking water
sources is critical for public safety. Here in New
England, where 31% of the population is served by
groundwater, all six states have approved wellhead
protection programs, a good indicator of the extent
of protection for community water supplies. We are
making progress toward our goal to delineate (or
define) the recharge area around 100% of our public
wells (Figure 6). The Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1996 offer additional protection
through provisions for new prevention approaches,
improved consumer information, improved regula-
tions, and funding for states and local water systems.
For 1997, New England has $87 million available to
fund the most pressing compliance and public
health protection needs.
Public Health Figure 6
Pubjic Well Systems with
Defined Recharge Areas
7000
6000
5000
5 4000
S 3000
[ 2000
X 10QO
6284
4411
333
645
75
380
Q ME MA NH Rl VT NE
Wells with Defined Recharge Areas
Wells without Defined Recharge Areas
Source: Wellhead Biennial Reports
-------
16
OPPORTUNITIES
Pollution is nothing but the resources
we are not harvesting.
We allow them to disperse because
we've been ignorant of their value.
-Buckminster Fuller
EPA and its partners^
I in New England are proving that economic progress
and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive and can often be mutually beneficial. As New
England's economic health improves, its citizens also continue to protect and preserve their natural heritage.
For example, EPA's Toxic Release Inventory reports show greater decreases in total waste generated by New
England companies than in any other area of the country, which is a good indicator of the success of our
pollution prevention and source reduction programs (Figure 1).
Environmental compliance is EPA's own bottom line.
We use strong regulatory enforcement, combined
with incentives and technical assistance, to help
businesses achieve and stay in compliance with
environmental laws. As importantly, we help New
Englanders exceed environmental standards through
pollution prevention, often helping them to reap
significant dividends in the process.
REACHING OUT TO HELP:
ASSISTANCE & POLLUTION PREVENTION
EPA's regional Assistance and Pollution Prevention
team has been actively helping businesses and
organizations throughout New England by respond-
ing to more than 7,000 requests for technical assis-
tance, sponsoring more than eighty workshops and
training sessions, and visiting 150 businesses and
municipalities. The team has also organized innova-
tive technology demonstration projects, developed
compliance manuals, and provided nearly $ 1 million
in grants for pollution prevention projects.
BRIGHT IDEAS
Electricity rates in New England are among the
highest in the nation. EPA's Green Lights and
ENERGYSTAR programs help companies to invest in
energy saving measures while reducing operating
costs and enhancing their competitive position.
Experience has shown that investments in energy
efficiency often pay for themselves within a few
years. Average rates of return can exceed 45%.
Economics Figure 1
Toxic Releases Are Declining
In New England
Releases to Land, Air, ft Water
70
JS 60
* 50
M
.2 40
I 30
20
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
1995 Waste Managment Profile
All Toxic Wastes*
Energy Release/Djsposal
Recovery
(38.4)
(40.7)
Recycled
(250.8)
Treatment
(153.7)
'Wastes In millions of pounds
Source: Toxic Release Inventory. 1991-1995
-------
17
GREEN LIGHTS FOR GILLETTE
The Gillette Company in Boston, a charter mem-
ber of the Green Lights program, has participated
in EPA's pollution prevention programs for years.
Under EPA's "33/50" Program, Gillette reduced
releases and off-site disposal of targeted chemi-
cal wastes by 99%. Under EPA's WasteWi$e pro-
gram, Gillette has donated 12,500 pounds of ma-
terials to the Boston Schools Recycling Center
and given more than 1,300 pieces of office equip-
ment to local nonprofit organizations. Gillette
was selected as a participant in EPA's national
Environmental Leadership Program in 1995, and
more recently, began a project to develop and
test an innovative environmental compliance and
auditing program, StarTrack.
Because these programs reduce demand for electric-
ity, they also reduce emissions such as sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, particulates, mercury, and carbon
dioxide from power plants. From 1991 to the
present, people who have participated in Green
Lights in New England have kept more than 851
million pounds of carbon dioxide, 6.8 million pounds
of sulfur dioxide, and 2.4 million pounds of nitrogen
oxides from entering the atmosphere, while saving
773 million kilowatts of energy, which adds up to
approximately $21 million per year.
Innovative EPA programs such as the StarTrack third
party compliance program are examples of ways in
which we are encouraging and rewarding businesses
who work to exceed environmental standards. In
1996, EPA recognized twenty-one New England
companies as environmental leaders; nine of these
have agreed to participate in the StarTrack program.
StarTrack builds on ISO 14001 an international
system of environmental management standards to
encourage businesses to scrutinize their environmen-
tal compliance and management systems, and
establish plans for improving performance.
StarTrack provides limited penalty amnesty, no
routine inspections, simplified reporting, and expe-
dited permitting in exchange for an agreement to
obtain an independently certified assessment of the
company's environmental management and compli-
ance performance. Companies that have begun these
efforts have already reaped significant environmental
and economic rewards, including pollution preven-
tion, a healthier bottom line, and a greater degree of
trust and respect from the public.
In March 1996, President Clinton signed the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. Under
this authority, EPA issued a Policy on Compliance
Incentives for Small Businesses. Civil penalties are
eliminated for businesses that satisfy policy conditions,
including prompt disclosure and correction. As part
of this focus, EPA's New England Office designed a
pilot project for small and medium-sized metal
finishing businesses in Maine and New Hampshire.
The CLEAN program offers free, on-site compliance
and pollution prevention audits, and enforcement
amnesty for any violations discovered in the process,
so long as participating companies agree to correct
violations found during the audit and undertake an
additional "beyond compliance" pollution prevention
project. Besides expanding its regional focus, the
CLEAN program will focus on printers and wood
product companies in 1997. New England's Small
Business Ombudsman is also available to help small
businesses with compliance issues.
EPA's new Partners for Change program is based on
the idea that every New England business and
municipality, no matter how large or small, can do
something to improve the environment and should
be recognized for its efforts. Anyone can apply, and
by undertaking a pollution prevention or waste
reduction project such as implementing process
changes, instituting physical or equipment modifica-
tions, or engaging in education and outreach, partici-
pants can receive an EPA Partners for Change
window decal and "green" business benefits.
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
The Brownfields Initiative, part of EPA's Superfund
Program, is helping to turn previously contaminated
Superfund sites into environmentally healthy, eco-
nomically productive areas in fourteen New England
communities. One example is in a low-income elderly
housing community in Bangor, Maine, where a
much-needed supermarket is being built, with help
from grants and partnerships with the local govern-
ment, on the site of a former coal gasification plant.
Private efforts have begun to acquire the property, and
the City of Bangor estimates that the new supermarket
will add $5.1 million to the local tax base and create
150 new jobs. Similar efforts in Connecticut and
Massachusetts will put more than 250 acres of previ-
ously contaminated land back into productive use.
PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
Chris Ford, Printed Circuit Corporation
Chris Ford is an environmental engineer handling all environmental, health, and safety issues for Printed
Circuit Corporation of Woburn, Massachusetts. Chris is a strong advocate of pollution prevention and an
ally of EPA's New England Environmental Assistance Team (NEEAT). A certified Toxics Use Reduction
Planner, he is an instructor at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) in Lowell, Massachusetts, has
educated EPA technical staff about the electroplating industry, and has traveled as far as Mexico to teach
companies about pollution prevention. At Printed Circuit Corp., Chris led a group in implementing
projects that reduced the company's sulfuric acid use by 30 tons per year, reduced use of ammonia by
100,000 pounds a year, and reduced acid waste by 70% through the use of an acid recycling unit; these
efforts save the company a significant amount of money every year.
-------
Economics Figure 2
Recycling Rates
In New England
WASTE NOT
New Englanders generate 4.3 pounds of solid waste
per person each day. Although the amount of solid
waste generated each year has been increasing since
1960, the rate of growth has slowed recently as a
result of efforts to promote source reduction, reuse,
recycling, and composting. At the same time, the
proportion of waste being recycled in all six New
England states has been growing (Figure 2).
With funding from EPA, the Northeast Recycling
Council (NERC) works to develop markets for
recycled products. The recycling industry provides
more than 103,000 jobs in the northeast, adding $7.2
The Northbridge Risk Reduction Demonstration Project:
Good News for Homeowners
In a model of government cooperation and community participation, EPA, the Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) are working
together in Northbridge, Massachusetts, to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of "low-tech" measures for
reducing environmental health risks and cleanup costs that have come to be associated with lead-contaminated
soils. Six children living in a neighborhood of seven duplex homes were found to have blood lead levels
that remained elevated even after their homes were de-leaded in accordance with DPH lead paint require-
ments. Too much lead in the body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red
blood cells, and can affect a child's physical development and ability to learn. Soil containing residues
from lead-based paint was believed to be the culprit. The contaminated soil was isolated by combining the
use of pavement, synthetic cover material, and a variety of landscaping techniques. In this way, children's
exposures to lead-contaminated soil and risk of further lead poisoning were cost-effectively reduced with-
out having to excavate every yard of soil at enormous expense and inconvenience to residents. This
demonstration is good news for homeowners, environmental regulators, and public health officials who are
struggling to deal with similar problems around the country.
billion to our economy (Figure 3). Through the
efforts of EPA, the National Recycling Coalition, and
many other New Englanders, recycled products are
now publicly traded on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Combined with state and local initiatives, these
efforts are removing millions of tons of materials
from the solid waste stream every year.
EPA's WasteWi$e program encourages participants
to reduce and recycle their wastes, which often
results in significant savings. For example, Hasbro,
Inc., a Rhode Island-based toy maker, reduced the
thickness of polypropylene bags by 12.5%, saving
an estimated $10,000 in 1995, and reduced the
thickness of material used in its corrugated shipping
containers by 15%, saving the company approxi-
mately $400,000.
Economics Figure 3
Jobs Created by Recycling
VT (1739)
Rl (378)
NH(2583)
«(4261)
GRANITE STATE PLATING GETS CLEAN
Granite State Plating (GSP) in Rochester, New Hampshire, wanted to find opportunities for pollution
prevention and compliance in addition to those already in place. The New Hampshire CLEAN team is
working with GSP to identify inexpensive, good housekeeping practices that supplement their operations,
which had already eliminated cadmium, chrome, nickel, cyanide, and halogenated solvents from GSP's
wastewater discharges. Further improvements to GSP's wastewater treatment system are expected to re-
duce its rinse water waste generation by 95%. This project demonstrates how industry can economically
produce a quality product while meeting and even exceeding environmental requirements through
pollution prevention practices and new technologies.
NA (9824!
NE (8112)
Source:!
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19
THE LAST RESORT: ENFORCEMENT
EPA's New England Office is committed to working
with businesses and encouraging them to come
forward with their problems and to cooperatively
reach environmental standards. In cases where
companies disregard important environmental
regulations or gain unfair economic advantage from
failing to comply with the law, however, EPA is
prepared to use its enforcement authority to remedy
the situation.
In 1996, EPA's New England workforce organized its
inspection and enforcement resources to focus on
public agencies, industrial sectors, urban environ-
ments, and sensitive ecosystems, accomplishing more
than 800 inspections and 170 formal enforcement
actions in the region (Figure 4).
PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
lhab Farag, University of NH
EPA's CLEAN/Pollution Prevention program for
metal finishers would not have been possible with-
out the assistance, dedication, and energy of lhab
Farag at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).
UNH received a grant from EPA to implement a
program offering free, on-site compliance and pol-
lution prevention audits to small and
medium-sized metal finishing companies. In or-
der to market this innovative program, lhab built
on his existing partnerships with industry and the
state, visiting businesses in New Hampshire and
leading the audit teams that drafted agreements
with companies, as well as producing "This Old
Factory," a pollution prevention training video
for metal finishers.
MAKING THE BEST OF IT:
SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROJECTS
EPA's New England Office leverages its penalty
powers to encourage Supplemental Environmental
Projects as part of settling enforcement cases. Since
1993, we have settled more than sixty cases that
included nearly $12 million in projects to benefit
the New England environment. In 1996, settlements
totalling $1.9 million have funded: over $1.6 in
pollution prevention/reduction projects; $160,000 in
environmental restoration projects; and the remain-
der in efforts including environmental audits,
support for local emergency planning commissions,
and public outreach.
Examples of Supplemental Environmental Projects:
In settling an EPA action against Goodyear Tire
and Rubber Company for violations of the
stratospheric ozone protection laws, the company
has made a commitment to invest more than
$700,000 in a company-wide recycling program
for automobile antifreeze. Under this agreement,
Goodyear will purchase automotive antifreeze
recycling machines to use at 568 Goodyear stores
nationwide. The new equipment will clean and
recycle antifreeze removed from cars during
servicing. The antifreeze can then be put back
into cars and reused, saving resources and protect-
ing our environment.
Monsanto Chemical Company has more than met
requirements in its settlement with EPA for
violations of the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act. Through a $ 150,000 study on how
to reduce generation of waste, 3.5 million pounds
of methanol-rich distillate has been totally elimi-
nated from its waste stream, and 1.15 million
pounds of formaldehyde and 647 pounds of
sodium hydroxide are removed annually. As a
result, Monsanto was able to shut down its on-site
furnace and reduce operating costs.
Economics Figure 4
EPA Inspections &
Enforcement Actions
Fiscal Year 1996
Inspections
Others
43%
Urban /
Environments/
11%
Public Agencies
23%
Sensitive
Ecosystems
8%
N
Industrial Sectors
15%
Enforcement Actions*
Others
51%
Urban
Environments
8%
Public Agencies
s 28%
Sensitive
Ecosystems
10%
Industrial Sectors
3%
* Hay not have resulted from same near inspection
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20
RECREATIONAL
RESOURCES
There are no larger fields,
No worthier games
than may here be played.
-Henry David Thoreau
New England's
opportunities. From Cape Cod's sandy beaches and the breathtaking sightings of migrating whales in the Gulf
of Maine, to meandering trails and snow-crusted mountain peaks, New England's network of parks and refuges
gives visitors a chance to see hundreds of unique plant and wildlife communities (Figure 1).
New England attracts tourists from all over the
country and world who spend $ 18 billion in the
region every year. More than 400,000 jobs in New
England are supported by travel and tourism, and tax
revenues from regional tourism total almost $2.4
billion annually. Although these industries signifi-
cantly impact the region's natural environment, they
are themselves dependent on its quality.
Enjoying the outdoors has always been an integral
part of New England's culture, and many of our
outdoor activities help promote and protect the
region's natural ecosystems. However, providing for
all types of recreational activities while protecting
our valuable resources requires careful collaboration
and cooperation among citizens, government agen-
cies, and businesses. Our challenge is to work
together to minimize or eliminate the damage our
recreational activities cause to ecosystems, and the
plant and animal habitats they contain. Growing
public interest in recreational activities that do not
damage the environment is a promising sign that
many of our activities can evolve to coexist with
preservation of our ecosystems.
IN THE SWIM
From the rocky coastal areas of northern New
England to the gently sloping beaches of Cape Cod,
New England's 7,586-mile shoreline and its many
lakes are playgrounds for swimmers during hot
summer months. Second only to walking, swimming
is the most popular recreational activity in the nation.
One of the goals of the Clean Water Act is to ensure
that all of our waters are safe for swimming. To date,
93% of New England's coastal waters fully support
swimming, as do 84% of our lakes and 97% of our
Recreation Figure 1
Protected Areas in
New England
Park, Conservation, Wildlife,
& Recreational Lands
Source: State CIS data
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21
A WIN FOR THE NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED
As part of a settlement arising from Clean Water Act violations, EPA directed CPF, Inc. to implement a
Supplemental Environmental Project in 1996 that included provisions to improve conditions and provide
for recreational enjoyment of water resources in the Nashua River Watershed. CPF was required to:
1) purchase land on the Nashua River that will be managed by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife for water quality protection, habitat, and recreational purposes; 2) fund the Nashua River Water-
shed Association (NRWA) in the use of natural materials and plantings to rehabilitate a crumbling river
bank wall causing an erosion problem in the Squannacook River a prime trout fishery and canoeing river
and a tributary to the Nashua River; and 3) fund a sewer stenciling project that will prevent the dumping
of pollutants into storm drains, to be carried out by high school students in each community.
One example of EPA's support of recreation in New
England is the Urban Environmental Initiative in
Providence, Rhode Island, which is planning to
create a greenway and bikepath along 4.4 miles of
the Woonasquatucket River. EPA has created a map
that identifies the location of wetlands along the
river. This information will reduce greenway and
bikepath planning and engineering costs, and will be
used by schools to adopt wetlands and create river
outreach materials, protecting the river while increas-
ing recreational opportunities.
river miles. Nevertheless, there is a lot of work to do
before we meet our goal of no beach closures and
100% swimmable waters.
In 1996, there were more than 130 beach closures in
New England, forty more closures than the previous
summer. This increase is primarily the result of
substantial rainfall and subsequent stormwater runoff
from the summer of 1995, as well as a greater
monitoring effort. Stormwater runoff, failed septic
systems, and combined sewer overflows lead to
bacterial contamination, which is the primary
pollutant affecting the "swimmability" of our waters.
EPA is working with states and local communities to
locate and upgrade septic systems, and to eliminate
combined sewer overflow systems in many parts of
New England. At the same time, agricultural com-
munities are implementing controls to eliminate
bacterial pollution from their livestock.
BOATING COUNTRY
Normally, about 98% of our river miles and 86% of
our lakes support some type of recreational boating
in the form of canoeing, rafting, sailing, or power
boating. Nationally, about 300 million boating trips
are made every year, with more than half of these
involving power boats. Boat sales are estimated to
be more than $ 14 billion a year, and more than 6,000
companies are involved in manufacturing boats,
trailers, motors, and boating accessories.
One of the ways in which EPA, the states, and our
partners in coastal areas have been working to mini-
mize the impact of boating on water quality in New
England is through boat pump-out stations. The
Clean Vessel Act of 1992 authorized a five-year
competitive grant program for states to construct or
renovate pump-out and dump stations for disposal of
recreational vessel sewage. The grant program is now
in its final year and all six New England states have
taken advantage of the program. To date, about 190
pump-out facilities are available to the public.
TRAILS AND PATHS AND TRACKS
With our growing interest in biking, running,
walking, and in-line skating, we increasingly look for
scenic enjoyment and a safe haven from automotive
traffic, particularly in more developed areas. Trails
provide an outdoor recreational resource for both
urban and rural residents alike, and an increasing
number of people are using trails for a multitude of
activities, including cross-country skiing, hiking, and
snowmobiling (Figure 2).
To date, there are more than 16,000 miles of trails in
New England; 44% of these are public, with another
5% in protected private ownership. Two-thirds of our
trails are in good condition, requiring only annual
maintenance. Upkeep of these trails is the result of
hard work by individual volunteers and volunteer
organizations who collectively maintain 81% of the
trails in New England.
FISH AND FISHING
With an abundance of streams and lakes providing
habit for a diversity of warm and cold water fish
species, New England states issue approximately one
million freshwater fishing licenses each year. Recre-
ational marine fishing is also popular, with almost
Recreation Figure 2
An Abundance of Trails
in New England
Totals Include Overlapping Miles
Biking
1507 mi.
Snowmobiling
10,155 mi.
Handicapped
Accessible
174 mi.
Cross
Country
Skiing
"""'Hiking
6361 mi.
Source: II.S. Department of Interior. National Survey of
Fishing. Hunting & Wildlife Associated Recreation, 1991
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22
Recreation Figure 3
New England Mammal
Population is Increasing
Black Bear
River Otter
Source: State Fish and Wildlife Departments
800,000 fishing opportunities through which 22
million pounds offish are caught each year. By
comparison, the commercial catch in the region
totals approximately 560 million pounds per year.
Part of EPA's work is to recover degraded environ-
mental resources and promote the public's enjoyment
of improved areas. As of 1996, 93% of our river
miles, 81% of our lake acreage, and 81% of our
estuaries were available for recreational fishing.
Unfortunately, fish advisories and shellfish bed
closures limit consumption, as discussed in the
Public Health section of this report.
An example of EPA's role in fish habitat restoration
is the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project,
in which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
proposed to expand Spectacle Island in Boston
THE KILLINGTON SKI AREA
The Killington ski area in Vermont has been working to find environmentally acceptable sources of water
to make snow. Diverse groups with conflicting interests were involved in the process that led to a Memoran-
dum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Killington and State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VTANR)
in July 1996. Killington has offered to give the state nearly 3,000 acres of prime bear habitat in exchange
for about 1,000 acres of adjacent state land that contains no sensitive habitats or unique environmental
values, and on which it can expand its ski resort. The agreement also provides a source of water for making
snow from Woodward Reservoir, which is owned and managed by the Farm and Wilderness Foundation.
The reservoir will allow Killington to restore and maintain winter flows sufficient for aquatic life in its
current water withdrawal sources: the Falls River, Roaring Brook, and the Ottauquechee River.
Harbor by filling 110 acres of marine habitat. EPA
opposed the magnitude of the initial plan, and an
agreement was reached for a 12-acre expansion with
an aquatic habitat mitigation that includes construc-
tion of an artificial reef near Spectacle Island Park.
The reef complex will consist of a number of smaller
cobble, rock, and prefabricated structures, and will
cover 88,000 square feet, providing high-quality
lobster and fish habitat. It can also be easily used by
recreational fishermen from Boston Harbor's Long
Island shore and small boats.
EPA is funding the Salmon River Bank Stabilization
Demonstration Project in Connecticut, which is
utilizing structural and bioengineering techniques to
stabilize approximately 200 feet of eroded stream bank
in order to reduce sedimentation. The Salmon River is
one of the key rivers in the multi-agency Atlantic
salmon restoration program. The project also includes
a series of interpretive signs to educate anglers and
other visitors about the importance of maintaining
vegetation along river and stream banks to protect vital
spawning habitat for salmon and other fish.
CANDID CAMERAS
More than 4 million people in New England enjoy
observing and photographing birds and other
wildlife. In partnership with state and local organi-
zations, EPA's Resource Protection Projects, dis
cussed in the New England Ecosystems section,
identify relatively undisturbed areas with sensitive
and valuable ecological resources for protection.
Many of our large mammals are increasing in
population (Figure 3). New England's diverse
environments also provide abundant areas to
observe breeding, migrating, and overwintering
bird communities. Birdwatching is a growing
activity in New England and across the country. In
the past five years, membership in the American
Birding Association has nearly tripled, while New
England has more birders and bird clubs in propor-
tion to total population than anywhere else in the
United States.
Many areas of New England have seen a decline in
neotropical migratory species as a group. Neo-
tropicals include warblers, tanagers, flycatchers,
thrushes, and other species that breed in temperate
zones and winter in the tropics. While the causes of
these declines are numerous and complex, two
major factors are the fragmentation of once-
extensive forests and the loss of important wetland
habitats due to development. Grassland species,
which depend on extensive unmown fields, have
declined drastically in recent decades, due to loss of
grassland habitat and early mowing of remaining
grasslands, which destroys nests before the young
have fledged. Urban birds, on the other hand, are
thriving, particularly in developed areas of New
England; this group contains the fewest and the
most generalized species, however.
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23
Recreation Figure 4
Whale Sightings Off
New England Shores
Right
Pilot
Ninke
Humpback
Finback
0 400
N. Stellwagen ('96)
S. Stellwagen C95)
800 1200
Jeffrey's Ledge ('96)
BayofFundy('95)
Source: Center tor Coastal Studies, Center tor
New England's economic and cultural history is
intimately connected with the whales that migrate
every year just off our shores. Now protected from
hunting pressures that once decimated whale
populations, they are among the marine mammals
that have most fascinated and inspired people
throughout history.
The World Wildlife Fund recently designated Cape
Cod as the best whale watching location in North
America and one of the five best locations in the
world. Our whales spend their summers off the
New England coasts and migrate south in the winter,
to breed in the waters off the southern coast of
South America. Numbers and species of whales
have fluctuated in response to environmental
stresses, food supplies, and population dynamics
(Figure 4). EPA is currently funding investigations,
as part of a research effort to understand changes in
whale populations, about the effects of contaminants
on whales.
Percent of Species at Risk in New England
Many native species are endangered i
due to contaminants, loss of suitable habitat,
or competition Mm alien species. 1
New Hampshire
80 r
80
60
40
20
Maine
60
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Fish
Birds
Dragonflies/Damselflies
i Mammals
i Mussels
i Butterflies/Skippers
Source: The Nature Conservancy. 1996
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24
ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
& OUTREACH
In the end, we conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught.
-Baba Dioum
The environmental education community ^
sometimes accused of indoctrinating people with simple slogans like "hug-a-tree" or "save the whales." In
reality, environmental issues are often so complex, involving scientific, economic, and social factors, that
no one can arbitrarily dictate the right or wrong action to take when faced with decisions that affect the
environment.
At EPA, we work to help citizens from youth
educators to plant managers in large corporations
increase their environmental knowledge and
improve their ability to make decisions that protect
the environment and public health, while also
considering economic factors. Environmental
education goes beyond imparting information; it
enhances the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and
decision-making skills needed to make responsible
environmental choices.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Traditionally, EPA has been a regulatory agency, but
we understand that regulations cannot be implemented
without educating the community about the need for
them and providing local communities with technical
assistance. We offer assistance to all who request it,
whether a high school science teacher or an electro-
Education Figure 1
plating manufacturer. During 1996, of our nearly 800
regional employees, more than 100 were involved in
voluntary outreach efforts, participating in hundreds
of workshops, conferences, exhibits, technical
assistance consultations, and classes.
The National Environmental Education Act of 1990
officially charged EPA with educating the public.
This Act specifically appropriates funds for EPA to
give small grants to schools, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and state, local, and tribal agencies for
projects that inform a wide variety of audiences
about the environment. Last year, EPA's New
England Office received more than 150 proposals
for grants, and twenty-three organizations were
awarded a total of $167,474 (Figure 1).
Recognizing that local actions are critical to environ-
mental protection, EPA's New England Office
Education, Empowerment, and Technical Assistance Grants
Awarded by EPA'S New England Office in 1996
Name of Program Total $$ Awarded # Grants Awarded
Environmental Education
Environmental Justice
UfDan environmental initiative HIED
Technical Assistance Grants (TAG)
Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance
$167,474
$354,377
$595,212
$150,000
$1,173.761
23
19
16
3
26
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25
WETLAND TEACHERS
Hands-on experience with wetlands is a perfect
way to get students to understand, appreciate, and
support the protection of these essential and com-
plex natural habitats. For this reason, EPA's New
England Office has developed Wetlands Teacher
Training Workshops for school teachers in grades
five through twelve. Training sessions are held
in the field to increase teachers' knowledge of
wetlands ecology and provide them with class-
room and outdoor activities for their students.
Teachers that attend these workshops also receive
a complimentary copy of EPA's New England
wetlands curriculum and video packet, A World
In Our Backyard: A Wetlands Education and Stew-
ardship Program. In 1996, fifteen wetlands work-
shops were conducted for more than 350 teach-
ers in the region.
encourages projects that are relevant to the local
community. An example is a public school project in
Lowell, Massachusetts, "The Merrimack River: Our
Ecological and Industrial Lifeline," in which students
examine the water quality of an urban river and share
that data and historical research with other students
via the Internet. We hope to continue funding
similar projects in the years ahead.
EPA's New England Office also supports community
education and empowerment projects through other
programs such as the Urban Environmental Initiative
(UEI). For example, UEI entered into a cooperative
agreement with ONE/CHANE, Inc., a group in
Hartford, Connecticut, to fund a Community Envi-
ronmental Organizer. This person provides leader-
ship and training to residents of North Hartford,
helping them to participate in environmental deci-
sions affecting their health and welfare. ONE/
CHANE also provided a challenging environmental
education program for North Hartford youth, ages
fourteen to twenty-one, during the summer of 1996.
Participants learned about their environment, gained
computer and mapping skills, engaged in cleanup
and beautification projects on Main Street and in
vacant lots, and informed community members about
their activities.
In 1996, EPA's New England Office and its state
partners sponsored more than fifty open houses or
public meetings in communities surrounding hazard-
ous waste sites. These meetings improve communi-
cation with the public, helping people understand
the Superfund site assessment and cleanup process
and the potential risks associated with these sites.
Meetings are well-publicized and include property
owners, local officials, businesses, and citizens
concerned about potential threats to the health,
environment, and economy of their communities.
EPA also offers funding to citizen groups affected by
Superfund sites through the Technical Assistance
Grants (TAG) program. To date, thirty-one of the
ninety-four communities affected by New England's
current Superfund sites have received TAG grants.
TEAMWORK THAT WORKS
At the same time EPA and our environmental
education partners are interacting with the public, we
are educating business leaders and decision-makers
about doing business in a more environmentally-
friendly way. EPA's New England Office, working
with state and local agencies, has become a leader in
providing pollution prevention and compliance
assistance training to the regulated community.
Much of this work is accomplished through EPA's
New England Environmental Assistance Team
(NEEATeam).
The NEEATeams's recent work in developing a
comprehensive outreach project for Printing Indus-
tries of New England (PINE) is one example of a
pollution prevention and regulation compliance
success story. Through a grant to the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection, EPA's
New England Office and PINE have worked closely
VOLUNTEER MONITORING: GETTING INVOLVED, GETTING RESULTS
Volunteer monitoring groups help educate local communities about environmental issues, serve
as active stewards of the environment, help state, and local agencies target pollution problems,
and provide high quality information that agencies can use. Approximately 20,000 people par-
ticipate in more than 200 volunteer monitoring programs in New England, ranging from small
groups of individuals working on local sites to statewide organizations sponsored by universities
and state agencies.
Data generated by volunteers are used by local, state and federal agencies to assess environmental
conditions and make appropriate decisions. For example, volunteers in Maine and Massachusetts
have collected data that enabled closed shellfish beds to be reclassified as "open" or "condition-
ally open."
In Rhode Island, volunteers helped to expose pollution problems and worked with agencies to
develop solutions in the Blackstone River and Runnins River areas. EPA's New England Office
works with these volunteer monitoring groups in a variety of ways: participating in technical work-
shops; funding projects through the National Estuary Program, education, and non-point source
grants; and working with groups on environmental planning and management issues in specific
areas such as Casco, Narragansett and Massachusetts bays.
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26
together to develop and implement several outreach
and educational programs for printers throughout
the region. On-site pollution prevention and
compliance assistance visits were made by PINE at
seventy-four print shops in the Boston area.
Through these programs, printers have learned
about proper waste management and pollution
prevention.
Rhode Island recently passed regulations requiring
auto body shops to use a new type of spray gun
which reduces the amount of solvent used in paint
and dramatically cuts the amount of volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions released into the
atmosphere. EPA provided a grant to the Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management,
for work with the Davies Career and Technical High
School in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to train thousands
of auto body workers to use this new high-tech spray
equipment. The owner of one auto body repair
business claims that, because less solvent was used,
the cost of purchasing the $500 to $600 spray guns
for each of his employees paid for itself within three
weeks. (See the Economic Opportunities section for
more examples of the link between good business
and good environmental practices.)
Municipalities also have an important role in protect-
ing the environmental health and safety of our
citizens. EPA, in collaboration with the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), developed Computer-Aided Management
of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) software that
stores numerous databases, and automates emergency
planning and compliance tasks for Local Emergency
Planning Committees and other emergency prepared-
ness agencies. CAMEO provides fast answers for
anyone who needs to respond to environmental or
health-related emergencies. In Maine, chemical and
census data stored in CAMEO was used to help
determine whether to evacuate areas around a
compressed gas facility that had caught fire and
burned out of control for several hours. EPA has an
ongoing Train-the-Trainer program to help people
THE CITY YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM
Thirteen members of Boston City Year's Environmental Team, with the sponsorship of EPA's
Urban Environmental Initiative, planned a multifaceted environmental education curriculum,
community partnership, and community service program to run from September 1996 through
June 1997. Partners include Boston Edison, Earthworm Recycling, Rockport Transfer Station Recy-
cling Facility, South End Neighborhood Health Center, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, and the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Communities and Development.
The partners trained City Year Team members to be environmental leaders and teachers of en-
ergy, recycling, indoor environments, and related environmental health concerns. The City Year
Team assists the Massachusetts Department of Energy in conducting energy audits to determine
heat loss, testing for carbon monoxide emissions, and insulating homes. Team members also
teach children about the environment in after school programs and have organized two environ-
mental health fairs in Boston's South End, where they distributed energy-efficient light bulbs
donated by Boston Edison. The City Year Team also makes indoor air quality/asthma home as-
sessments in Roxbury, meeting with families to complete questionnaires, conducting walk-throughs
to identify asthma triggers, collecting samples of dust for lead testing, conducting carbon monox-
ide tests, and distributing free carbon monoxide detectors and allergy-controlled mattress and
pillow covers for asthma patients.
use CAMEO, and in 1996 alone, trained approxi-
mately 300 individuals in the United States, Canada,
and other countries.
Municipal employees are taking the initiative to
educate businesses in their communities about
opportunities in environmental protection. One
individual who exemplifies municipal initiative is
Todd Dresser, a public employee at the Board of
Health in Burlington, Massachusetts. He saw a need
for local businesses to become familiar with the
technical assistance available to them from a variety
of sources. He surveyed local businesses to find out
what they most wanted to learn. The first session,
"Meet the Regulators," was held in the spring of
1996 at the local library and was sponsored by the
area's Chamber of Commerce. The session was so
successful that EPA is working with other munici-
palities throughout eastern Massachusetts to offer
similar workshops on topics of interest to local
businesses.
EPA has also become involved in a national project
to address the quality of environmental education
efforts, headed by the North American Alliance for
Environmental Education (NAAEE). The project
will develop guidelines for designing comprehensive
and effective environmental education programs and
materials. EPA is also working with NAAEE and
others to collect and disseminate information about
high-quality environmental education projects and
materials.
The energy and commitment of New England's many
environmental volunteers, and the willingness of
businesses in the region to learn about and imple-
ment sound, cost-effective environmental practices,
gives us an excellent opportunity to continue to teach
one another about the importance of protecting our
environment. Working together, we can understand
how much we have to gain from environmental
stewardship and put that understanding to work.
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NEW
DIRECTIONS
It is common sense to take a method and try it.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.
But above all, try something.
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Over the past three decades^
, New England has witnessed tremendous
progress in the protection, preservation, and restoration of our environment. This progress has generated
substantial benefits fresher air to breathe, cleaner water to drink, and safer places to live, work, and play
for us, the inhabitants of this region, and for our children. Much of this credit goes to EPA's partners, those
New England citizens, businesses, and government organizations that recognize the critical importance of a
healthy environment, without whose help EPA would not have been able to protect the environment as
effectively as we do now.
Our work is not yet done, however. We still need to
tackle the remaining sources of pollution in New
England that are difficult to measure and track
atmospheric deposition, for example and those
which are persistent or difficult to treat such as
heavy metals or nutrients. We should still work to
forge new partnerships with industries and develop
new strategies for meeting and exceeding
environmental goals. We must continue to change
our organization into one more responsive to and
reflective of the environment we protect. As we
progress on these fronts, we will focus on measuring
and tracking the effects of these actions on the
environment, and will communicate these results to
you clearly and succinctly.
PROGRESS, NOT PROCESS
In continuing with the cultural and organizational
change that is taking place in our New England
Office, EPA is working to become a truly perfor-
mance-based organization, concentrating less on
process-oriented activities and more on specific goals
measuring our success based on the achievement of
these goals. One tool that will allow us to do this is
the newly implemented RESULTS, a comprehensive
system utilized for planning and tracking regional
goals and accomplishments. Another part of this
effort is to introduce a major training program for
our employees to teach them new skills how to
build partnerships, work with communities, and
provide pollution prevention assistance.
NEW APPROACHES:
BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION
Over the past three years, EPA's New England Office
has introduced a number of new initiatives intended
to change the face of environmental protection. Our
overall challenge now is to build on and broaden
these successful innovations and turn small, promis-
ing initiatives into large, ongoing activities that will
be more fully integrated into our work.
The CLEAN program is designed to help small
businesses primarily metal finishers in Maine and
New Hampshire employ responsible environmental
practices. In the next year, we will be expanding this
program to three additional small business sectors
printers, wood product companies, and auto body
shops in all of the New England states.
Our NEEATeam has been assembled to complement
EPA's traditional command-and-control role with a
more accessible, flexible assistance presence, and to
listen to and address the regulated
community's questions and concerns.
We will continue to expand the
NEEATeam's activities beyond its
current focus of four sectors
printing, metal finishing, elec-
tronics, and municipalities into
new areas, including auto repair,
wood coaters , and vocational/
technical schools.
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28
EPA's Center for Environmental Industry and
Technology (CEIT) is designed to promote the New
England environmental technology industry a
sector that contributes $10 billion a year and 150,000
jobs to New England's economy. The upcoming year
will see an expansion of CEIT's role into activities
involving verification of innovative environmental
technology, streamlining of technology permitting
processes, and involvement of innovative technology
in Supplemental Environmental Projects.
EPA's New England Office will also continue to
emphasize that pollution prevention is good for the
environment, as well as good for the economy, and
will develop the environmental and economic
indicators to prove it. One example of this effort,
EPA's regional "Getting the GreenBack" campaign,
brings together New England assistance and recogni-
tion programs, along with success stories about
companies that have implemented these programs,
to help show businesses that pollution prevention is
the best way to achieve environmental compliance.
BECOMING PARTNERS IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Our office's recent reorganization enables us to
become a truly performance-based organization,
concentrating on specific goals and forming new
partnerships with states, tribes, businesses, and
individual citizens. An excellent example of this
partnering can be found in the recently formed
Performance Partnership Agreements between EPA's
New England Office and all of the New England
states. This new approach streamlines numerous
grant programs into one agreement that allows
states flexibility to address their most serious
environmental problems through mechanisms best
suited to the tasks. From now on, EPA and the
states will have integrated work plans that jointly
define environmental goals and measurable indica-
tors of success.
A major tool in the successful implementation of
Performance Partnership Agreements is the New
England Goals and Indicators Project, a collaboration
between EPA, the New England states, and other
partners to develop a consistent set of environmental
goals and indicators. Thanks to the efforts of this
project, we will be able to gauge our progress in
meeting public health and environmental goals
through a series of mutually agreed-upon measures.
The first of these indicators included in this report
provide a solid foundation upon which to build.
A primary focus of future EPA partnering efforts is
a continuing commitment to community-based
environmental protection. In finalizing comprehen-
sive conservation and management plans for the
Lake Champlain, Massachusetts Bay, and Casco Bay
watersheds, we recognized that the success of these
plans will depend on a combination of local, state,
and federal efforts. We will continue to assist
communities in developing groundwater and
watershed protection programs that reflect local
conditions, and in addition, will expand our Urban
Environmental Initiatives program to help inner-
city communities protect the environment while
promoting economic development.
A significant portion of the Urban Environmental
Initiative effort is the Brownfields Initiative, designed
to remove the regulatory barriers that impede the
economic redevelopment of contaminated property,
facilitate the cleanup of such property, and return the
property to productive use. Fourteen New England
communities now have Brownfields Pilot Projects
underway, with more expected to begin within the
next year. We also plan to quantify the economic
advantages of EPA's Brownfields activities in New
England and will measure how key economic
indicators (such as creation of jobs and state/local tax
revenues) are affected by these activities.
BETTER TARGETING OUR RESOURCES
As part of our Strong Targeted Enforcement Program
(STEP-UP), we are now targeting our enforcement
resources toward areas with the highest environmen-
tal and human health risk, or where there is the
greatest likelihood of significant violations areas
such as urban and sensitive ecosystems, public
agencies, and specific industrial sectors to achieve
the greatest compliance levels. We anticipate greater
integration and alignment of functions within our
office to make these programs even more effective.
In the future, we will be significantly increasing our
presence in the regulated community and initiating
more enforcement actions where most needed.
CONCLUSION
The most valuable resources in New England are the
people in local communities, businesses, schools, and
other organizations who see an environmental
problem, devote time and energy to solving it, and in
the process, discover creative approaches to environ-
mental protection. The hard work of some of these
individuals has been highlighted throughout this
report, but it is important to remember that there are
many, many more people out there who quietly
strive to restore and improve the environment with
little fanfare or recognition. To those individuals, we
at EPA's New England Office sincerely thank you for
your effort.
Successful environmental protection requires the
cooperation of people across society citizens,
businesses, academics all joining hands with
public officials to make government work. As we
work together, may our labor chart a healthy and
sustainable future, not only for our generation, but
for those to follow.
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IMPORTANT TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Customer Assistance Line: (888) EPA-REG1 (888 372 7341)
Enforcement Tips and Complaints: (888) EPA-TIPS (8883728477)
Emergency Response (for reporting spills/environmental incidents): (800) 424-8802
The NEEATeam (technical assistance): (800) 90NEEAT (800906 3328)
Center for Environmental Industry and Technology: (800) 575-CELT (800 575 2348)
And don't forget to check out our Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/region01
The 1997 State of the New England Environment
is published by:
The Environmental Protection Agency
New England Office
John F. Kennedy Building
Boston, MA 02203
617-565-2713
Project Managers
Diane Switzer & Carol Wood
Graphics Design & Layout
Heather Surface,MTI
GIS Support
Michael Charpentier, Signal Corporation
Editing
Tatiana Brailovskaya, Nereus Communications Inc.
Policy Coordinator
Michael O'Malley
Cover Photo Credits
From left to right: Amelia Katzen, Lisa Hastings,
C. Franks, and Edward Reiner; all other photo credits
as indicated
All data is from EPA or individual New England
states unless otherwise noted.
This report was printed with vegetable based inks on
recycled and recyclable paper.
Special thanks to the following: Northeast
Recycling Council; The Nature Conservancy; Dr.
Mark Pokras, Tufts University School of Veterinary
Medicine; Mick Cooper, Sheffield Hallam
University, England; Killington Ski Resort; National
Audubon Society; Massachusetts Audubon Society;
New Hampshire Audubon Society; American Birding
Association; Cetacean Research Unit; Center for
Coastal Studies; College of the Atlantic; Southwick
Associates; Discover New England; Paul Kerlinger;
Whale Conservation Institute; New England Whale
Watch; Center for Oceanic Research; Massachusetts
Water Resources Authority; Prof. Tim Tyrrell,
University of Rhode Island; Rhode Island
Department of Economic Development; Travel
Industry Association; Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute; National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; U.S. Department of Commerce; and
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Thanks to EPA's New England Office staff for their
contributions, including the following members of
the 1997 Workgroup: Norm Beloin,Janine Burke,
Diane Castricone-Boisclair, Greg Charest, Beth
Deabay, Cynthia Greene, Greg Hellyer, Maureen
Hilton, Diane Kelley, Katrina Kipp, Matt Liebman,
Stafford Madison, Sally Mansur, Katie Maser,
Maureen McClelland, Wendy McDougall, Robin
Neas, Peter Nolan, Dwight Peavey, Maria Pirie, Ann
Rodney, Mary Beth Smuts, Mark Stein, Alan Van
Arsdale, Len Wallace, Jeri Weiss, and Norm Willard
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