Acushnet River Estuary PCB Commission

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Acushnet River Estuary PCB Commission ; -. » , u JL.I j - '"''-1 ! ' : • ' Acushnet River Estuary PCB Commission Status Report September 1982 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Edward J. King, Governor ACUSHNET RIVER ESTUARY PCB COMMISSION: STATUS REPORT September 1982 COMMISSION MEMBERS STAFF Secretary John A. Bewick Diane Hoffmann Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Policy Analyst 100 Cambridge Street Executive Office of Environmental Boston, MA 02202 Affairs 100 Cambridge Street Senator William Q. MacLean, Jr. Boston, MA 02202 Massachusetts State Senate Telephone - 727-3260 State House, Room 443 Boston, MA 02133 Representative Roger Goyette House of Representatives State House, Room 489 Boston, MA 02133 Mr. Jim Costakes General Manager Seafood Producers Association 17 Hamilton Street New Bedford, MA 02740 Mr. Umberto "Battle" Cruz Secretary/Treasurer & Executive Officer Teamsters Union Local #59 62 North Water Street New Bedford, MA 02740 Dr. Morton A. Madoff Chairman Departmentof Community Health Tufts School of Medicine 136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02111 Mayor John A. Markey New Bedford City Hall 133 Williams Street New Bedford, MA 02740 Mr. Charles McKee President Frionor 40 Herman Melville Boulevard New Bedford, MA 02741 Mr. William Potter, Sr. President Fairhaven Marine P.O. Box 188 Fairhaven, MA 02719 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Executive Summary i I. Introduction 1 II. History of Federal, State and Local Efforts to Deal with the Problem 3 III. Existing Data Describing PCB Levels 11 IV. Additional Data Needs 15 V. Cost-Effective Options for Reducing PCB Contamination in the New Bedford Harbor 20 VI. Sediment Removal and Cleanup Options 23 VII. Budget for Management of the PCB Cleanup Program 30 VIII. Potential Funding Sources for Cleanup 30 IX. Guidelines to be Adopted for Closing and Reopening of Areas within the Acushnet River Estuary for Commercial Fishing, Shellfish Harvesting, and other Marine Related Activities 32 X. Necessary Law Enforcement Resources to Control Access to Areas within the Estuary and Buzzards Bay 32 XI. Status of Enforcement Actions Taken by State and Federal Agencies 33 XII. Time Frame for Additional Materials 33 XIII. Recommendations 34 List of Exhibits and Tables Exhibit # 1. New Bedford Harbor Area 4 2. Areas Subject to PCB Closures 5 3. Methods of Managing PCB Contaminated Sediments in the Hudson River 25 Table # 1. Summary of PCB Levels Found in Local Health Studies 16 2. Summary of PCB Levels Among Specific Occupational Groups 17 3. Summary of PCB Levels Among Those Reporting Ever/Never Eating Seafood from the Acushnut River 17 4. Relationship between PCB Levels and Hypertension 18 5. Cost of Dredging Alternatives proposed by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. 22 List of Appendices I. "PCB Pollution in the New Bedford, Massachusetts Area: A Status Report,' June 1982 II. Local Efforts to Deal with PCB Problem III. EPA Data Retrieval System IV. Coast Guard Study Results V. Background Data on Current Rate, Wind, Velocity, and Tidal Movement in the New Bedford Harbor Area VI. Interagency Task Force Budget for Management of PCB Remedial Action Program VII. "Draft Report: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Acushnet River Estuary PCB Study" by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., June 1981 VIII. Non-Dredging Alternatives for PCB Management IX. Dredging Technologies X. Description of Lightnin Sludge Monster XI. Scopes of Work for: 1. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. 2. GCA 3. Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. XII. Description of Wright Malta Corporation Process for PCB Sludge Treatment XIII. Superfund ­ Phase I Funding Allocation Request XIV. Funding Alternatives for Investigating PCB Contamination in New Bedford Harbor XV. New Bedford Harbor Lobster Sampling Program -i- Executive Summary This document is an initial report prepared by the Acushnet River Estuary PCB Commission established by Governor Edward J. King under Executive Order No. 216 on May 5, 1982. This report defines the extent of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) contamination in the Acushnet River Estuary and New Bedford Harbor, the status of efforts being made by federal, state, and local agencies to deal with the problem and includes a series of recommendations made by the Commission to improve and expedite remedial action efforts. PCB contamination of the Acushnet River Estuary was first documented in 1974 by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and confirmed in a 1976 study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Two industrial operations, Aerovox and Cornell-Dubilier, were found to have discharged wastewaters con­ taining PCBs to the Acushnet River Estuary directly and via the New Bedford municipal sewage treatment plant. Although the direct discharge of PCBs to the Harbor has since been significantly curtailed, in certain areas the con­ centration of PCBs in harbor sediment is extremely high due to the chemical sta­ bility and persistence of PCBs. The presence of PCBs in the environment raises major public health and eco­ nomic concerns. Contamination of the Acushnet River Estuary and the Harbor area has resulted in the accumulation of PCBs in many edible marine species. To pro­ tect the public from the health effects associated with the consumption of con­ taminated fish, on September 25, 1979, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health promulgated emergency regulations prohibiting the harvesting of shellfish, finfish, and lobsters in portions of the Acushnuet River, New Bedford Harbor and certain areas of Buzzards Bay. This necessary action to protect public health has resulted in severe finan­ cial losses to the lobster and fishing industries, has severely curtailed recreational fishing and has delayed necessary transportation and harbor related development in the New Bedford area. Federal, state, and local agencies have all made significant efforts towards gathering information and data about the extent of the contamination and have taken initial steps toward its management. Most significant among these efforts was the successful attempt in July of 1982 to include the site on the Federal "Superfund" list. The Superfund Program, created by Congress in 1980, authorizes federal funding for cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites and chemical spills which threaten public health or the environment. As part of the Superfund process EPA in concert with a Technical Task Force appointed by Secretary of Environmental Affairs, John Bewick, is preparing a Remedial Action Master Plan (RAMP) which will serve as the basic planning docu­ ment for site management and control. The preparation of this plan will greatly facilitate efforts to coordinate on-going activities to deal with the PCB problem in the Acushnet River Estuary. To date, two preliminary health studies have been conducted in the New Bedford area. Although results indicate that persons eating fish from the Acushnet River and occupationally exposed persons have elevated PCB levels in their blood serum, analysis of the data have failed to reveal any significant correlation between elevated PCB blood serum levels and other health problems. -ii- Although much data has been collected on the levels of contamination in the Harbor, EPA and an inter-agency task force of state agencies have identified several areas where additional data is needed before a course of action can be determined. Generally, the required data include: 1) a precise delineation of PCB sediment concentrations in the New Bedford area profiled with depth; 2) an elucidation of the physical transport of PCBs in the Harbor and out to Buzzards Bay, and; 3) data on bio-accumulation of PCBs by shellfish and finfish from both sediments and the water column. In addition, the Department of Public Health feels that additional health stu­ dies are needed. It appears that plans presently exist for the collection of necessary data. Funding constraints, however, have delayed, and may continue to delay, some data gathering efforts. In a report prepared for the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. estimated that cleanup costs may range from $30 to $130 million depending on the extent of remedial action taken. Although this is only a preliminary estimate, cleanup costs will be substantial and pro­ bably will not be completely covered by Superfund monies. As a result other funding sources are being pursued. Before any cleanup can take place a feasibi­ lity study including an assessment of costs and benefits of various options under consideration must be carried out. The Commission is convinced that the continuing presence of PCBs in the waters and sediments of the Acushnet River Estuary and New Bedford Harbor pose a potential threat to the health of area residents, to the economic well being of a major sector of the area's economy, and to the continued necessary economic development of this area. It is essential therefore that data gathering proceed quickly so that remedial action may be taken as soon as possible. In order to expedite the process and ensure that the health and economic well being of the citizens of New Bedford are protected the Commission recommends that: 1) The $1,033,000 required to conduct the necessary epidemiological and blood studies recommended by the Department of Public Health be obtained immediately from EPA/Superfund; 2) the Massachusetts legislature pass the proposed legislation to establish a $25 million Massachusetts Superfund to cover any remedial action not covered by Superfund or other Federal funds; 3) all data gathering efforts necessary to initiate dredging for Fairhaven Bridge and other development projects be given top priority
Recommended publications
  • Chapter 9: References
    CHAPTER 9: REFERENCES Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). 1970. New England Division. Small Navigation Project - New Bedford and Fairhaven Harbor, Massachusetts - Detailed Project Report. ------. 1988. Wetland Study Report for the New Bedford Superfund Site. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. Prepared by IEP, Inc., Final Report. ------. 1990. New Bedford Harbor Superfund Pilot Study. Evaluation of Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. May 1990. Bartlett, M. 1997. Letter to Jack Terrill dated February 12, 1997. Battelle Memorial Institute. 1990. Modeling of the Transport, Distribution, and Fate of PCBs and Heavy Metals in the Acushnet River/New Bedford Harbor/Buzzards Bay System. Volume I. Final Report. Contract No. 4236-MOD-0019 to EBASCO Services, Inc. Belding, D.L. 1909. A Report Upon the Mollusk Fisheries of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright and Potter. ------. 1912. A Report upon the Quahog and Oyster Fisheries of Massachusetts. Division of Marine Fisheries. ------. 1912. A Report upon the Alewife Fisheries of Massachusetts. Division of Fisheries and Game. Bellmer, R. J. 1988. The infaunal community of a polychlorinated biphenyls polluted harbor, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. Waltham, MA: ACOE New England Division. Bigelow, H. B., & Schroeder, W. C. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Washington: USGPO. Boss, J. A. and J. D. Thomas, 1983. New Bedford - A Pictorial History. The Donning Company. Norfolk, VA. Brady, Phillip, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Sandwich Laboratory. Personal communication to James Turek, VHB Inc., 1996. Buzzards Bay Project. 1991. Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Cardin, S.X., A.B. Howe, S.J.
    [Show full text]
  • The Acushnet River Restoration Project: Restoring Diadromous Populations to a Superfund Site in Southeastern Massachusetts
    Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-56 The Acushnet River Restoration Project: Restoring Diadromous Populations to a Superfund Site in Southeastern Massachusetts J.J. Sheppard1, S. Block2, H.L Becker3, and D. Quinn4 1Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries South Shore Field Station 1213 Purchase Street, 3rd Floor New Bedford, MA 02740 2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 3EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc 221 Sun Valley Boulevard, Suite D Lincoln, NE 68528 4DQ Engineering 11 Hickory Lane Walpole, MA 02081 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Department of Fish and Game Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report Technical March 2014 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report Series Managing Editor: Michael P. Armstrong Technical and Copy Editor: Elaine Brewer The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Reports present information and data pertinent to the management, biology and commercial and recreational fisheries of anadromous, estuarine, and marine organisms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and adjacent waters. The series presents information in a timely fashion that is of limited scope or is useful to a smaller, specific audience and therefore may not be appropriate for national or international journals. Included in this series are data summaries, reports of monitoring programs, and results of studies that are directed at specific management problems. All Reports in the series are available for download in PDF format at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/publications/technical.html or hard copies may be obtained from the Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930 USA (978-282-0308).
    [Show full text]
  • Bristol County, Massachusetts (All Jurisdictions)
    VOLUME 2 OF 4 BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS (ALL JURISDICTIONS) Bristol County COMMUNITY NAME COMMUNITY NUMBER ACUSHNET, TOWN OF 250048 ATTLEBORO, CITY OF 250049 BERKLEY, TOWN OF 250050 DARTMOUTH, TOWN OF 250051 DIGHTON, TOWN OF 250052 EASTON, TOWN OF 250053 FAIRHAVEN, TOWN OF 250054 FALL RIVER, CITY OF 250055 FREETOWN, TOWN OF 250056 MANSFIELD, TOWN OF 250057 NEW BEDFORD, CITY OF 255216 NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, TOWN OF 250059 NORTON, TOWN OF 250060 RAYNHAM, TOWN OF 250061 REHOBOTH, TOWN OF 250062 SEEKONK, TOWN OF 250063 SOMERSET, TOWN OF 255220 SWANSEA, TOWN OF 255221 TAUTON, CITY OF 250066 WESTPORT, TOWN OF 255224 REVISED JULY 16, 2014 FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY NUMBER 25005CV002B NOTICE TO FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY USERS Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program have established repositories of flood hazard data for floodplain management and flood insurance purposes. This Flood Insurance Study (FIS) may not contain all data available within the repository. It is advisable to contact the community repository for any additional data. Selected Flood Insurance Rate Map panels for the community contain information that was previously shown separately on the corresponding Flood Boundary and Floodway Map panels (e.g., floodways, cross sections). In addition, former flood hazard zone designations have been changed as follows: Old Zone New Zone A1 through A30 AE V1 through V30 VE (shaded) B X C X Part or all of this Flood Insurance Study may be revised and republished at any time. In addition, part of this Flood Insurance Study may be revised by the Letter of Map Revision process, which does not involve republication or redistribution of the Flood Insurance Study.
    [Show full text]
  • Pcbs in the Acushnet River Estuary Jacek Sulanowski Bridgewater State College
    Bridgewater Review Volume 2 | Issue 3 Article 13 Jul-1984 Research Note: PCBs in the Acushnet River Estuary Jacek Sulanowski Bridgewater State College Recommended Citation Sulanowski, Jacek (1984). Research Note: PCBs in the Acushnet River Estuary. Bridgewater Review, 2(3), 25-27. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol2/iss3/13 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Cultural Commentary Continued McCarthy would cooperate with the New Adminis­ tration. But to Ike's dismay the Senator, now Chairman of the Government Operations Committee, stepped up his campaign to ferret out Communists. Eisenhower personally loathed McCarthy, but hesitated to grapple with him, explaining, "I will not get in the gutter with that PCBs In The guy." McCarthy began his campaign with an investigation Acushnet River Estuary by Jacek Sulanowski into subversion in the Voice of America, the government Assistant Professor of agency for overseas broadcasts. His chief counsel, Roy Earth Sciences and Geography Cohn, and committee staff assistant G. David Schine, made a highly publicized tour of American information offices in Europe, searching for subversive books and MUCh media attention has recently been devoted to potentially toxic terrorizing employees. substances disseminated throughout various components of the environment. By early 1954, McCarthy was at the height of his In almost every case these substances had been manufactured and distributed power. A Gallup Poll ofJanuary 1954, reported that fifty under the assumption that they did not pose a threat to man. Indeed when tested percent of those interviewed expressed a favorable by methods current at the time of their initial introduction the substances were opinion of him.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Vol. 49, No
    BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 49 NUMBER 2 OCTOBER 1988 CONTENTS IN MEMORIAM: PETER F. THORBAHN 1943-1987 Brona G. Simon . 41 WHERE ARE THE WOODLAND VILLAGES? PREFACE Jordan E. Kerber. 44 WHERE ARE THE LATE WOODLAND VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND? Peter F. Thorbahn . 46 WHERE ARE THE LATE WOODLAND VILLAGES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS? Barbara E. Luedtke. 58 WHERE ARE THE WOODLAND VILLAGES IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION? Jordan E. Kerber 66 WHERE ARE THE WOODLAND VILLAGES ON CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS? Elizabeth A. Little. 72 The Contributors 83 Radiocarbon Age Reports . 84 Publisher THE MASSACHUSETTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Inc. 42 Union Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts 02703 Member 0/ the Eastern States Archaeological Federation MASSACHUSETTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. OFFICERS President:. .Michae1 Toulcuntzis, 367 S. Main St., Attleboro MA 02703 First Vice President~ . .Ruth Warfield, 13 Lee St., Worcester MA 01602 Secorrl Vice President: .Janice Weeks, 12 Long Ave., Greenfield MA 01301 Correspording Secretary: . Lesley Sage, 33 West Rd., 28, Orleans MA 02653 Recording Secretary: . George Stillson, 1(}l Slani Rd., Hyamis MA 02601 Finareial Secretary: .. lillian Harding, 143 Fisher St., Westboro MA 01583 Treasurer: . Marilyn Crary, Box 427, Easthan MA 02643 Meobership Secretary: .~ MacLeod, S\olett Hill Rd., Sterling MA 01564 Editor: Elizabeth A. little, 37 Conant Rd., Lireoln MA 01773 M..1seLm Director: . 'Dunas I.1Jx, 300 lbpe St., Provideree RI 02906 Archivist: . RalIb Bates, 42 Leonard St., Bridgewater MA 02323 lfl; Representative: Dena Di.r&3uze, Anthropology Dept., lMass, AlIbarst MA 01003 Trustees: 1986-88: Maurice Robbins, Roger Gregg, Jordan Kerber, Jdn Pretola 1987-89: Frederica Dimnick, Brady Fitts, Janes Wait, Janes M:>tt The Bronson Museum has been renamed the Robbins Museum of Archaeology and is now located at 42 Union Street, Attleboro MA 02703.
    [Show full text]
  • Telephone 588 New Bedford, Mass
    150t h Anniversary of Town of Westport 1787-1937 1787 1937 150th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Westport WESTPORT, MASSACHUSETTS JULY 2nd, 1937 1. F. MORIN FURNITURE STORE ! COMPLETE HOUSE FURNISHINGS Radios, Heaters, Refrigerators and Ranges 30 MAIN ROAD, Near State Line Telephone Fall River 2907 NORTH TIVERTON, R. 1. Compliments of JOHN FRIAR QUALITY L. & B. STORES PAINTER - DECORATOR You Pay Less Here For Better Foods SMITH BROS., INC. 107 Bedford Street Telephone 3550 LETENDRE & BOULE, Inc. Fall River Props. ßjmwßÄA. of. THE NOBBY MEN'S D. HARBECX SHOP, INC. FINE ALES HAY, GRAIN AND FEED DEALER Everything in Men's Wear 162 South Main Street 405 EARLE STREET Telephone 7533 Fall River New Bedford, Mass. Telephone 588 New Bedford, Mass. CLOTHIERS HABERDASHERS J. E. NADEAU MEN'S SPECIALTY SHOP The Store of a Good Fit 1365 PLEASANT STREET Telephone 7736 FALL RIVER ECONOMY RADIATOR WORKS RADIATOR AND AUTO METAL WORK Radiators, Bodies, Fenders, Tops, Chassis, etc. Repaired 38 CORNEAU STREET, off Pleasant Street TELEPHONES 257-258 FALL RIVER, MASS. J. DESMARAIS & CO. THEBERGE Hardware, Paints, Wall Paper FUNERAL HOME Seeds, Grain and Cement 943 County Street Quality Merchandise at low prices Telephone 3877 1003 Ciounty Street Corner Horton Fall River •RIEND'S MEETING HOUSE, CENTRAL VILLAGE, MASSACHUSETTS Telephone 7259 The Original was built in 1716, rebuilt in 1813 and reinodclled in 1872 CLARA NURENBERG 1787 Town of Wesroorr 937 J. N. GENDREAII Specialist in PACKER - MOVER July 2nd, 1937 marks the HOth Anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Westport. It was in the year 1787 that Westport withdrew from the Township of Superflous Hair Removing Dartmouth which at that time comprised what is now known as New Bedford, Dart- E.
    [Show full text]
  • Massachusetts Estuaries Project
    Massachusetts Estuaries Project Linked Watershed-Embayment Model to Determine Critical Nitrogen Loading Thresholds for the New Bedford Inner Harbor Embayment System, New Bedford, MA University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Massachusetts Department of School of Marine Science and Technology Environmental Protection UPDATED FINAL REPORT – November 2015 Massachusetts Estuaries Project Linked Watershed-Embayment Model to Determine Critical Nitrogen Loading Thresholds for the New Bedford Inner Harbor Embayment System, New Bedford, MA UPDATED FINAL REPORT – NOVEMBER 2015 Brian Howes Roland Samimy David Schlezinger Ed Eichner John Ramsey Trey Ruthven Contributors: US Geological Survey Don Walters and John Masterson Applied Coastal Research and Engineering, Inc. Elizabeth Hunt and Sean W. Kelley Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Charles Costello and Brian Dudley (DEP project manager) SMAST Coastal Systems Program Jennifer Benson, Michael Bartlett, Sara Sampieri and Elizabeth White M A E, Inc. Maisy McDarby-Stanovich Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Massachusetts Estuaries Project Linked Watershed-Embayment Model to Determine Critical Nitrogen Loading Thresholds for the New Bedford Inner Harbor Embayment System New Bedford, Massachusetts Executive Summary 1. Project Overview This updated report (revised to Final based on two rounds of comments from the MassDEP {Dec. 2013 and Aug. 2014} and comments from the Town of Fairhaven consultant {Feb. 2014}) builds on the Massachusetts Estuaries Project’s Linked Watershed-Embayment Approach which was applied to the Acushnet River – New Bedford Inner Harbor embayment system and first completed in December 2008. This updated report presents the results generated from the implementation of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project’s Linked Watershed- Embayment Approach to the Acushnet River – New Bedford Inner Harbor embayment system, a coastal embayment within the City of New Bedford and the Town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
    [Show full text]
  • Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, 2018
    GROWING THE ECONOMY OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, 2018 Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District Cover Photos and Conceptual Plans: Top left: Carver Business Park, (proposed), Somerset Wastewater Treatment Facility (as part of Somerset’s four planning initiatives). Bottom row, left to right: Payne-Elco Site, New Bedford. Leonard Street Business at I-495/Route 123, Norton (proposed). Brayton Point Redevelopment, Somerset and Marine Science and Technology Corridor Initiative, Cape Cod Commission and SRPEDD, South Coast. CEDS 2018 Prepared by the: Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) 88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780 Tel: 508.824.1367 FAX: 508.823.1803 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.srpedd.org Deborah Melino-Wender, Chair, SRPEDD Commission Richard L. Shafer, Chair, Regional Economic Strategy Committee Jeffrey Walker, Executive Director Donald R. Sullivan, Community & Economic Development Director Stacey S. Royer, Office Administrator Approved by the SRPEDD Commission June XX, 2018 The preparation of this report has been financed in part through a grant[s] from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce, under EDA’s Planning Program, Section 203 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 3121 et seq.) through the U.S. Department of Commerce financial assistance award 01-83-14247. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) states its policy to uphold and assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 13166 and related federal and state statutes and regulations.
    [Show full text]
  • New England Water Supplies – a Brief History M. Kempe Page 23 Of
    New England Water Supplies – A Brief History M. Kempe Chapter 2 – The Search for Water – Growth and Water Source Development Timeline – Water Source Development National and World Events 1929- The Great Baby Boom 1970’s – Growth of Depression Environmentalism Rapid population 1914-1918 1941-1945 Growth of Population growth WWI WWII suburbs growth slows 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 Many communities augment WPA funds help 1960’s drought original supplies build systems Efficient fixtures Rapid growth of indoor plumbing Post-drought supply shortfalls Era of large water Metering slows projects, dams and Water conservation waste reservoirs instead of Water Events diversions Finding the water has always been one of the main tasks for the water supplier, occasionally a thankless task, even a maligned one. Since the growth of environmentalism in the 1970’s, many people picture a water engineer in terms of John Huston’s shady Noah Cross character from the film “Chinatown”. Most books written about New England water supplies tend to focus on the impacts of reservoir construction, prime examples being “The Day Four Quabbin Towns Died” about Quabbin Reservoir and “The Village of the Dammed” about Saugatuck Reservoir in the Bridgeport system. The loss of one’s home for a reservoir that benefits a distant city is almost certain to create a lifetime of resentment. The fundamental dilemma is that cities exist where they are because of commerce and they drive the economy of the region to everyone’s benefit, even the rural areas that are asked to help provide resources like water. But the cities overwhelm water resources where they exist and have to import water from elsewhere.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Pathogen TMDL for the Buzzards Bay Watershed March 2009 CN: 251.1
    Final Pathogen TMDL for the Buzzards Bay Watershed March 2009 CN: 251.1 Prepared as a cooperative effort by: USEPA Massachusetts DEP ENSR International New England Region 1 1 Winter Street 2 Technology Park Drive 1 Congress Street Boston, MA 02108 Westford, MA 01886 Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114 i NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY Limited copies of this report are available at no cost by written request to: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Division of Watershed Management 627 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01608 This report is also available from MassDEP’s home page on the World Wide Web. www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.htm A complete list of reports published since 1963 is updated annually and printed in July. This list, titled “Publications of the Massachusetts Division of Watershed Management (DWM) – Watershed Planning Program, 1963-(current year)”, is available at www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/envmonit.htm#reports or by writing to the DWM in Worcester. DISCLAIMER References to trade names, commercial products, manufacturers, or distributors in this report constituted neither endorsement nor recommendations by the Division of Watershed Management for use. Much of this document was prepared using text and general guidance from the previously approved Neponset River Basin and the Palmer River Basin Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load documents. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was developed in part by ENSR, International Inc. through a partnership with Resource Triangle Institute (RTI) contracting with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Agency under the National Watershed Protection Program. Thanks is also given to our colleagues at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (MCZM), the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and to the City of New Bedford Shellfish Warden for providing important data and information needed to develop this report.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts
    Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-15 A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts Part 1. Southeastern Massachusetts K. E. Reback, P. D. Brady, K. D. McLaughlin, and C. G. Milliken Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Department of Fisheries and Game Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts Technical Report Technical May 2004 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-15 A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts Part 1. Southeastern Massachusetts Kenneth E. Reback, Phillips D. Brady, Katherine D. McLauglin, and Cheryl G. Milliken Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Southshore Field Station 50A Portside Drive Pocasset, MA January 2004 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Paul Diodati, Director Department of Fisheries and Game Dave Peters, Commissioner Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Ellen Roy-Herztfelder, Secretary Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, Governor TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: Southeastern Massachusetts Acknowledgements . iii Abstract. iv Introduction . 1 Materials and Methods . 1 Life Histories . 2 Management . 4 Narragansett Bay Drainage . 6 Map of towns and streams . 6 Stream Survey . 7 Narragansett Bay Recommendations . 25 Taunton River Watershed . 26 Map of towns and streams . 26 Stream Survey . 27 Taunton River Recommendations . 76 Buzzards Bay Drainage . 77 Map of towns and streams . 77 Stream Survey . 78 Buzzards Bay Recommendations . 118 General Recommendations . 119 Alphabetical
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 3: the Affected Environment
    CHAPTER 3: THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Chapter Outline: Page 3.1 Geography .................................................................................................. 3-3 3.2 Physical Environment........................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1 Geomorphology ..................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1.1 Shorelines ............................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1.2 Marine Sediments.................................................................... 3-5 3.2.2 Hydrology and Bathymetry..................................................................... 3-6 3.2.2.1 Acushnet River and Watershed............................................... 3-6 3.2.2.2 New Bedford Harbor Estuary................................................... 3-6 3.2.2.2.1 Bathymetry................................................................ 3-6 3.2.2.2.2 Dynamics .................................................................. 3-7 3.2.2.3 Buzzards Bay .......................................................................... 3-8 3.2.3 Climate .................................................................................................. 3-8 3.3 Biological Environment......................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.1 Habitats................................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.1.1 Fresh water and Upland habitats............................................
    [Show full text]