LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Falmouth to appeal state wastewater standards 

Credit:  By Conor Powers-Smith, Falmouth Patch, falmouth.patch.com 22 November 2011 ~~

At its meeting on Monday night, the Board of Selectmen voted to appeal the terms of the permit recently issued on Falmouth’s Wastewater Treatment Facility by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Wastewater Superintendent Gerald Potamis told the board the appeal would be necessary if the town is to have a chance of avoiding the stiff financial penalties it could incur if it fails to meet the tougher regulatory standards called for in the new permit.

Potamis said the state’s most recent permit, issued on Nov. 2, contains more stringent guidelines than the previous document, under which the Wastewater Treatment Facility was constructed. The town was not expecting the changes when the $15 million facility was built, and may not have a realistic chance of meeting the new standards.

The permit also calls for the sewering of West Falmouth, an extremely expensive proposition which has been discussed as one option for dealing with the elevated nitrogen levels in Falmouth’s coastal waters, but which has not been definitely decided upon.

Potamis said the move would be considered a “friendly appeal,” opening the door for clarification of some of the permit’s less well-defined guidelines, and negotiation between the town and MassDEP as to its exact terms. At the very least, the appeal process would likely prevent the state from imposing fines or initiating legal action for the time being, though Potamis pointed out that the town will still be vulnerable to being sued by private citizens.

Chairman of the Water Quality Management Committee Eric Turkington agreed that the appeal was necessary, saying the new guidelines presented “an unworkable standard.” Turkington also said MassDEP’s attempt to force West Falmouth sewering by linking the issue to the treatment plant’s permitting had “no legal basis.”

The board also heard from Nils Bolgen of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, who recommended two firms to consult with the town on its controversial wind turbines. The board voted unanimously to hire both.

Recently shut down until at least the spring, the turbines’ fate is unclear. DNV Renewables, a wind energy consulting firm, and Acentech, which specializes in issues involving acoustics and vibrations, will study the issue and advise the town on its options, which include running the turbines as normal, moving them to a less populated area, or dismantling them entirely. Bolgen said MassCEC would also be available to consult and advise throughout the process.

Source:  By Conor Powers-Smith, Falmouth Patch, falmouth.patch.com 22 November 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon