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2007 Annual Report
Conservation Commission and Environmental Compliance
The Conservation Commission and the Environmental Compliance Officer annual reports were combined in 2006 into one report to reflect the organizational reality and efficiency achieved by combining the duties of the Conservation Agent and the Environmental Compliance Officer into one position. The outcome of the change makes the environment a routine consideration in Town Board and Commission deliberations resulting in broader reviews and more sustainable decisions. The Conservation Commission/Environmental Compliance annual report includes a summary of the achievements of the Conservation Commission and a separate summary of the achievements of the Environmental Compliance Office.
Conservation Commission Oversight and Protection of Wetland Resources
By way of background, the Conservation Commission is comprised of seven members appointed by the Town Board of Selectmen. The present Commission members have varying backgrounds, including biology, architecture, environmental law, teaching, civil engineering, environmental science and engineering and landscaping. The primary responsibility of the Commission is to implement and enforce Article 31- the Natick’s Wetland Bylaw and Regulations, the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Regulations (Chapter 131, section 40 and 310 CMR 10.58), the Rivers Protection Act (310 CMR 10.58), Natick’s Stormwater Bylaw and Regulations the State’s Best Management Practices for the Storm Water Management Policy, as well as to acquire and protect open space. In addition, the Commission advises the Selectmen on
matters that relate to the Aquifer Protection District, the Agricultural Preservation Act and on various wildlife issues.
A half-time Conservation agent and half-time support staff provides assistance to the Commissioners and the public on a daily basis. They provide support for semimonthly Commission meetings, frequently held Subcommittee meetings, and answer questions from the public and professional communities. They provide technical assistance and research on environmental issues, schedule hearings, prepare decisions made by the Commission, keep minutes and perform site inspections. Additional projects completed by staff include assisting on the Open Space Plan, completing grant applications and implementing special environmental projects.
Accomplishments this year include:
· The non-chemical treatment for Lake Cochituate: The Commission continues to work with DCR to find and test non-chemical solutions to control nuisance weeds found in the Lake. Since March 2006, two solar-powered pond water circulators have been located on the Lake to test the effectiveness of this non-chemical technology for combating the nuisance weed problem. The result of the circulators first year of operation is inconclusive and DCR has decided to run the circulator pilot study for an additional year. A plant survey completed by a contractor working for DCR in August 2007 showed invasive plant coverage of less than 10% in North Pond, approximately 20% in Middle Pond
between 25% and 30% in South Pond and 100% in Fiske Pond. These amounts are similar to past plant surveys. In the upcoming months, the Natick Conservation Commission is planning to host a meeting with the Framingham and Wayland Conservation Commissions and the DRC to discuss harvesting opportunities to control the invasive plants and to develop a five-year management plan for the Lake Cochituate water system.
By way of background, the Natick Conservation Commission denied the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Plan in 2005 to control nuisance levels of aquatic plant in Lake Cochicuate, specifically Variable and Eurasian milfoil and curlyleaf pondweed, with various herbicide chemical treatments because of the potential risk of contaminating to the Springvale and the Evergreen wells, which supply drinking water to town residents. The Commission’s decision was appealed to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the DEP agreed with Commission and affirmed its denial of the DCR Plan to treat invasive plants in the Lake with various herbicides.
· The oversight of Landfill/Golf Course maintenance: The Commission continues to monitor the Order of Conditions (OOC) for the Golf Course. Over the past year the Commission has reviewed the Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) Report and the Phragmites Control Plan and has worked with the Parks and Recreation Department to construct a new maintenance building for the Golf Course.
· The oversight of the Conservation Commission Website: The Commission is continuing to maintain the Conservation Website, which includes the General Wetlands Protection Rules, Regulations, Fee Schedule, and answers to Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) regarding wetlands. In addition, the website includes the Wetland Bylaw, a procedures Memo, Agendas, and a member list. Other associated information, like the Aquifer Protection District map, the Open Space map, the Pegan Cove Trail map, and the new Stormwater Bylaw and Regulations can be found on the Natick website at the Conservation Commission link at www.natickma.gov. New this year, meeting notes and meeting agendas are now posted on the Commission’s link on the Town’s web-site.
· Open Space Additions and Improvements: Over the past year, the Commission has approved Open Space monies: to complete the new ball field at the gravel pit ($50,000); to implement a trail maintenance fund ($10,000): to purchase land abutting the abandoned CSX Saxonville rail line ($375,000). The Commission has also: notified abutters to two walking trails to stop dumping yard waste on Town property; entered into a short term use agreement on the recently purchased parcel of land abutting CSX Saxonville rail line. Furthermore, the Commission is participating on the Cochituate Rail Trail Task Force that is evaluating Town options to reuse the abandoned CSX Saxonville rail line.
Over the past year, the Commission held 22 meetings to review projects subject to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Natick Wetland Bylaw in which they issued 8 Orders of Conditions, 1 ANDRAD, 17 Determinations of Applicability, 12 Certificates of Compliance, 3 Order of Conditions Extensions, 2 Plan Changes, and 3 Enforcement Orders.
And finally, the Commission continues to encourage potential applicants with marginal/potential wetland issues to come and talk to the Commission to determine if any type of filing is necessary. This gives the person a better understanding of the Commission’s concerns they will need to address in the filing. This informal discussion, which occurs during the first half hour of the Commission’s semimonthly meetings, has reduce the number of negative determinations and improve the overall quality of the filings of applicants who are not familiar with the filing process. The net effect of this effort has been fewer filings and less time spent in deliberations. The Commission has had 64 potential applicants take advantage of informal discussions. This is a two fold increase over the number of informal discussion
in years past. About one half of these applicants were asked to return to the Commission with filings.
Stormwater Requirements
~~~ By way of background, in 2006 the Natick Conservation Commission has added new requirements to help protect Natick's valuable water resources.~The new federally required Stormwater Requirements were adopted in 2006 and copies of~both the Stormwater By-Law and the Stormwater Regulations~are found on the Natick~website~at the Conservation Commission's link at www.natickma.gov.
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Under the new Stormwater requirements~any~new construction, development~or home~improvement project that~disturbs~an area of land over 40,000 square feet may require~the filing of a Land~Disturbance Permit application with the Natick Conservation Commission. The~application should detail~a~plan to control erosion of land during construction and a plan~to manage and maintain stromwater systems~on-site over the long term. Lesser land areas of disturbance are covered by the new Stormwater Requirements as well, but only require techniques to control~land erosion during construction. Over the past year, the Commission has reviewed and approved 3 Land Disturbance Permits.
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Environmental Innovation at the Springvale Water Treatment Plant
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~~~~The Water and Sewer Division completed a major upgrade of~the Springvale Water Treatment Plant off of Route 9 in 2005.~The upgraded Plant~is~more complex~in how it treats water, and must meet~a myriad of new environmental~requirements~and standards.~The Division has developed an Environmental Management System (EMS) to help manage the operation of the Plant safely and in compliance~with~environmental requirements. The Division used~the international~business standard called ISO 14000 to develop the EMS and in March 2007 was assessed by an EMS certifier and found to be in conformance with ISO 14001:2004. The Water Division is the only municipal Water Purveyor~in the state and one of the few in the country to have its EMS certified under the~ISO Environmental Management System Business Standard.~ A narrative summary of~the Division's
EMS can be found at the Natick Web-site on the DPW link at www.natickma.gov. ~~~~~~~~
Reducing Emissions from Diesel Engines
The Planning Board used an Aquifer Protection District Special Permit issued for the Natick Mall Expansion project to help reduce emission from construction equipment. Construction sites are notorious for generating black smoke (caused by the sulfur content in the fuel) from construction equipment diesel engines. The implementation of the Planning Board Special Permit decision reduces the emissions from construction equipment; by requiring that on-site diesel engines use cleaner burning low sulfur fuel, by requiring emission control equipment be added to diesel engine exhaust systems ,and by requiring the Mall to monitor and reduce on-site truck idling. The end result of this cooperative effort is a reduction of tens of tons of air pollutants (black smoke) and the reduction of the resulting potential health
and environmental impacts associated with the use of diesel engines. With construction nearly complete, this effort resulted in: a 10% reduction in fuel consumption; a 20% to 50% reduction in CO2, CO and NOX emissions; a 90% reduction in black smoke; and, a 20 ton reduction in sulfur emissions. With the successful construction of Natick Collection, this Office has been asked by the Planning Board to help develop practice standards to reduce pollution from construction equipment used at large construction sites.
Energy Conservation
In consultation with the Town Administrator and building managers from schools and general government, this office help draft an energy report in June 2007. A copy of the report is found on the Board of Selectmen link at www.natickma.gov and it includes a summary of many of the energy conservation measures implemented in the past. For example, both schools and general government have joined the EPA Energy Star program. A comparison
study of energy use in 2004 and 2007 for all schools has been completed and shows that two of the 8 schools meet the Energy Star performance standard as a result of energy conservation measures completed since 2004. Energy use improvements were noted in most of the remaining schools using the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager software fro the Energy Star Program. A like study will be completed for general government buildings in 2008 using the same software.
Also noteworthy is Natick’s effort to complete a Green House Gas (GHG) Inventory with most GHG production resulting as a by-product of energy use – the less energy used to heat buildings and transport vehicles the less GHG is produced. In 2005, Natick joined the Cities form Climate Protection Program and in late 2007 received a “free” resource from ICLEI to complete the inventory. The inventory and follow-up plan to implement energy conservation opportunities will result in lower energy cost and lower GHG production.
Managing Town Oil Tank Remediation Site
Finally, the Town continues to work on cleaning up its oil tank sites. No new sites have been added. Of the original 19Town owned oil tank sites, only 3 sites remain in the monitoring phase of clean-up. The sites are the Lilja School Elementary School, the Natick Court House and the Murphy Recreation Park. Since 2002, the cost of clean-up has gone from $188,164 per year to $25,412 per year.
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