Year: 2011

Our buddy and lobsterman Chris Orsillo AKA “Trapper” asked if I would pass along a link to his friend’s Poetry Blog.

here you go-

Lauren’s Thoughts and Poetry

Just a spot to share my thoughts and some poetry I have written over the years!

Empty Nest Syndrome

That there are rocks painted to look like frogs in Riverview on the Annisquam River?  They were painted by an unknown artist in the 1930’s on the property of Hasty Gammage, and are still there; but you can only see them by boat.  This is a painting of Hasty’s Frogs by David Montgomery.  Have any of you ever seen them?

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Widowed Persons* Support Group at Addison Gilbert Hospital
The Widowed Persons* Support Group meetings are
held at Addison Gilbert Hospital, 298 Washington Street,
Gloucester, in the Longan Room (Washington
Street entrance), from 3-5 p.m. every other Wednesday.
Upcoming meetings will be held on March 23 and April 6.
There is no fee or and pre-registration is not required. 
Those wishing further
information may call 978-283-7102 or 978-879-4373.

Docksiders Spaghetti Dinner and Concert

The Docksiders will hold a spaghetti dinner, concert, and silent auction on Friday, April 8 at 6:00 pm at the DES Club 133 Prospect Street in Gloucester. Dinner includes, rolls, salad, spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, dessert and assorted beverages. Silent auction will be on going throughout dinner.

Tickets at the door. Adults $7.00, children 12 and under $5.00. Families with more than 2 children $25.00. All proceeds will go towards the Docksiders trip to Disneyland Paris in 2012. For more information, call 978-281-2140

PLEASE ATTEND A PUBLIC HEARING

HOSTED BY THE EPA ON THEIR

DENIAL OF A WAIVER FOR A SECONDARY TREATMENT FACILITY

THURSDAY, MARCH 24^TH AT 6:30 PM

KYROUZ AUDITORIUM, GLOUCESTER CITY HALL

Denial of the 301(h) Waiver Would Crush Already Over-Burdened Citizens

Ø Construction of a secondary treatment plant will cost at least $60 million and result in additional annual operational costs of at least $1 million.

Ø The full cost of the new facility would fall on the ratepayers of Gloucester, which would double their rates.

Ø There are currently no federal grants available for secondary treatment plant construction, as there were for all of the secondary plants built between 1972 and 1990.

Ø As a result of EPA’s decision, the annual charges for the average household would increase from $1,251 per year to $2,570.  By way of comparison, the average rate per household in Massachusetts is $584 per year, and the current highest rate in Massachusetts is $1,632. This annual charge would be about 5.4% of the Median Household Income in the City, almost three times the percentage that EPA considers a “very high” burden on residential customers in its guidance on affordability of sewer infrastructure improvements.

Ø In any economic climate, the prospect of dramatically increased costs of water and wastewater services, especially with no measurable environmental improvement, would have serious and immediate repercussions in the business and real estate sectors of the City.

The recent decision by EPA to deny the 301(h) permit renewal, and therefore force the city to build a $60 million secondary treatment plant, is not only cost prohibitive at this time, but also provides no appreciable environmental benefit.

The City is committed to preserving and protecting the ocean resources that have played a major role in our history, which is a vital part of Gloucester’s identity.  However, the City cannot look at wastewater issues in isolation, but more of a component to the overall infrastructure challenges.  The City is committed to implement an infrastructure master plan that will reflect a reasonable balance between cost, demand and environmental benefit.

The following points touch upon the background of Section 301(h), the EPA’s change in position and the financial impact mandating the City to build a $60 million secondary treatment plant:

Background of Section 301(h) and the Gloucester Treatment Plant

Based on Congress’ determination that secondary treatment provides little environmental benefit for discharges to deep ocean waters, Section 301(h) of the federal Clean Water Act allows publicly owned treatment works with ocean discharges to receive a variance from the Act’s secondary treatment requirements as long as statutory criteria are met.

In 1985 and again in 2001, EPA determined that statutory criteria were met and granted a waiver for Gloucester’s treatment plant.  If anything, the quality of Gloucester’s discharge has improved since 2001.

EPA’s Change of Position on the 301(h) Waiver

Despite that there has been no adverse impact on the marine environment in the vicinity of the outfall (One mile off-shore at a depth of 90’) and the fact that the City has recently invested $35 million in an EPA-mandated CSO project and $20 million on upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, EPA issued a draft denial of the 301(h) waiver for the Gloucester treatment plant in November 2010.  EPA’s application of the statutory criteria to the treatment plant in 2010 is strikingly inconsistent with its earlier positive decisions in 1985 and 2001.

The City has invested $3 million over 20 years monitoring conditions in the waters and sediments around the outfall.  This extensive EPA-approved program has shown no evidence of any change in the marine communities or of accumulations of organics or pollutants in the sediments.  There has been zero change in the abundance, diversity or composition of the marine communities.

An expensive secondary treatment plant will not necessarily address the issues EPA raised.

The City recently switched contract operators of the waste water system and have stabilized and made dramatic improvements at the plant.

Gloucester submitted detailed technical and legal comments to EPA demonstrating that the discharge satisfies all of the 301(h) statutory criteria.  More importantly, there will be absolutely no water quality benefit in forcing the City to spend more than $60 million to upgrade to secondary treatment.

The total sewer enterprise debt of the City would more than double, thus doubling the rates and have a major impact on the City’s bond rating.

The City of Gloucester will continue to challenge the EPA denial by putting forth the most compelling legal, technical, scientific and

financial arguments.  For the complete testimony, please see www.gloucester-ma.gov.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.  COME TO THE HEARING AND SHOW YOUR CONCERN. (YOU DON’T HAVE TO TESTIFY.)

Bob Hastings Executive Director, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce