HomeMy WebLinkAboutCanoe River Comm 01/07/1993MINUTES OF THE CANOE RIVER AQUIFER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held by the Canoe River Aquifer
Advisory Committee on January 7, 1993 at the Easton Water
Department, 417 Bay Road, Easton, MA.
Members in attendance: Easton - Wayne P. Southworth
(Chairman), John Grant, William Hardin, Phil Barske (visitor);
Mansfield - Edward Tartufo, Dick Lewis; Sharon - Shirley
Davenport; Norton - Suzanne Erikson, Katherine Romero, Susan
Mims; Foxborough - Joan Sozio (Secretary), Timothy Higgins.
1. Call to Order
Mr. Southworth called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Shirley Davenport and seconded by
Kathy Romero to approve the minutes of December 3, 1992.
3. Discuss status of E.P.A. Sole Source Aauifer application
Wayne Southworth reported status of application as follows:
EPA has scheduled a public hearing at the Foxboro Town Hall on
-> February 4, 1993 at 7:00 P.M.; handed out press releases and
asked each representative to post around each town; release has
also been given to local newspapers; have received several
letters of support (the most ever received at the EPA's office);
EPA attendees will be Trish Garrigan and James Healey (probably
R. Mendoza and John Haederle); presented the final report to each
community; urge everyone to attend the February 4, 1993 meeting;
as this is the same date at the CRACC's business meeting,
consensus was to hold same just before EPA hearing beginning at
6:30 P.M. - therefore, March meeting will be in Sharon on the
first Thursday.
4. Discuss Spring Awareness Day
Last meeting there was a strong feeling to have celebration
outside at the Mansfield Fish & Game Club (Mr. Lewis to double
check with club and Mansfield Library); if applicable, should
plan to have some type of formal recognition of the Sole Source
Aquifer; need some good press coverage; Kathy Romero to check on
weed harvester; date: Saturday, May 22, 1993; time: 9 A.M. to
12 Noon with light refreshments (Tartufo/Southworth); need to
encourage adopt -a -stream program - suggested inviting Maria Van
Dusen; need to update invitation list; Barske volunteered his
wife's services to compose newspaper articles; this item to be
placed on every agenda.
Discuss p
lations re:
es to Wetlands Protection
Reviewed chart prepared by Dick Lewis which compared
present regulations with proposed regulations for work in an
ACEC; discussion ensued: there are enough regulations; why did
the state propose this changes; coastal ACEC's already have these
regulations; in Easton 500 vs 5,000 do no change, both are
prohibited in the town bylaw - this makes us parallel to the
state; 60% of state towns/cities now have a wetland bylaw;
further discussed positives and negatives.
Issue: DEM is asking for comments.
A motion made by John Grant and seconded by Joan Sozio to
support the current proposal. Same was withdrawn.
A motion made by John Grant and seconded by William Hardin
to take no action and make no response. Same was withdrawn.
Discussion ensued with regards to only supporting the
formulation of an advisory committee. Dick Lewis suggested that
an informal letter be sent to Leslie Luchonok advising him of
reasons for non -action.
On Hardin's motion, seconded by Grant, VOTED to draft a
letter supporting the advisory committee.
6. Discuss educational brochures and dis 1p ays
Wayne Southworth noted he sent letters to each Water
Superintendent asking for financial support to print and
distribute material; all were in support; this will be a year
long project.
7. Old Business - None.
S. New Business
1. Kathy Romero reported that 1992 Annual Report has been mailed
to all Town Clerk offices with cover letter asking same to be
placed in each Town's report.
2. Riverways Newsletter - W. Southworth sent a news release to
them concerning the CRACC as a Sole Source Aquifer.
3. Easton Housing Partnership re Comprehensive Permit - not sure
if this committee wants comments but the area is in an Aquifer
Protection District.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 P.M.
Canoe River
Aquifer Advisory Committee
417 Bay Street
South Easton MA 02375
(508) 238-3641
PRESS RELEASE
-January 5, 1993
The Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee, along with the Towns
of Easton, Sharon, Mansfield, Norton, and Foxborough, have petitioned
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to have the Canoe River
Aquifer designated as a Sole Source Aquifer under Section 1424(e)
of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The designation, if approved by
EPA, will provide EPA the authority to review federal financially -
assisted projects within a Sole Source Aquifer if the project amy
adversely impact the aquifer. Currently, there are 56 designated
Sole Source Aquifers nationwide, with five of these in Massachusetts.
Anyone is welcome to attend a public hearing which will be held at
7 p.m. on February 4 at Foxborough Town Hall. The main purpose of
the hearing is to take public comment on the Sole Source Aquifer
petition. The hearing will also include a brief presentation on
the Sole Source Aquifer petition and designation process. The
hearing will be followed by a general question and answer session.
Written comments on the petition will be accepted until February
12, 1993. Comments should be forwarded to Trish Garrigan, State
Ground Water Coordinator, (WGP-445), Ground Water Management and
Water Supply Branch, U.S. Environemntal Protection Agency, Region I,
J.F.K. Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203.
Contact: Alice Kaufman, office of External Affairs
U.S. EPA Region I
(617) 565-4592
Trish Garrigan, Ground Water Management Section
U.S. EPA Region I
(617) 565-3563