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Draft Reducing Toxic Inputs to Buzzards Bay Action Plan

About the new Buzzards Bay CCMP Action Plans
The Buzzards Bay NEP is now updating our 1992 landmark Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to reflect the great progress achieved since that plan was finalized. It will include new goals, objectives, and recommendations to meet the environmental needs for Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed into the next decade of the 21^st century. This new document will also meet the requirements for a Massachusetts Watershed Action Plan, which will enable new funding opportunities through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

On this page is a draft action plan from the updated Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and planned 2009-2014 Watershed Action Plan. The text on this page is a public draft provided to invite comment and discussion of the subject by residents and stakeholders. It may contain goals and recommendations that have not yet been endorsed or approved by the Buzzards Bay Steering Committee. The views or information contained here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the US Environmental Protection Agency.

We want your feedback on this action plan. At the bottom of this page is a link for you to provide comments on each goal, objective and recommendation contained in this Action Plan. Based on your feedback, we will update and revise all the action plans in the new CCMP.

Action Plan 18: Reducing Toxic Inputs to Buzzards Bay

Draft date: July 30, 2007

Goals

CCMP Goal

Goal 1. Protect public health and the bay ecosystem from the effects of toxic contamination entering Buzzards Bay.

CCMP Objectives

Objective 1. To reduce the amount of toxic contamination entering Buzzards Bay and water bodies listed under the 303(d) program.

Objective 2. To reduce hazardous discharges from point sources of toxic contaminants into the Bay.

Objective 3. To reduce hazardous discharges from nonpoint sources of toxic contaminants into the Bay.

Objective 4. To meet all state, federal, and local action levels for water and seafood.

Objective 5. To improve local, state and federal regulation and control of seafood quality and sediment quality to protect human health and the environment.

Recommendations and Committments

Action Plan 18: Reducing Toxic Pollution

Recommendation 18.1 The BBNEP should continue to work with Buzzards Bay watershed communities to promote the implementation of water savings and toxics reduction programs.

Recommendation 18.2 The Coalition for Buzzards Bay should implement an outreach campaign to homeowners to identify common household toxic and hazardous materials and provide guidance on proper disposal and safer alternatives.

Recommendation 18.3 The BBNEP should develop a detailed GIS database inventory of active 21E, Superfund sites, other regulated sites with contaminated groundwater and surface water, and facilities with Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) for the Buzzards Bay watershed.

Recommendation 18.4 DEP should enforce new and existing regulations that prohibit vessels from discharging oily bilge water to the environment. Full implementation of regulations should help to improve water quality in 303(d)-listed impaired waters.

Recommendation 18.5 DEP should fund the construction of a facility along New Bedford Harbor that accepts oily bilge water for recycling and treats it at an affordable rate to boaters and the fishing fleet.

Recommendation 18.6 DEP and EPA should require that marinas and other industrial facilities that handle or store hazardous wastes comply with Phase II stormwater NPDES permits and regulations requiring nonpoint source pollution control measures, spill prevention plans, and emergency response plans that incorporate spill response and spill control.

Recommendation 18.7 MA EEA should coordinate with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to review the current seafood-testing program and develop recommendations for future actions.

Recommendation 18.8 DEP should establish sediment quality criteria for Buzzards Bay, as part of an overall effort to identify and protect important coastal and marine resources.

Recommendation 18.9 DEP should evaluate and prioritize risks from point sources of pollution (e.g., waste handling facilities, discharges, landfills, etc.) to determine if measures are needed to manage these sources to protect water supplies, or other resources and habitat.

Recommendation 18.10 NRCS and EPA should expand education and outreach programs to minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers to minimize offsite impacts.

Recommendation 18.11 All municipalities in the Buzzards Bay watershed should establish and implement a program of toxic-waste reduction for all industries and facilities that discharge directly into receiving waters or sewage treatment facilities, regardless of whether or not they meet TURA threshold criteria for regulation.

Recommendation 18.12 All municipalities in the Buzzards Bay watershed should implement a comprehensive program for pickup of boat waste oil should be immediately developed and implemented.

Recommendation 18.13 All municipalities should have a program for collection and proper disposal of household hazardous waste on a continual basis.

Recommendation 18.14 All watershed municipalities should adopt recycling programs that will reduce the amount of all recyclables sent to landfills and incinerators.

Recommendation 18.15 The Buzzards Bay Toxics Action Committee should be re-established to review, plan and oversee a watershed-wide program to reduce toxic pollution. .

Recommendation 18.16 DEP, EPA, and the USCG should inspect all facilities that are required to prepare and implement Spill Prevention Control Plans, Spill Response Plans, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, NPDES Multi-sector General Permits to validate implementation.

Recommendation 18.17 The Buzzards Bay NEP should work with state and federal agencies to better characterize toxic contamination throughout the Buzzards Bay watershed, both in developed and undeveloped areas.

Recommendation 18.18 The BBNEP should characterize and identify new and emerging pollutants to determine if there is a need for managing them in Buzzards Bay based on risk of harm to ecosystems and/or humans.

Recommendation 18.19 The reconstituted Buzzards Bay Toxics Action Committee should provide outreach to the public concerning the hazards of eating contaminated seafood, including the potential hazards related to lack of comprehensive seafood testing for all contaminants of concern.

Feedback Form

Read the Complete August 2006 draft action plan.

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