Posted by Ed on June 4, 2007, 2:51 pm ASK YOURSELF HOW AND WHY THE GOT INTO THIS PREDICAMENT? Below is the link to the Lowell Sun article regarding the Town of I have the court documents if anyone would like them - I can email http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_6046347 Billerica will pay fine for pollution BILLERICA -- In a settlement with state and federal environmental According to Environmental Protection Agency officials, the Phosphorus acts as a fertilizer, causing algae and weeds in the river Environmental officials also charged the town with failing to submit "This has been going on for a long time. It is nothing new, but we Longo added that since coming to town in 2005, he and his staff met "We should always be in compliance and will be looking ahead to The town is also required, under the consent decree, to test for lead "We do not think there is a problem with the water now," Longo "Thanks to close coordination and strong efforts by state and federal Longo made selectmen aware last September that the wastewater- Last fall, Town Meeting approved a $120,000 transfer from the Plant Town Meeting last month approved borrowing $9 million for plant He added that the fines will likely be paid over three fiscal years. The clock has not started ticking on a due date. The settlement must
24.34.144.49
WHO IS PROFITING! THIS ALL NEEDS TO STOP NOW!!!
Billerica polluting the Concord River (and full text as well). The
Concord is considered navigable waters of the United States.
them. Both the initial complaint and the consent decree which is
already signed by the town selectment (February) and the judge will
most likely rule this as the final resolution (I received these
Friday afternoon).
By Jennifer Amy Myers, jmyers@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:
officials, the town has agreed to pay $250,000 in fines for Clean
Water Act violations that span more than four decades.
wastewater-treatment plant violated its discharge permit by releasing
excessive amounts of phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria and ammonia
nitrogen into the Concord River.
to grow at an increased rate.
discharge-monitoring reports, failing to comply with monitoring
requirements, and failing to submit infiltration and inflow reports.
are in compliance now," said Town Manager Rocco Longo. "A lot of what
happened occurred years and years ago in the 1970s, '80s and
early '90s."
with the EPA several times to work out a settlement and create a plan
going forward to remain in good standing with environmental laws and
regulations.
ensure the safety of the town's drinking water and the condition of
the river," he said. "I want to do an exemplary job with that and we
have a good team in position now to do that."
in school drinking water, and address elevated lead levels if
discovered, The town also must test the water supply for NDMA (N-
nitrosodimethylamine), a disinfectant byproduct and probable
carcinogen. Those studies are expected to cost $50,000.
stressed. "But these are two good projects to show where we are now,
and allow us to fix any problems that are found."
agencies, the town of Billerica is now operating its water-treatment
facility in a manner that will better protect public health and the
aquatic ecosystem of the Concord River," said Robert Varney, regional
administrator of EPA's New England office.
treatment plant was "struggling" at times to meet standards outlined
in its discharge permit.
Expansion Fund to complete the new design to meet state Department of
Environmental Protection regulations.
upgrades. The money will be borrowed at a 2 percent interest rate
from the Massachusetts Pollution Abatement Trust. Longo said the
upgrades will help the town stay in compliance in the future.
first be approved by a judge, followed by a comment period. Then the
consent decree will be officially presented to the town.
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