NLC 2018 Winter Newsletter

2018 WINTER NEWS

Nantucket Land Council, Inc. PLANNING

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PROTECTING

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PRESERVING

INSIDE this ISSUE NLC Creates The Water Fund—pg. 2 Sewer Main Failure—pg. 3

Oil Discharge at Easy Street Basin—pg. 3 Boy Scouts Update—pg. 5 40b Development—pg. 6

NLC Creates The Water Fund

Nantucket Land Council, Inc. PO Box 502, 6 Ash Lane Nantucket, MA 02554 508.228.2818 www.nantucketlandcouncil.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lucy S. Dillon, President Paul A. Bennett, Vice President William Willet, Vice President Howard N. Blitman, Treasurer Susan E. Robinson, Clerk

The Board of the Nantucket Land Council is excited to announce the creation of “The Water Fund”; a donor restricted fund to help support marine and freshwater projects on Nantucket. For the past five years the Nantucket Land Council has steadily transitioned into being the leading voice for the protection, investigation, and education of our water resources. We are consciously focusing on several significant niche areas including researching the health and quality of freshwater ponds, analyzing stormwater runoff in the downtown area and educating the public on the health and vitality of Nantucket Harbor and beyond. In the coming years we will be expanding our water projects by supplementing the Town of Nantucket’s water quality sampling, assisting the town in planning critical stormwater infrastructure upgrades, and engaging in Eelgrass transplant and restoration projects.

We can’t do this additional work without your help! We have received a generous $25,000 donation to kick-start our campaign along with full participation and backing of the Board of Directors. Please consider making an additional donation on top of your operating gift and help the NLC achieve even greater success in protecting and preserving the water resources of Nantucket.

Larry Breakiron William S. Brenizer Karen K. Clark Christine Donelan Joshua Eldridge Robert Friedman Nancy Gillespie Nathanael Greene Charles A. Kilvert III Laurel Ried Langworthy Matthew B. Liddle Neil Marttila Peter McCausland Fritz McClure Eileen P. McGrath Paul P. Moran Carl H. Sjolund H. Brooks Smith Lars Soderberg David Troast Peter Watrous

HONORARY DIRECTORS William M. Crozier, Jr. Jean Haffenreffer

STAFF

Cormac Collier, Executive Director cormac@nantucketlandcouncil.org Emily Molden, Resource Ecologist emily@nantucketlandcouncil.org Meg McNeely Browers Outreach & Membership Director meg@nantucketlandcouncil.org Shari Santos, Bookkeeper

OF COUNSEL

Peter R. Fenn & Associates Design by: Gioiosa Design Harvard, MA, www.gioiosadesign.com Printed On Recycled Paper

Cover Photo: NLC Resource Ecologist, Emily Molden collecting a winter precipitation sample from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program station. These samples are analyzed weekly for a series of contaminants including nitrates and phosphates.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Sewer Main Failure This past January a catastrophic sewer main break caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to enter Nantucket Harbor. The break occurred during an intense nor’easter that flooded a large part of the downtown area. As the storm surge receded the break became apparent as wastewater bubbled to the ground from several areas along South Beach and Broad Streets. Much of the sewage ran along the streets into adjacent stormwater catch basins which then traveled directly to the harbor in front of the Nantucket Yacht Club and the Easy Street bulkhead. The Town was fortunately able to bypass the break in the following days which stopped the flow of sewage into the harbor. Water testing results at the discharge sites saw a spike in nitrogen and fecal coliform, however recent testing show that conditions have returned to normal The Town is currently working with consultants to perform a forensic analysis to determine the causes of the break. The Town is also surveying the condition of the entire sewer main line as it makes its way out to the Surfside Treatment Plant. This review of the sewer infrastructure is critical to not only prevent a break of this magnitude from occurring again but to set in place a long range plan to replace and repair any substandard piping that may be discharging any amount of sewage into the groundwater and harbor. The most important lesson in this unfortunate event is that we need to better understand the condition and location of the sewer and stormwater lines, particularly in the most environmentally sensitive areas of the Nantucket Harbor watershed.

An excavation area on Oak Street to study the sewer main, and the oil sludge off Easy Street with one of DEP’s containment booms.

Sewer Main Failure

Easy Street Oil Discharge

This past January a catastrophic sewer main break caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to enter Nantucket Harbor. The break occurred during an intense nor’easter that flooded a large part of the downtown area. As the storm surge receded the break became apparent as wastewater bubbled to the ground from several areas along South Beach and Broad Streets. Much of the sewage ran along the streets into adjacent stormwater catch basins which then traveled directly to the harbor in front of the Nantucket Yacht Club and the Easy Street bulkhead. The Town was fortunately able to bypass the break in the following days which stopped the flow of sewage into the harbor. Water testing results at the discharge sites saw a spike in nitrogen and fecal coliform, however recent testing show that conditions have returned to normal.

Separate from the sewer main break but during the same time, a large amount of petroleum product was noticed entering the harbor at the Easy Street stormwater outfall. Petroleum containment booms were set up to soak up the product.

The State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) assumed oversight of the discharge which continued unabated for several weeks. Working with the Town, the DEP located a potential source as an abandoned and leaking oil tank in the basement of a nearby building. Investigators will be reviewing how the petroleum was able to get into the stormwater line and what sort of remediation actions will be necessary in the future.

The Town is currently working with consultants to perform a forensic analysis to determine the causes of the break. The Town is also surveying the condition of the entire sewer main line as it makes its way out to the Surfside Treatment Plant. This review of the sewer infrastructure is critical to not only prevent a break of this magnitude from occurring again but to set in place a long range plan to replace and repair any substandard piping that may be discharging any amount of sewage into the groundwater and harbor. The most important lesson in this unfortunate event is that we need to better understand the condition and location of the sewer and stormwater lines, particularly in the most environmentally sensitive areas of the Nantucket Harbor watershed.

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RESEARCH NEWS

Stormwater Research Last year the NLC began a new investigation into the quality of runoff from stormwater entering Nantucket Harbor. All of the runoff from sidewalks, streets, impervious surfaces along with many yards in the downtown area drain into the stormwater infrastructure during precipitation events carrying any pollutants with it. With the help of the TON Department of Public Works, the NLC began sampling water entering the harbor from the Children’s Beach, Easy Street and Town Pier areas. Results from this study will help us understand another possible point source of pollution into the Harbor as well as inform the Town’s plans for infrastructure improvements in the future.

DPW Deputy Director, Chuck Larson, sampling stormwater with NLC Resource Ecologist Emily Molden.

EDUCATION NEWS

KKB Grants 2018 marks the NLC’s 25th year of educational grants to the local schools. Renamed the Karen K Borchert Educational Grants after the passing of long-time NLC board member, past president and education champion Karen K Borchert in 2016, the educational grant program began in 1993. Since then the NLC has granted well over $100,000.00 to local schools for science education.

Last fall awards were granted to the following applicants: Allison Gayo for science materials to use with after school programming at the Nantucket Lighthouse School, Linda Ballinger and Joni Amaral for engineering and circuit kits to be used by the Lighthouse School, Rain Harbison for additional materials to continue use and maintenance of the Lighthouse School’s educational garden, Rachel Sullivan for Nantucket New School 5th grade field trip support to Nature’s Classroom, and Amanda Bardsley for a weather station at Cyrus Peirce Middle School.

Applications for a spring round of grants will be made available in March and additional awards will be granted in May.

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Board Member Spotlight “As a native-born year-round resident, eco-tour operator, and fisherman, I joined the Nantucket Land Council Board to help protect the island’s natural resources and rural character.

The Land Council is helping to protect and preserve our open spaces and waters for generations to come.”

Josh Eldridge has served on the Board of Directors for the Land Council since 2015.

Josh and his wife, Jen, live on Nantucket year-round and are the owners and operators of Critter Cruise and Monomoy Charters.

2018 Harbor & Oyster Farm Tour Dates Tours begin at 3:30pm, call Meg at the NLC office to register!

508.228.2818 Thursday, June 14 Tuesday, July 17 Tuesday, July 31 Tuesday, August 14 Wednesday, August 29 Wednesday, September 12 Wednesday, September 26

LAND PROTECTION & LEGAL NEWS

Boy Scouts The NLC funded appeal of a Barnstable court decision naming Cape and Islands Boy Scout Council as the trustee of the disputed Boy Scout property took a positive turn as the State Appellate Court ruled that the lower decision was flawed and needed to be remanded for further information.

The Nantucket Civic League, the local Camp Richards Association and the Nantucket Land Council have been battling for years to return the full operation and control over the camp back to the local scouts and ensure its permanent protection. A reverter clause held by the Nantucket Civic League was already determined by the lower court to be in full force and effect and prevented any use of the camp that was not for Boy Scout purposes. The Land Council looks forward to returning to court to make its case that the Cape and Islands Council should not be the trustee of the property.

NLC Family Fun Day at Camp Richard

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Surfside Crossing 40b The major impacts from the project will be traffic, noise, groundwater pollution, demands on public sewer and water infrastructure, endangered species, archaeological resources, and overall concerns about the density for this rural area.

Nantucket Residents Josh Posner of Baxter Road in ‘Sconset and Jamie Feeley of Evergreen Way have proposed a 156 unit subdivision off of South Shore Road in Surfside. The project takes advantage of the Massachusetts 40b statute whereby a developer can bypass local zoning as long as 25% of the development is “affordable”. The proposal is a mix of apartments and single family houses. The land is currently zoned at two acres which could only allow a 7 lot subdivision.

The Land Council voiced its opposition to the project and will be ready with legal counsel and expert consultants when the application is officially made to the Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals. Many residents have expressed outrage about the development and its size and intensity.

It is doubly distressing that the developers are local residents Josh Posner and Jamie Feeley of Cottage and Castle, who are disrespecting their island neighbors and community to maximize personal gain.

The developers need to first receive a Project Eligibility Letter (PEL) from a State Subsidizing Housing Agency before the project can move forward in the permitting process. MassHousing has been chosen as that entity and is required to seek municipal input on the project before issuing the PEL. The Selectmen voted to send a letter of opposition to the project.

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EVENT NEWS

Annual End of Season Dinner at Straight Wharf Restaurant The End of Season Dinner is an annual celebration of the summer season and the Land Council’s coordinated efforts towards environmental advocacy on the island. Co-Chairs Karen K. Clark and Mary-Randolph Ballinger hosted a memorable evening at Straight Wharf restaurant on Sept. 4th, 2017. Owner and Executive Chef Gabriel Frasca presented a deliciously curated menu just for this event and Sommelier Ieva Aldins provided excellent wine pairings. Cocktail hour was held in the bar/grill and featured a live jazz duo including Peter Watrous, one of our Board of Directors. Guests who attended this dinner were supporting the Nantucket Land Council’s ongoing work to protect, defend and restore our fragile environment. It was the perfect send off to another beautiful season on Nantucket, filled with friendship and conversation, great food and fine wines.

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NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL, INC.

6 Ash Lane Post Office Box 502 Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554 nlc@nantucketlandcouncil.org www.nantucketlandcouncil.org

NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID STOUGHTON, MA PERMIT NO. 160

SAVE

the DATE April, May & June Annual Town Meeting Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Pesticide Applicator’s Continuing Education Course: Environmental Fate and Ecological Risks of Pesticides and Massachusetts Groundwater Protection Regulations Wednesday, April 11, 2018 Vernal Pools Trips Saturday, April 28, 10:00AM Wednesday, May 9, 3:00PM Oyster Farm Tours See Tour Dates on page 5 Call the NLC office to register!

508.228.2818

Nantucket Land Council, Inc. PLANNING • PROTECTING • PRESERVING

Established in 1974, the Nantucket Land Council is the only environmental watchdog group on Nantucket Island.

The NLC works to protect Nantucket’s natural resources in three major areas—planning, protecting, preserving.

PLANNING: The NLC monitors development proposals, offers educational programs, grants and scholarships, and makes recommendations to voters on issues which affect the environment.

PROTECTING: The NLC conducts scientific research to support the protection of our natural resources such as native species, wildlife habitat, and water quality.

PRESERVING: The NLC specializes in holding conservation restrictions. CRs allow the property to remain in the owner’s hands, while ensuring that the land remains preserved.