Highlights & Updates

Members present:  Susan Chapnick, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Jeff Porter, Ileen Gladstone, Chris Davis, Steve Dodge, and Janine Commerford.  Fifty-three people signed the sign-in sheet.

Opening Remarks - Janine Commerford welcomed the group.  Her opening remarks included the following:

• The Supplemental MCP Amendments were published on December 14, 2007.  The "White Knight" provisions were effective immediately; the remaining provisions will be effective on February 14, 2008.  Between those dates, the new standards can be used as a part of a Method 2 risk assessment.
• Brownfields continues to be a high priority of Commissioner Burt; a number of new brownfields initiatives are being considered.
• The draft indoor air technical update is available on MassDEP's website at the Indoor Air Workgroup Web Page  (see also Indoor Air Workgroup agenda item below).
• The internal indoor air SOP developed by John Fitzgerald is being revised for external use and will be posted on MassDEP's website in a few weeks. 
• ORS developed a draft unit risk factor for PCE, which is undergoing internal MassDEP review.  A copy of the draft document can be obtained through a written request to bwsc.information@state.ma.us.
• eDEP:
• There is a $20 million line item for in the Governor's budget proposal to fund MassDEP information technology projects, including enhancements to eDEP.  
• As of February 14, 2008 electronic submittals no longer need to also be submitted in hard copy.  As of January 1, 2009, only electronic submittals will be accepted.  Contact Paul Locke at paul.locke@state.ma.us for assistance if a PRP will not agree to use eDEP.
• Electronic submittals are increasing; in 2006, 3100 were submitted, in 2007, 9300 were submitted (1200 were received in December).
• Workgroup updates:
• The Ecological Risk Assessment  Workgroup is working on several technical updates.  The last meeting was held in December 2007.  Anyone interested in participating in future Workgroup meetings should contact Nancy Bettinger at nancy.bettinger@state.ma.us
• The APH Workgroup has met twice; the next meeting is in March. Anyone interested in participating in future Workgroup meetings should contact Don Muldoon at Donald.Muldoon@state.ma.us. Agendas and meeting notes are available on at the APH Workgroup Web Page.
• The Historic Fill Workgroup last met on December 18, 2007.  Contact information and handouts from the meeting are on available on at the Historic Fill Workgroup Web Page . The next meeting is scheduled for January 29.
• Eliot Steinberg discussed recent activities related to the homeowners oil spill legislation.  Proponents of the bill met with Representative DeLeo's staff and provided them with a list of Winthrop residents who have had oil spills/releases.  The annual number of spills/releases statewide is approximately 250, with an average cleanup cost of $20,000 (the high end has increased to nearly $90,000).  The current version of the bill covers leaks from ASTs but not leaks from USTs.  Eliot encouraged those present to write to Representative DeLeo urging passage of S.2402 this session.

Download audio of Opening Remarks from Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/MassdepBwscacJanuary242008-Introduction
(mp3 audio file and other formats)

MassDEP's Brownfields Toolbox - The Toolbox is a layman's guide targeted to municipal officials, on brownfields and the contaminated site cleanup process in general, and the MCP in particular.  Andrew Loew provided a summary of the Toolbox and handed out copies of the document to Advisory Committee members.  MassDEP started with a template developed by ASTSWMO to assist municipal officials in brownfields redevelopment, and revised the template to include Massachusetts-specific information.  The appendices include a wealth of information and resources directed at municipal officials.  The Toolbox is available on MassDEP's website at http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/brownfie.htm#iif.

Download of MassDEP's Brownfields Toolbox from Archive.org
http://archive.org/details/MassdepBwscacJanuary242008BrownfieldsToolbox
(mp3 audio file and other formats)

Tier ID Compliance Initiative - Janine Commerford described the initiative, which is designed to bring non tier-classified sites into compliance.  Approximately 400 letters were recently sent to PRPs for such sites, the majority of whom are homeowners, municipalities, and small businesses.  The letter recipients were provided with the name of a regional contact and were given until June 30, 2008 to come into compliance by filing either a tier classification or RAO for the site.  Failure to comply with the letters will subject recipients to default Annual Compliance Fees and MassDEP enforcement.

Download of Tier ID Compliance Initiative from Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/MassdepBwscacJanuary242008Tier1dInitiative
(mp3 audio file and other formats)

Training Update - Paul Locke discussed upcoming training opportunities:

• MCP Representativeness Evaluations & Data Usability Assessments - 4 8-hour sessions with 100 slots each will be held in February/March.  More will be scheduled for the fall of 2008.
• Supplemental MCP Amendments (published December 14, 2007) - 4-hour sessions will be held during the spring/summer of 2008.
• Regional Technical Night - MassDEP's Springfield office will host a 2-hour training on notification and ROS from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2008.  Contact:  Anna Symington (anna.symington@state.ma.us).  Other regions will sponsor training sessions later this year.
• The MCP Audit 2008 - A Case Study Approach - The same 4-credit course that was offered in 2007 will be held in April.  More sessions will be scheduled for the fall of 2008.

Download of Training Update from Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/MassdepBwscacJanuary242008-TrainingUpdate
(mp3 audio file and other formats)

Break

Indoor Air Workgroup - Paul Locke discussed the draft Technical Update, "Using Upper Percentile Values Within The Range Of Typical Indoor Air Concentrations At Residences and Schools", which includes a list of upper percentile values (UPVs) within the range of typical indoor air concentrations and guidance on how UPVs may be used to support response action decisions at residences and schools.  The document also includes a discussion of the criteria used to identify the best indoor air datasets and the methodology used to develop the list of UPVs.   Comments on the document are welcomed and should be sent to Paul Locke (paul.locke@state.ma.us) and/or Nancy Fitzpatrick (nancy.fitzpatrick@state.ma.us) by the end of February.

Download of Indoor Air Workgroup from Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/MassdepBwscacJanuary242008-IndoorAir
(mp3 audio file and other formats)

The next SAC meeting will be on Thursday, March 27, 2008.

Handouts/Presentations

Indoor Air

DRAFT Technical Update, "Using Upper Percentile Values Within The Range Of Typical Indoor Air Concentrations At Residences and Schools" and Data summaries
Web page

Brownfields Toolbox

Web page