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Healthy Collaboration
MassDEP's Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Ed Kunce, addressed the five regional MHOA seminars, talking about issues such as the Safe Neighborhood Chemical Initiative, emerging contaminants, and Brownfields redevelopment.
MassDEP Central Regional Director Martin Suuberg addresses the MHOA audience about drinking water emergency scenarios and how local officials should respond to those emergencies if they ever impact their municipality. |
Annual Seminars Held Statewide Bring Health Officers and MassDEP Together To Work on 'Healthy' Issues
A record number of health officials participated in seminars held statewide by MassDEP to discuss important issues like Title 5 and to facilitate communication of issues relevant to members of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association.
MassDEP's Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Ed Kunce, presented an overview of a range of topics including MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt's priorities, the Safe Neighborhoods Chemical Initiative, MassDEP's plans for a Mobile Lab, Emerging Contaminants, the Diesel Bus Retrofit Program, the Stormwater Program, and Brownfields Redevelopment.
Other presentation topics included private well considerations, Title 5 case studies, emergencies affecting public water supplies, solid waste disposal considerations, and basic information on the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) regarding the cleanup of contaminated sites.
Audience members included primarily Board of Health members, as well as some health agents, registered sanitarians, consultants, and others. Seminars were held at Wilmington Middle School, UMass-Dartmouth's Fall River campus, the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife facility in Hadley, and at Quinsigamond Community College.
As in the past, the questions and discussions during these seminars help define areas for future close collaboration among local health officials and MassDEP staff. Because of the joint implementation responsibility, the Title 5 program continues to be a popular topic and the sessions continue to raise many questions and discussions on implementation issues.
Interest continues and is growing in areas such as: emerging contaminants, particularly pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs); environmental and public health concerns over the growing use of smaller scale renewable energy technologies; and the proper management of difficult or unique waste streams, such as medical wastes and "e-waste" items.
The following are details on the seminar presentations. The presentations are also available at MassDEP's website at: www.mass.gov/dep/service/outreach/mhoapres.htm MassDEP also plans to add to the web site on this program a summary of the key issues and questions that came up during all five seminars.
Emergencies Affecting Public Water Supplies: Roles and Issues for MassDEP and Boards of Health
Using recent incidents as examples, this presentation focuses on the roles played by MassDEP and Boards of Health in an emergency situation affecting municipal water supplies. The presentation includes issues related to incident response, notification to the public and returning to normal operations after the incident. Part of the presentation features an overview of issues faced by the Board of Health involved in a recent multi-day event.
Private Well Considerations
This presentation covers the definition of a public water supply, description of varying types of wells, model well regulations and examples, common contaminants and their health effects, treatment options, testing and source protection.
Title 5: Part 1 - Nitrogen Loading Aggregation Plan
This presentation includes a case study of a nitrogen aggregation case, outlining the design, local BOH and MassDEP processes and considerations. The presentation also includes updates related to the Innovative/Alternative (I/A) approval program.
Title 5: Part 2 - Shared System Case Study
This presentation includes a case study of a shared system serving new construction, outlining the design, local BOH and MassDEP processes and considerations and keeping in mind the legal requirements. The presentation also includes information related to the Title 5 system inspection program and procedures for granting Local Upgrade Approvals and Variance in accordance with Title 5.
Top Ten Solid Waste Topics
This presentation includes an update on recent developments, including electronic wastes, unwanted pharmaceutical waste, mercury products, construction and demolition debris, debris from disasters, a new Solid Waste Management Plan, and more.
MCP/21E "101"
MassDEP oversees the assessment and cleanup of oil and hazardous materials releases such as roadway spills; underground storage tank leaks, gasoline station and drycleaner groundwater and soil cleanups, and brownfields sites. This presentation includes information about when to notify of a spill, what to tell a homeowner with a leaking oil tank, how to get more information about a hazardous waste site, who is responsible for cleaning up spills, how long does a cleanup take, what is an LSP, how spills of chemicals - such as mercury - are addressed, and "why do I keep receiving all these site cleanup documents in the mail?"
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