In the world of advocacy, the establishment of priorities and the allocation of resources, nothing good happens by accident. This adage is especially true when the issue requiring attention has a serious “yuck factor” associated with it. No issue is inherently yuckier than wastewater and yet it requires, and is getting, serious attention at the state level. This is great news, and it is no accident. The big steps forward we are seeing are the result of years of our persistent, steady, and relentless advocacy—supported by members with vision and loyalty—to ensure that state officials from the governor on down understand and prioritize water quality on Cape Cod.
Our efforts continue to pay dividends. In just the month of May alone, the Baker administration announced three major initiatives that have enormous significance to Cape Cod’s future. The most transformative proposal is the inclusion of $200 million in the governor’s supplemental FY22 budget to additionally capitalize the Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund and to provide principal forgiveness for loans issued through the revised Community Septic Management Program. Loan forgiveness would be on a sliding scale with 50 percent forgiven to borrowers at or below 120 percent Area Median Income (AMI), 25 percent for those between 120 percent and 180 percent AMI and none for borrowers above 180 percent. This plugs a major hole in the funding support to homeowners and will make sewer connections much more affordable for the year-round population. The governor’s proposal for homeowner assistance builds directly on the APCC proposal, recently adopted by the Barnstable County Commissioners, to eliminate the interest charges for some borrowers on loans to upgrade septic systems and to connect homes to sewer systems.
The other important proposals are less likely to catch the eye of the public but have no less long-term significance. Through the Department of Environmental Protection’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) program guidelines, the administration is proposing to ensure that funding goes to the highest priority projects statewide. After significant APCC input, DEP recently released guidelines for public comment that clearly establish Cape nutrient management projects in the highest tier of projects. These guidelines will ensure that Cape towns will continue to have access to zero percent SRF loans to finance municipal projects and keep the costs to property taxpayers as low as possible.
Changes are also coming to the rules that govern the installation of septic systems to finally establish standards for septic systems to reduce their impact on water quality. The proposal requires higher levels of nutrient reduction and creates incentives for towns to invest in wastewater treatment where septic technology limitations prevent achievement of water quality goals. The rules governing septic system installation have not been revised since 1994. Changes to these rules are hard because there are so many competing forces pushing against one another, but kudos to DEP for putting together a working group, of which APCC is a part, that has hammered out a proposal tuned to the unique needs of Cape Cod.
Taken individually, each of these proposals is important and very helpful. Seen together, they reflect a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to strategic improvements to rules, regulations, and funding priorities from an engaged leadership throughout state government that has listened and responded to our concerns. It is not just Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito who have prioritized Cape water quality, but also Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Beth Card, DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg and DEP Deputy Commissioner Gary Moran. These career environmental professionals, along with the elected leadership, have heard us and continue to provide the tools we need to improve our own waters.
Again, none of this has happened by accident. APCC staff have doggedly been making the case about water quality and offering a comprehensive response strategy, day in and day out, and the effort has paid off. We have a coalition of leadership from the governor and his team, our outstanding legislative delegation, county officials, municipal leaders, and other advocacy partners. Our dedicated APCC members have again provided the resources that enable our staff to do what it does, not just on wastewater but on habitat protection, resource restoration, native plantings, cyano-monitoring, herring counting, and so much more. We can’t do it without you!
Advocacy works.
