Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week...

Gulls on the beach. Photo by Sue Machie

What I'm Thinking...

Transitions

by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director

Transitions from one governor to another provide an opportunity for fresh perspectives and new leadership. This is the natural order of things and all of us who work with state leadership need to make our case all over again every four or eight years. It is natural to build relationships over shared policy objectives, but fresh eyes can identify when changes are needed or validate a well thought out program.

We are in the early stages of building relationships with the new governor and her staff while long overdue and much needed improvements to the regulations governing septic systems are out for public comment. While APCC and others concerned with accelerating and assuring that action is taken to clean waters long degraded by septic system effluent are pressing our case, others are pushing in the opposite direction. Using selective half-truths and scare tactics, opponents of the regulations are trying to push the Healey administration into deciding to stick with the very same environmental code that is responsible for degrading Cape water quality and violating the requirements of the state and federal clean water acts. The opponents of the regulations don’t offer any realistic alternative means to ensure that waters will be cleaned up in our lifetimes. Instead, they whine about process flaws. Complaints about process are the last bastion of those who cannot win an argument on substance.

The simple facts are these: Septic systems are the cause, not the solution to degraded water resources on Cape Cod. Some Cape towns are moving to solve the problem in meaningful terms, but many are moving slowly and continue to behave as if there is not a long-standing legal obligation on their part to protect and manage water quality. Unless pushed, many towns have, by their organized opposition to these regulations requiring them to improve water quality not tomorrow but in 20 years, made it clear they have no intention of acting in a timely manner. These same towns, aided and abetted by unwitting allies arguing against their own self-interest, have unintentionally and loudly made the case exactly why these regulations are needed.

APCC will continue to work with the new administration to keep moving forward on clean water for Cape Cod. This is what we have done working with alternating Democratic and Republican governors for decades. Clean water is not partisan, nor is it a luxury. The public process is ongoing, and your voice should be added to the chorus calling for progress.

APCC Supports Proposed DEP Water Quality Improvement Regulations - Your Comments Matter

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has drafted proposed regulations that significantly strengthen the rules governing the use of septic systems and encourage and incentivize towns to obtain watershed management permits. Both sets of regulations are critical, time sensitive and warrant support. It has been evident for decades that septic systems, even legal ones compliant with state and local rules, are the source of, not the solution to, the deterioration of water quality in the Cape’s marine estuaries and bays. 

In response to requests made during the public hearings, the public comment period for MassDEP's draft amendments to the Title 5 regulations, 310 CMR 15.000, and the new, related Watershed Permit regulations at 314 CMR 21.00, has been extended until January 30, 2023.

MassDEP will host two additional public hearings:

Remote Only, January 24, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Register at: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_veLVS545RCqGZhI6tuN2rQ

Remote Only, January 25, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Register at:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Is2pAS_cR_uXvNhhs5r3oQ

MassDEP has proposed these amendments and regulations to enhance protection of embayments and estuaries—particularly on Cape Cod, the Islands, the southern portion of the South Shore and the South Coast in Southeastern Massachusetts—from nitrogen pollution originating primarily from wastewater. The proposed amendments will allow MassDEP to designate new Natural Resource Area Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (NSA) and add nitrogen reduction provisions within these areas for Title 5 systems. The new Watershed Permit regulations at 314 CMR 21.00 provide a voluntary watershed permitting approach for communities to control nitrogen and other pollutants from entering the embayments and estuaries.

The draft regulations are published on the MassDEP website at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massdep-public-hearings-comment-opportunities and at: 310 CMR 15.000: Septic Systems ("Title 5") | Mass.gov and 314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit Regulations | Mass.gov

Recordings of previously held information sessions and public hearings can also be found here: 310 CMR 15.000: Septic Systems ("Title 5") | Mass.gov

Oral comments will be received at the above public hearings in January 2023 and written comments can be submitted via email to dep.talks@mass.gov. Please put “Title 5 and Watershed Permitting” in the subject line. Written comments may also be submitted by mail and should be sent to MassDEP, Bureau of Water Resources – Division of Watershed Management, 100 Cambridge Street, suite 900, Boston, MA 02114, Attention: Title 5 & Watershed Permit. 

For your convenience, APCC has created an online form to submit your comments. Click here. 

For all you native plant enthusiasts, landscape professionals, and conservationists, the recordings of this symposium provide a deeper dive that will enrich your understanding of what is important to better steward our landscapes and thoughtfully design and implement restoration projects. 

The Native Plant Trust hosted "Need for Seed Symposium" in November 2022. 

Check out these informative presentations HERE. 

Cape Cod Technology Council hosted the Climate Change Collaborative - here is a recording of the presentations. 

We're Saving the Wrong Bees | Nicholas Dorian | TEDxTufts

The Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod is a group of organizations promoting native plants and pollinator-friendly land care practices to create a boat load of safe oases for our native bees, butterflies and a whole host of other pollinators that are crucial to the health of our ecosystems. Join us! It's easy. There are no fees. You just need to pledge to ADD native plants, SUBTRACT a little lawn, AVOID yard chemicals, especially pesticides, and LEAVE the leaves. And, help us spread the word. If you wish, please get on the map to show your support of pollinators!

Do you live in a condo association or assisted living center and wonder how you can help pollinators?

Sometime you just have to start small. Here's a story of a small project that demonstrates the added big benefit of enriching residents’ lives by adding native plants and creating pesticide-free habitat for pollinators.

Thanks to Pollinator Pathway Northeast for this story and photo. 

Looking for a speaker? Check out APCC's Speakers Bureau.

APCC staff speak on a variety of topics and are available by Zoom.

If interested, please contact the staff person directly to make arrangements.

The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds

Eagle Pond, Cotuit. Photo credit: B. Sullivan

Pond Stories is a collection of writings and other media from Cape Codders and visitors who love the 890 local ponds that dot the Cape. We hope this collection of stories awakens your inner environmentalist to think deeper about our human impacts to these unique bodies of water.

Send us your favorite pond photo, story, poem, video, artwork—we want to share with everyone why the Cape's ponds and lakes are so special! Email your pond connection to kandres@apcc.org

A Cape Cod Native Plant-finder

~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location.

Joe Pye Weed, Eutrochium dubium

Email kandres@apcc.org and

we'll send you a CapeCodNativePlants.org decal.

Rain Barrels for Cape Cod

Order online from Upcycle Products

$99 each

includes FedEx shipping to your door

APCC receives a portion of the proceeds.

For more information, click here.

APCC Enewsletters. Our weekly newsletters will now be archived on our website and easily shared.

Here, you can find past newsletters from July 2022 on.

Share this with your friends and they can sign up HERE.

Are you thinking of going solar? We hope so!

In partnership with SUNPOWER BY E2 SOLAR in Dennis, APCC receives $500 for every solar installation when APCC is named as referral.

Thank you to the homeowners who just contracted to install solar panels through E2 Solar.

May the sun always shine for you! 

Expressions Gallery, 578 Main Street, Chatham

CLICK HERE

Ocean to Office. APCC has partnered with EXPRESSIONS, a fine art photography gallery located in Chatham center, to provide Cape businesses the opportunity to beautify their offices with coastal photography while directly supporting protection of our cherished environment. 

This special offering gives back to APCC. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Thank you to our business sponsors

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