Association to Preserve Cape Cod

What I'm Thinking...

My Way or the Highway

by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director

Holtec ignored Governor Healey’s admonition last week and filed an appeal of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s denial of its permit application to discharge contaminated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. Here is the simple truth about this appeal; it enables Holtec to say that its self-imposed eight-year delay in the final clean-up of the former Pilgrim Nuclear Station site is because of permit uncertainty, but that is deceptive. Holtec's appeal, and nothing else, is the cause of permit uncertainty about the allowed means of disposal of the wastewater. What Holtec won’t tell you is that the longer the appeal takes—and this DEP administrative appeal is just the first step before Holtec goes to state and/or federal court, the better for Holtec. Why is time Holtec's friend? Because the longer it pursues this meritless appeal, the more time it has to induce evaporation of the contaminated water into the air while slowing spending. This allows the publicly funded trust fund from which it draws to increase in value through investment returns. The bottom line is that this appeal is good for Holtec’s bottom line.

What does the public get from this? The dirty end of the stick in the form of increased exposure to radiation released from evaporation and an eight-year longer wait for the site to be cleaned up and returned to productive uses not now possible. That’s a lousy return on the more than $1 billion in public funds invested in the Decommissioning Trust Fund Holtec uses to decommission the plant in what was supposed to be a timely manner.

Having researched the legal framework and providing the detailed analysis of the Ocean Sanctuaries Act that formed the roadmap for the denial, APCC looks at the Holtec appeal as nothing more than an abuse of process designed to buy time. The appeal is a rehash of old and debunked claims that, much like many greatest hits albums looking to squeeze more profit from a poorly aged songbook, did not need to be made. APCC will, as it has, remain vigilant to make certain that Holtec cannot discharge to Cape Cod Bay. APCC will support the DEP denial and will participate in the appeals as events dictate.

APCC in the News

WCAI - How's the water quality at your Cape Cod swimming spot? Here's where to find answers

From APCC's Ecosystem Restoration Program

The upper Bass River restoration, led by the Friends of Bass River and the town of Yarmouth, aims to improve the habitat and water quality through replacement of undersized bridges and restoration of former cranberry bogs. Working with the town of Dennis, APCC is planning the restoration of the Weir Creek salt marsh on the lower Bass River. Combined, these efforts seek to restore this watershed from the Bass River headwaters to the coastal estuary—restoring habitat and improving water quality. To make these projects successful, many different groups are working together, including the National Resources Conservation Service and the Cape Cod Conservation District. They're sharing ideas, money, and knowledge in support of a healthy Bass River watershed.

From the APCC Pond Program's Intern, Emma Hazel

Above: Emma Hazel in Sand Lake, Harwich

At about halfway through this year’s pond monitoring season, it is easy to say that things are going well. Growing up coming to the Cape every summer I can’t say that I spent too much time visiting freshwater ponds, but after the past few months of spending most of my days on them I have not only observed how they change with the seasons, but I have also heard many personal accounts of memories on Cape Cod ponds from our many volunteers who dedicate their time to helping the program. My greatest takeaway so far has been that there are many people who are passionate about preserving the ponds of the Cape and are willing to learn a bit about water quality to help spread the word of conservation. - Emma Hazel

Below: Emma portaging the canoe solo!

Friends of Peter's Pond - Monitoring for Cyanobacteria

Above: Chris Dennis, May Lopopolo (APCC intern), and Judy Abril

From Chris Dennis, president of Friends of Peter's Pond:

Friends of Peters Pond is a non-profit and our mission is to protect, preserve, educate and advocate for pond health. You can check out our website at friendsofpeterspond.org. We also have a Facebook group page at www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofpeterspond.

This year we have three volunteers sampling for the cyanobacteria monitoring program: Judy Abril, Ron Pikul and myself.

I feel it's important to have local citizens, like ourselves, learning and feeling connected by helping with the sampling and also to support APCC as they are one of the biggest advocates for our freshwater ponds here on Cape Cod.

Above: Casey Proto (APCC Intern) and Chris Dennis

Above: Judy Abril and Ron Pikul

Take Action to protect the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve

If you've already written the governor, thank you!

The Massachusetts National Guard, acting through the Massachusetts Military Division, is once again seeking bids to construct a multipurpose machine gun range (MPMGR) on top of the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve.

Please write Governor Healey today

and demand that she direct her staff to cancel this bid solicitation.

Please use the state's contact form to send the governor a message (see the link to the state's website below). Here's a sample message you can copy and paste into the comments box on the state form:

Dear Gov. Healey,

I am writing to urge you to use your authority in putting a stop to the multipurpose machine gun range proposed for the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve. I am very concerned about the Massachusetts National Guard’s recent transparent efforts to prevent existing project funds from expiring on September 30 by opening up another bidding process and securing a construction contract. A construction contract signed before October 1 would enable the Guard to continue to try to force the MPMGR on Cape Cod residents who are justifiably concerned that the project threatens the Upper Cape’s only source of drinking water.

This action by the Guard to advance contracting of the project is a further breach of the public trust and the commitment by your administration—which was agreed to by the Guard—that the project would not move forward until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed its work on the Sole Source Aquifer study and the state’s Environmental Management Commission has reviewed the project. Please use your authority as governor to order the bidding process to stop and to put a halt to this ill-conceived project. Thank you.

Link to state's website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/email-the-governors-office#email-the-governor-&-lt.-governor-using-this-form-

We'd like to exceed 1,000 emails to Governor Healey,

demanding that she ensure this project does not go forward.

Upcoming APCC Webinar

Thursday, September 11, 2024

at 12:00 p.m.

The Everyday Conservationist: Nurturing Nature at Home

with Danae Wolf

Climate change and biodiversity loss are creating existential threats to people and nature. But we can help. In this presentation, you’ll learn about how traditional landscape management is contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss and discover small steps we can all take in our own backyards and communities to steward our landscapes for nature and wildlife.

REGISTER HERE.

Danae Wolfe is an award-winning conservation photographer, writer, educator, and TEDx speaker focused on fostering appreciation and stewardship of backyard bugs and wildlife. Ever the pragmatic, she believes that everyone has the power to make a difference in combating climate change and biodiversity loss. Danae was the 2022 recipient of the Garden Communicators International Emergent Communicator award, and her work has been featured in various outlets, including CNN, The American Gardener magazine, and Nature Conservancy Magazine. Through her community conservation initiative, Chasing Bugs, Danae has reached global audiences with science-based education about the importance of gardening for biodiversity and has inspired gardeners to appreciate the beauty of our natural world and embrace their role in its protection.

We still have a few appointments available through September.

Click here for more information.

Events Hosted by Others

REGISTER HERE.

APCC's Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program

Our cyanobacteria monitoring map is live for 2024. Results are displayed on the interactive map. You can sign up for cyanobacteria bloom alerts here—and receive a notice when a bloom is detected.

Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes - an APCC publication

The Guidelines gives homeowners steps they can take in the design and maintenance of their properties that will support pollinators and birds, manage stormwater, conserve water, and protect the Cape's water quality. This 40-page booklet is beautifully illustrated by Marcy Ford with content that is easily digestible and supported by numerous resources for additional learning.

Thank you for this important book! Hopefully everyone of us with a yard will read it and put it to use! - Vicky Titcomb of Titcomb Bookshop

We've enjoyed creating it and hope it will help you with ideas to help you steward your piece of Cape Cod and maybe foster an environmental ethic in the decisions we all make in our own managed landscapes. Get your copy here—and maybe one for a friend?

We are grateful for the several retail shops that are partnering with us to make this publication more widely available: Brewster Book Store, Birdwatchers General Store, Crocker Nurseries, Wellfleet Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape Abilities Farm, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Titcomb's Bookshop, Sea Howl Bookshop, Soares Flower Garden Nursery, and Eight Cousins Bookshop.

If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at kandres@apcc.org.

You can also view the book's content as a pdf on our website.

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. Please get on the map to show your support of pollinators on Cape Cod!

You can purchase now your 9-inch aluminum Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod sign at Hyannis Country Garden, Crocker Nurseries, Brewster Book Store, Orleans Conservation Trust, and

Cape Abilities Farm.

If you are a retailer, and you would like to sell the signs, you can order online here, or email pollinators@apcc.org.

APCC Merch