Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
July 16, 2013
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on July 16, 2013 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
Andy Snow
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Present: Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
Absent: Pat Perry, SCC Coordinator
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Approve Minutes
Jeff Saunders made a motion to approve the minutes of June 18, 2013 as drafted and amended. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Request for Determination of Applicability
156 Barton Road (U-2 #15)
At 7:45 PM David Coppes opened the public hearing for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Matthew Hurwitz for the installation of a bedrock well on property located at 156 Barton Road. Mike Sullivan of Mike Sullivan Drilling Co., Inc. was present at this meeting and represented the applicant. Cortni Frecha, Jeff Saunders and Doug Morse reviewed the filing and conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission.
Sullivan told the Commission that there are two pieces of property involved in this project. One piece is on the lake and the other is across the street from the lake. The proposed well would be drilled on the property that is abutting the lake. Years prior, Hurwitz hired Sullivan to drill a well across the street and that well is functioning properly at this time. There was a point well on the property abutting the lake, but it has failed. Eventually the properties will be separated and Hurwitz will move across the street, at which time a well will be required. The Commission asked if Hurwitz is abandoning the old point well. Sullivan said that they don’t know where the point well is located. The Commission commented that they could not locate it on their site visit.
Sullivan explained that he will need to dig two pits. The first will serve to hold mud to drill down through during the process. The second pit will be located across the street and will be utilized to hold water that arises during the drilling process. Sullivan clarified that the first pit will receive the tailings and the second pit will receive most of the water.
Sullivan told the Commission that Mr. Hurwitz does not want the roots of the trees on the premises disturbed during the drilling process. The Commission asked what the average depth is for wells on the lake. Sullivan said generally between 200 and 300 feet.
The Commission agreed that permission for the project should be granted as long as two conditions were added. The first condition states that the proponent will dig one pit for drill tailings, mud etc and will pump all water across street to another pit to be located outside buffer zone. The second condition states that the pipe trench from the new well to the house will avoid trees and roots.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to close the public hearing. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Doug Morse made a motion to issue a Negative 3 Determination with conditions for the installation of a bedrock well on property located at 156 Barton Road. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Nutrient Pollution in Assabet River (OARS)
Alison Field-Juma, Executive Director at OARS along with Allan Fierce, an OARS volunteer, were present to speak to the Commission about nutrient pollution problems (phosphorus) plaguing the Assabet River. David Coppes, an employee of the MWRA, recused himself from this portion of the meeting.
Field-Juma gave background on the river’s problems citing nutrient pollution is the most immediate water quality problem facing the Assabet. She stated that in the summer, parts of the river are blanketed with floating duckweed, algae and rooted aquatic plants. Eutrophication is caused by an overabundance of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus. OARS has conducted a water quality sampling program on the Assabet since 1992 and has been surveying the growth of aquatic plants in the river since 2005. At present the Assabet does not meet water quality standards for a fishable, swimmable river (Class B). Field-Juma explained that there are only two means for lowering the nutrient load and those are discharging lower levels of nutrients and or removing the dams. The latter option is not likely to occur.
The OARS 2010 Dam Study showed that dams on the river are exacerbating nutrification problems. There is much more study required before removing dams would be seriously explored. It is also unclear who owns the land under the dams. The goal now is to manage the load of phosphorous released into the river.
The bulk of nutrients entering the Assabet come from the four major wastewater treatment plants that discharge to the river. Water quality standards are set by the state for all water bodies in accordance with the Federal Clean Water Act. OARS has found Phosphorus to be the river’s primary problematic pollutant. As the second phase of the project looms, Westboro would like permission to discharge more phosphorus Marlboro is discharging 2.9 million gallons per day now. They are requesting permission to discharge 44% more. Two years ago Marlboro tried to have their permit revised and OARS, as well as the Town of Stow, appealed. The Federal Government sent it back to EPA and the permit was not issued.
OARS is asking the Commission to be aware that the draft permit will be issued to Marlboro very soon (end of August possibly). Appeals will be filed. OARS would like the Commission to be prepared to work with the Board of Selectmen to file comments to be submitted within the 30-day requirement. Parties can not appeal if they have not submitted comments on the draft.
OARS is asking the Commission to be involved with drafting comments regarding the draft permit when it arrives. Fierce told the Commission that he has made the BoS aware that a draft permit will be coming very soon and that we must act quickly.
The commission agreed to be involved with drafting suggestions and comments in a timely manner.
Pilot Grove 2
The teams involved with building the Pilot Grove 2 housing project were present to explain their work phasing plan to the Commission. Parties involved included Brandt Wajda, Project Manager, Mitch Finn, Project Superintendent , and Nicole Casello, Preconstruction Project Manager of NEI General Contracting as well as Bill and James Hryniewich of Rhino Construction.
Wajda presented to the Commmission. Ducharme & Dillis will stake the property beginning on Friday, July 19, 2013. NEI would like permission to begin the project on Monday, July 22, 2013. The Commission would like to conduct a site walk on Monday, July 22, 2013 before work begins. The Commission explained that they required a written narrative to understand the phasing plan.
The Commission agreed to allow hay bales to be brought in through the temporary access road near Pilot Grove 1 off West Acton Road. The contractors wanted to clear and stump the entire site at one time, early in the process. Hryniewich of Rhino explained that they plan to install a trench drain around the top of the site immediately after clearing and stumping. They claim this should serve to help stabilize the site. The Commission suggested that the stumping be done in phases. The contractors agreed that stumps shall remain in place during the cut and fill process.
Commission asked if we had seen a SWPPP Program. That was included in the Storm Water Report. Dave Coppes will look at the SWPPP report before the site walk. The Commission should direct any comments to Wajda and Finn.
The Commission explained that they would like to review a written narrative to understand the phasing plan. They had questions regarding whether fill would be stockpiled or trucked-off the site, placement of check dams and many other questions that could not be understood from the plan. NEI General Contracting agreed to provide the Commission with a detailed written narrative of the phasing plan by Friday, July 19, 2013.
The Commission agreed to allow the following work before the August 6, 2013 meeting: Install erosion control, cut trees, but not stump, install swale at the top of the site, stump in new roadway area only to allow access for equipment and work in the replication area. The final replication area will be established at the end of construction in the spring of 2014. All involved parties agreed to these terms. Representative from NEI agreed to attend the Commission’s August 6, 2013 meeting to report on progress and review the promised written narrative.
Assignment
Letter to Cemetery Committee
The Cemetery Committee requested the Commission’s input regarding the possible purchase of land adjacent to the present cemetery on Gleasondale and Box Mill Roads. As a result of their site visit, the Commission found wetlands on the outer perimeter of the property. The Cemetery Committee would need to keep clear of flood plain. The property is within the 200 foot riverfront due to the Potash Brook as well as the Elizabeth Brook on the front of the parcel.
Serena Furman volunteered to draft a letter on behalf of the Conservation Commission. The letter will be discussed at the Commission’s August 6, 2013 meeting.
Coordinator’s Items to Report
Pat Perry reported that representatives from OARS attended a meeting of the Board of Selectmen. The BoS agreed to write a letter asking that allowable load levels of Phosphorus remain the same.
Perry told the Commission to expect a NOI application for the Solar Project at Minute Man Air Field. The applicant would like to be scheduled for the August 6, 2013 meeting. Perry suggested that they visit the Commission’s August 20, 2013 meeting at which time the new Coordinator, Kathy Sferra will be leading the Commission and could follow the project from the beginning. The applicant rejected the idea and asked to be scheduled at some time during the August 6, 2013 meeting.
The applicant mentioned that they would like to file simultaneously with the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board. Perry explained that once a filing has been received, the Commission has only 21 days to schedule a public hearing and PB has 65 days. At present the Planning Board agenda is full until September 2013.
Adjournment
Doug Morse made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 PM. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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