From left, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton, EPA Region 1 Acting Administrator Deb Szaro, Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director Kristy Senatori and Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Paul Niedzwiecki.
HYANNIS – The OneCape Summit kicked off Thursday in Hyannis with a keynote address from the state’s Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton.
Beaton discussed the progress being made in nitrogen pollution mitigation through the countywide 208 Wastewater Plan and praised the work between towns across the Cape.
“It’s very encouraging from the state’s perspective to see that collaboration and to understand that the water quality doesn’t care about town boundaries,” Beaton said. “It cares about the watershed.”
Beaton praised the watershed reports developed for all of the watersheds on Cape Cod, along with the work by the three communities sharing Poppenessett Bay to develop an intermunicipal agreement allocating responsibility for nitrogen load to the bay.
Beaton said the agreement could serve as a basis for a new watershed permit.
He also was encouraged by the recent decision by Harwich to approve funding for a sewer project to use Chatham’s wastewater plan.
Beaton discusses the progress made on the Cape with wastewater management and announces grant funding to the region from the Baker Administration.
“This is an excellent example of neighboring towns working together across municipal borders to make cost effective decisions to benefit both towns,” he said.
Beaton also announced state funding coming to Cape Cod for water quality improvement efforts.
Beaton said the Baker Administration has committed $1 million over 4 years for The Cape Cod Water Quality Monitoring Initiative.
“It’s really helping to establish us a framework of being able to measure our own success and how good or bad each different solution is working for that region,” he said.
A $50,000 grant to the Cape Cod Commission to establish a Regional Stormwater Management Coalition was also announced, along with financing assistance through the Clean Water Trust to offer zero percent loans for nutrient management projects.
The first day of the summit also included a keynote address from Deb Szaro, the U.S. EPA Region 1 Acting Administrator, who also participated in an evening panel designed to provide local elected leaders an opportunity to hear from federal and state regulators and ask question.
The first day focused on the progress of the 208 Plan Update and expected next steps for the coming years.
Day two of the conference Friday will expand the reach of the conference to broader regional policy issues, including housing, regional infrastructure planning and an overview of the Cape Cod economy.
The summit at the Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis is free and open to the public.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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