OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Monitoring Plan Mike Mickelson and Ken Keay Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Boston Harbor project n CSO upgrades n cleaner effluent n improved outfall better dilution subpycnocline discharge distance from shore

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 concerns about outfall relocation n safe to swim n safe to eat fish n aesthetics n ecosystem

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Monitoring Plan development 1988regulators require monitoring 1991Monitoring Plan developed 1992baseline monitoring implemented monitoring design modifications 1994Contingency Plan developed 1995Bays Eutrophication Model (BEM) completed 1995draft thresholds developed 1996thresholds revised

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Monitoring Plan development (continued) 1998BEM model tested against monitoring data 1998specific issues addressed (lobster larvae, whale-ship collisions, food web) 1999final threshold statements and statistical protocols 1999Monitoring Plan revised 1999outfall to come on line

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 EPA/MADEP Permit for outfall T01: MWRA’s action list 1. monitor effluent 7. Ambient Monitoring Plan test diffuser dilution model eutrophication study lobster larvae submit scope of work for a whale-prey food web model assist review of red tide monitoring 8. Contingency Plan report exceedances quickly simulate a problem measure parameters relevant to nitrogen removal maintain old outfalls in good working order

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Permit (continued) 9. implement Best Management Practices 10. impose water conservation 11. keep hazardous waste out of the system 13. monitor sludge quality for agricultural use 15. limit industrial discharges 16. monitor and improve CSO facilities 18. maintain the sewer system

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Permit (continued) 20. public reporting includes the monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports all “caution” and/or “warning” level exceedances all reports sent by the MWRA to the OMSAP for review any proposed changes to the ambient Monitoring Plan or Contingency Plan

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 objectives of monitoring n test for compliance with the Permit n test whether environmental changes are within the bounds projected by the SEIS n test for exceedance of Contingency Plan thresholds

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 basis of thresholds n relative to standards Permit State, federal criteria or guidelines n as assumed in EIS modeled nitrogen load dilution achieved by scale model n relative to baseline mean value times a factor 95th percentile (“appreciable”)

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 effluent monitoring n Contingency Plan thresholds pathogen indicators, residual chlorine total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand toxicity testing, PCBs flow, pH nitrogen loading n other measurements: numerous organic and inorganic contaminants

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 survey schedule

water column stations

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 water column n Contingency Plan thresholds dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll nuisance and noxious algae, zooplankton diffuser mixing n other measurements temperature, salinity, light, water clarity, solids, all nutrients, plankton photosynthesis, respiration remote sensing, moored instruments, and marine mammal observations bacterial indicators, viruses

benthic stations (soft-bottom)

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 benthic monitoring n Contingency Plan thresholds: community structure sediment oxygen, and sediment toxic metal and organic chemicals n other measurements: sediment bulk characteristics, chemistry, and tracers nutrient and oxygen flux rock/cobble communities

fish & shellfish stations

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 fish and shellfish monitoring n Contingency Plan thresholds mercury, chlordane, dieldrin, DDTs, and PCBs in flounder, lobster, and mussels lead and PAH in mussels liver disease in flounder n other measurements: age, physical abnormalities

“In the Massachusetts Bays system, which includes the Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and Cape Cod Bay, I think we have one of the best environmental monitoring programs not only in the US but in the world” -Dr. Jerry Schubel, OMTF chair

Timely response to an exceedance Day 1MWRA receives data indicating exceedance <90 days after sampling; <150 days for benthic diversity Day 5Notify plant staff – adjust operations? Notify OMSAP. Day XOMSAP convenes confirm exceedance decide on need for increased study or attention Day 30Warning Level exceedance were there adverse impacts? did MWRA contribute to such impacts? MWRA prepares a response plan to address adverse impacts that it caused. report every 30 days until exceedance is remedied. laterMWRA reports responses in quarterly and annual reports.

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Outfall Contingency Simulation (Red Tide threshold) n Caution Level: Alexandrium tamarense concentration (nearfield seasonal average) exceeds the 95th percentile of the baseline concentration (i.e. exceeds 0.3, 5, or 1 cells/L during winter-spring, summer, or fall, respectively).

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Outfall Contingency Simulation (Red Tide schedule) Day 1Sampling. Day 7Exceedance noted. Confirmation split sent to WHOI. MWRA notified. MWRA notifies others. Day 9MWRA, DMF, WHOI convene technical meeting. Day 13OMSAP convenes; advises EPA and MADEP. Day 55Summary appears in next quarterly Wastewater Performance Report. Day 226Details appear in annual Outfall Monitoring Overview.

OMSAP Public Meeting September 1999 Warning Level exceedance: possible responses n tightened discharge limits n revise plant operational procedures n enhanced removal n enhanced pollution prevention n enhanced educational programs n alternate disinfection options n nitrogen removal n basin-wide nitrogen control n diversion of flow n other corrective actions to be tailored in a timely fashion