City Council resolutions address EPA permit

posted on: 1/11/2021

On the City Council agenda for its meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13, are two resolutions related to the final nitrogen discharge permit for Great Bay issued last month by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Council held a workshop on the permit and its potential implications on Jan. 6, which can be viewed on-demand by clicking here.

The EPA issued the final permit Tuesday, Nov. 24, and it becomes effective Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The wastewater treatment plants covered by the general nitrogen discharge permit have until Thursday, April 1, 2021, to submit a “Notice of Intent” to the EPA that it will be covered by it. Part of the permit regulations requires treatment plants to meet seasonal average load limits for total nitrogen.

The 13 wastewater treatment plants that would be covered by the permit include Dover, Rochester, Portsmouth, Pease Tradeport (Portsmouth), Exeter, Durham, Somersworth, Newmarket, Epping, Newington, Rollinsford, Newfields, and Milton.

Part of the Jan. 6 workshop discussion was about cost-sharing with other communities covered by the general permit for water quality monitoring, nitrogen pollution tracking, and reporting the findings to the EPA. One resolution is cost-sharing the services of the environmental engineering firm, Brown and Caldwell, with the City of Rochester to develop a research and monitoring plan related to the EPA permit. Dover’s portion would be $21,843, according to the resolution.

The other resolution would authorize the City to continue to contract with the environmental law firm, Aqualaw, PLC, to assist the City through counseling and representation on an as-needed basis regarding permit compliance.

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. said he expects to bring additional resolutions in the coming weeks related to the EPA permit.

The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall. It will be televised on Channel 22 and available for on-demand viewing at https://dovernh.viebit.com/index.php.