Representative Matt Patrick (Falmouth) has been working closely with the Department of Environmental Protection on getting its attention focused urgently on the need for less costly solutions to the removal of nitrogen from the Cape's coastal waters.

Patrick has just been informed by the DEP Commissioner Laurie Bird that DEP has approved the installation of a Nitrex permeable barrier in Orleans to demonstrate its effectiveness in removing nitrogen and other contaminants in the groundwater before they enter Pleasant Bay waters.

The Lombardo Nitrex barrier is installed in the ground at water's edge and intercepts nitrogen and other contaminants already in the groundwater and prevents them from entering the bay.

What's particularly important about the DEP approval is the Commissioner's statement that "DEP is mindful of the financial challenges facing your constituents."

More than a few believe that DEP is indifferent to what an environmental solution costs taxpayers; the attitude has seemed to be, "Just do it, whatever it costs."

For those who think this, this statement is a dramatic endorsement of the success Matt Patrick is having in his work with the Governor, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Commissioner Burt in getting them to recognize that cheaper alternatives to solve the nitrogen problem must be utilzed. If the EPA and national environmental organizations support the use of alternatives to centralized sewers such as decentralized systems, why shouldn't the DEP?

Chatham Concerned Taxpayers applauded Matt Patrick's successful effort.

Matt, this is excellent. This isn’t even your district! You’re benefitting all of the Cape. To us here in Chatham, it is a very important statement that the DEP commissioner is “mindful of the financial challenges.” That is a huge step forward. There is a general feeling that state officials couldn’t care less what the solution costs. If DEP is indeed mindful, then they very well should put their shoulder to pushing forward to quickly approve alternatives that are in wide use elsewhere in the U.S. that DEP has neglected to this point.

It’s always easy to argue against looking at something new. But with national environmental organizations and even the Conservation Law Foundation supporting taking a hard look at alternatives such as cluster systems, maybe the logjam is breaking and some quick action can take place.

We need that for the sake of Chatham taxpayers, because our town officials are rushing ahead with a $240 million centralized sewer system to solve a nitrogen problem that with the use of cluster systems could be dealt with for tens of millions of dollars less. Chatham resident taxpayers aren’t rich, even though the real estate valuations of the town are so high. They’re just like other residents of the Cape and saving significant dollars on the excess nitrogen problem is very important.

I hope this new attitude doesn’t come too late for Chatham. This would be a waste of taxpayer and state money (e.g., interest rate subsidy for the 2% or 0% loans) not to have clusters considered for integration into the Chatham system. Town officials have been refusing, since DEP just seemed to want to push the project along, regardless of expense.

It would be great if DEP urged Chatham to evaluate clusters now for integration into their planned system. This would be an enormous assist in the battle we are waging on behalf of Chatham taxpayers, who, in the last analysis, will bear the brunt of the cost of cleaning up Chatham’s coastal waters. We’re committed to the result, we just want to do it in the most cost effective way possible. Why spend $240 million when we could do the job for $180, $150 or $120 million?

Again, great work, Matt. You are helping us all and we are grateful for your leadership.

To read the Commissioner's letter, click the link below.

DEP nitrex ok 12 08 09 (2).pdf