Committee reports for Jan 11 (land use, water, plastics)
Jim Snyder-Grant
Green Acton Land Use Committee Report January 11, 2022 Introduction The Green Acton Land Use Committee (LUC) studies, proposes solutions, and advocates in areas where land use relates to Acton's many environmental emergencies such as climate, biodiversity, water, toxins, growth/consumption, and social justice. We meet on zoom once per month, on the last Wednesday of the month from 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. If you would like to participate in our next teleconference (new members are especially welcome!) please email at landuse@greenacton.org and we will email you call-in information
2022 Goals and ObjectivesOur 2022 Goals are to make Acton more sustainable and just through advocating for bold measures that both preserve and increase green space and trees, reduce development, and ensure that housing in action is affordable and accessible to all. Our specific objective is to by December, 2022 create a multi-part LUC yearly report in which we will propose policy to be approved by GA (and subsequently the town) with said report containing the following parts: Part 1: Ecologically just, affordable, and accessible housing; Part 2: Proposing zoning reforms to address the climate, biodiversity and water crises. Part 3: Proposing a Bylaw to limit land clearing on privately owned land Part 4: Make a proposal for further preservation and growth of trees on public land. Part 5: A proposal to create the needed amount of greenspace in Acton Part 6: A proposal to create streets that are vastly more sustainable, addressing public transportation, walkability, bike-ability, and other aspects of greening our thoroughfares.
LUC also discusses and sometimes comments and makes recommendations in regard to timely matters that arise in our town in these same areas. Work During 2022 So Far LUC met on December 29, 2021 and we have continue working via email in January. Since our last meeting we have a) Almost completed our draft charter to be presented at the February GA Directors Meeting b) Drafted a document to present to GA to send to the town as GA's contribution to the town's newest rendition of their Open Space Plan. Meanwhile, we have begun drafting the above-referenced multi-part LUC 2022 yearly report that will contain several policy recommendations for GA to approve and possibly send on to the town later this year.
Water
Green Acton Water Committee Report
January 10, 2022
Meeting: The Water Committee met by Zoom on Sunday January 9, 2022, with seven people in attendance.
Input into municipal planning processes:
At the December Green Acton general meeting, Water Committee put forward to the GA Directors a proposal for formal comments on the Town of Acton Open Space & Recreation Plan, which is undergoing its 5-year revision process. Water Committee's recommendations would make groundwater protection more prominent and transparent in the next plan. The proposal was accepted with minor edits, the resolution was submitted, and thanks were received.
Water committee is gathering information and data about local flooding and droughts, in anticipation of making formal comments on the Municipal Hazard Mitigation Plan, which will be revised this year (See 2018 version at https://www.acton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5023/2018-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-DRAFT-5-30-18).
Water committee members have informally suggested to the AWD Commissioners that the next AWD Master Plan Update should (a) include planning for climate change, and (b) include a public input/comment mechanism. (See 2018 version at https://actonwater.com/assets/media/documents/MasterPlan/MasterPlan_FINAL.pdf)
Educational forum:
Water committee has formed a working group, catalyzed and led by Norm Strahle, to finalize topic and recruit speakers/panelists for an educational forum pertaining to an Acton water issue for this spring. The full committee brainstormed ideas at our January meeting.
Progress on local water issues we have been following:
With respect to PFAS, the Select Board sitting as Sewer Commissioners granted permission to the AWD to discharge waste water from the South Acton Water Treatment Plant into the town sewer system rather than infiltrating it back into the groundwater on AWD property, as an experiment to see if that would decrease PFAS levels in the Assabet 1A water supply well. Kim Kastens submitted individual comments in support of trying this experiment. The first release into the sewer system has been made, and no adverse effects were observed at the town wastewater treatment facility.
With respect to the town water study approved by Town Meeting in 2017, the Select Board approved a proposal by the town Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) to focus the initial phase of the water study on the Great Road Corridor, tying in with the Great Road Revitalization activities underway with town ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funding.
With respect to the River Street Dam removal, the town has hired Andy McGee as project lead for this complicated project. In presentations to the Historical Commission in Nov 2021 and ConsCom in Jan 2022, he explained that all parts of the dam, except the north and south abutments, must be removed to meet the hydrologic standards of the Office of Dam Safety. Lucy Kirshner is following this issue for Water Committee.
Plastics
GA Plastics Subcommittee Report
1/11/2022
We are requesting to be on the agenda of the Feb. 8, 2022 Green Acton meeting to ask for Green Acton’s endorsement of 2 by-laws at the May 16 Town Meeting. Peter Berry will join me for that meeting.
A Polystyrene and Plastic Reduction by-law
and
Authorize the Select Board to Petition the General Court to Adopt Legislation-An Act Authorizing the Town of Acton to Establish a Fee for a Checkout Bag Charge
I am attaching a summary of each bill. Both are in the final stages. We are reporting back to the Select Board about alternatives for polystyrene and plastic utensils and financial implications and to the Board of Health with scientific studies about the effects of polystyrene on health. We are also discussing the amount of the bag fee with Christine Russell of the Fincom.
The by-laws should be in final form by the February meeting.
Thank you
Carolyn Platt and Caroline Tripp
Polystyrene and Disposable Plastic Reduction
Summary of Proposed By-law 1/10/22
Proposed for May 18, 2022 Acton Town Meeting
What would be banned?
x Styrofoam and clear rigid polystyrene disposable food ware
x Styrofoam packing materials and unencapsulated foam products such as coolers, noodles
x Disposable plastic utensils including plastic chopsticks, straws and stirrers
What will be acceptable?
Reusable products
Biodegradable or industrially compostable products
Recyclable products such as aluminum
Paper
Bamboo, wood
Food-safe plastics such as Polyethylene, Polypropylene
Ask your supply distributor for non-polystyrene products
Who will be affected by the new law?
All food and retail establishments in the Town of Acton
When would the by-law go into effect?
January 1, 2023
Are there exceptions to the proposed by-law?
Items purchased or prepared and packaged outside the Town of Acton.
Food establishments may provide disposable plastic utensils upon request to a person in need due to a disability or medical condition.
Board of Health can exempt businesses from bylaw provisions up to 6 months upon request.
Who will oversee compliance?
The Board of Health or health agent.
What are the penalties? 1st Written, 2nd $50, subsequent $300.
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Authorize the Select Board to Petition the General Court to Adopt Legislation-
An Act Authorizing the Town of Acton to Establish a Fee for a Checkout Bag Charge
Summary of final draft of Proposed By-law 1/10/22
What is the goal of a fee for checkout bags?
The goal is to incentivize customers to reuse checkout bags (the most environmentally sustainable and economic option) by charging a bag fee.
How much is the fee?
The fee would be equal to or greater than TBD (at least $.10) per checkout bag.
Who gets the money? Monies collected shall be retained by the retail establishment.
Who would be affected?
Any retail establishment that makes available check out bags
Free reusable bags will be made available to customers who cannot afford reusable bags.
Who will oversee compliance of this by-law? The Health Agent for the Acton Board of Health or his/her designee will have the authority to enforce this by-law.
When will this by-law go into effect? It will go into effect if and when the General Court adopts this legislation.