Special Problems 



would be designed to enable towns (in cooperation with applicable state agencies) to 

 consider the cumulative impacts of development on town resources and service needs. (See 

 Local Governments) 



Results of the cumulative impact analysis would be compared with 

 local, state and federal performance standards, and should include, at a 

 minimum, provisions for determination of nutrient loading and 

 consideration of runoff and sedimentation impacts. Falmouth, Massachusetts 

 has applied a subdivision ordinance and analytical methodology which include use of a 

 nutrient loading model that account for inputs from human waste, lawn care, and road 

 runoff. (See Activities in other States) 



**To control adverse impacts on groundwater and on Bay water quality, develop an 

 aggressive public education campaign to inform home-owners regarding proper use, 

 handling, and storage of fertilizers and pesticides. Detailed information on rate and timing 

 of application and irrigation should be included- In critical areas, consider establishing 

 community standards limiting the use of fertilizers on home lawns, and severely restricting 

 use of commercial lawn treatments unless operators conform to established standards. 

 Covenant restrictions containing such standards could be placed on subdivision properties, 

 compounds or other properties potentially contributing significant loadings. 



Similarly, consider establishing policy standards for use of alternative ground cover, 

 focusing on indigenous or introduced species with low level water and nutrient 

 requirements. 



♦♦Using the results of the Environmental Review recommended in the related chapter on 

 ISDS, results of loadings data from state and federal performance standards, nutrient and 

 contaminant loading data assimilated from EIS results, and other available data on the 

 condition of resources, establish a procedure by which town growth and 

 development policy can be revised to consider cumulative impacts of 

 development on natural resources which support public welfare. 



♦♦♦Adjust zoning density to speciflcally consider cumulative impacts of 

 development-related resource contamination, to reflect siting limitations identified 

 in the environmental review or in other research on the carrying capacity of the resource 

 base, and to be consistent with public health protection objectives. 



ROAD DEICING 



Ino-oduction 



Until recentiy, the use of road salt to accelerate melting of ice and snow has steadily 

 accelerated. Between 1972 and 1978, use of road salt by the Rhode Island DepL of 

 Transportation averaged 50,587 tons annually for snow removal on state and interstate 

 roads (Division of Planning, 1981). Both the use and storage of road salt can have several 

 deleterious effects, including: 



• degrading the quality of receiving waters; 



• adversely affecting roadside vegetation; 



• reducing soil permeability; 



• contributing to corrosion of automobile parts; 



156 



