^„€osr. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 



S REGION I 



iSEZ 



'/ J.F. KENNEDY FEDERAL BUILDING. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02203-2211 



December 28, 1987 



To Interested Parties Regarding the Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project; 



The Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project (CCAMP) was initiated in 1985 amidst 

 high hopes and exp>ectations from all participating agencies. Not only was 

 it the first truly cooperative project of its kind in which a unique partner- 

 ship was established between EPA Region 1 and other participating governmental 

 agencies, but it was charged with broadly exploring a topic of increased 

 regional concern; integrated and resource-based groundwater management among 

 all levels of government. CCAMP was innovative in that it recognized the 

 need to protect vulnerable areas surrounding groundwater supply wells long 

 before Congress passed the Vfellhead Protection Program as part of the 1986 

 Safe Drinking VJater Act Amendments. 



At a time when staff resources were limited, CCAMP provided an opportunity 

 to explore a new approach to targetting environmental priorities based upon 

 the degree of risk posed to the resource itself. The Project found certain 

 groundv/ater recharge areas were more threatened than others by particular 

 land use activities; these areas require priority attention within management 

 programs at all levels of government. Ihe land use study illustrates the 

 process which may be undertaken to identify these threatening activities and 

 set these priorities. Numerous insightful recommendations put forth by the 

 Institutions Committee outline how these priorities should be incorporated 

 into regulatory programs. 



The Project has focused on an environmental resource for which there is 

 presently minimal national policy guidance, no comprehensive federal regula- 

 tory programs, and few other case studies which provide direction to ground- 

 water managers. Some of the most valuable products of CCA^^P are the in-depth 

 case studies and management tools, guidebooks and conclusions which are 

 transferrable to other New England localities, regional agencies and other 

 states. These will be guides to others who are attenpting to set priorities 

 within their own groundwater management programs. 



The challenge of CCAMP was probably not fully understood by all project 

 participants until the project was underway. The conplexities surrounding 

 groundwater management are numerous and challenge traditional approaches to 

 environmental management. The success of CCAMP was to document this, provide 

 constructive analysis and provide new tools and approaches. I believe this 

 Final Report captures the success of the Project and outlines additional 

 efforts to be made by all of us to inplement an effective groundwater strategy. 



David A. Fierra, Director 

 Water Management Division 

 EPA Region 1 



