Chapter 7 - INSTITUTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS 



Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project Final Report Page 68 



Local boards of health can be very helpful in identifying for the 

 state the businesses and land-use activities that are discharging toxic 

 and hazardous materials without a permit. This is especially important if 

 they are within the recharge area of a public supply well. The towns 

 should inventory all potential sources of contamination ( i.e. . categories 

 of businesses or land-use activities that use or produce especially harm- 

 ful chemicals) within wellhead protection areas to assure they are ade- 

 qately controlled. This will serve as an important complement to the 

 state program. 



7.2.9 Groundwater Classification (See Appendix M) 



DEQE's groundwater classification system is incomplete without the 

 inclusion of a limited anti-degradation provision within vulnerable 

 groundwater -recharge areas. The Department should actively pursue this 

 policy change. In addition, CCAMP supports the stringent review process 

 for the designation of Class III (degraded) areas and would oppose efforts 

 to weaken the current procedures. Finally, classification and permit 

 determinations made by the Division of Water Pollution Control should 

 elicit the comments of the Division of Water Supply to ensure a thorough 

 review of possible impacts to current and future water supplies. 



7.2.10 Hazardous Materials Use and Storage (See Appendix N) 



The large and growing number of businesses that generate small quanti- 

 ties of hazardous waste on Cape Cod, coupled with the vulnerability of the 

 aquifer system, make aggressive regulation of the use, storage and dispos- 

 al of hazardous materials a priority. Fully embracing a comprehensive 

 approach to hazardous -waste management and resource protection will neces- 

 sitate broad management changes. As a first step towards change, CCAMP 

 developed recommendations aimed at improving groundwater protection by 

 increasing the emphasis in hazardous waste regulation and focusing on 

 prevention, planning, education and coordination among state, regional and 

 local levels. 



To encourage compliance from small-waste generators, DEQE must look 

 beyond its strictly defined regulatory role and coordinate with Department 

 of Environmental Managment (DEM) and its Office of Safe Waste Management 

 (OSWM) to engage in outreach, education and planning. The state should 

 provide technical assistance to small businesses and should encourage and 

 fund regional agencies to sponsor outreach programs, 

 hazardous-waste-collection routes, and household-waste collections. The 

 state should also ensure that attention is focused on waste exchange, 

 source reduction and the creation of economic incentives or markets for 

 hazardous waste. 



DEQE should initiate a pilot program in the Southeast Regional Office 

 to conduct facility inspections jointly across DHW and DWPC programs. 

 This approach would foster more efficient and environmentally sound busi- 

 ness practices. An operator would consider the various components of his 



