APPENDIX N 



CAPE COD AQUIFER MANAGEMENT PROJECT (CCAMP) RECOMMENDATIONS 



HAZARDOUS MATERIALS USE AND DISPOSAL 



December 16, 1987 



Introduction 



The large and growing number of businesses that generate small quantities 

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

 system, make aggressive regulation of the use, storage and disposal of hazard- 

 ous materials a priority. The heavy emphasis on the remediation of contaminated 

 sites at both the state and federal levels creates concern that efforts geared 

 towards the prevention of future sites may become secondary. 



The Cape Cod Aquifer Management Project Institutions Committee examined the 

 hazardous waste issue and gathered data on the implementation of hazardous 

 materials regulations in a wellhead protection area on Cape Cod. The investiga- 

 tion has raised more questions than it has answered, particularly concerning 

 the adequacy of the infrastructure at all levels of government to combat hazard- 

 ous waste problems. Fully embracing a comprehensive approach to hazardous 

 waste management and resource protection will necessitate broad management 

 changes. As a first step towards this type of change, CCAMP developed the fol- 

 lowing recommendations aimed at improving groundwater protection by increasing 

 the emphasis in hazardous -waste regulation on prevention, planning, education 

 and coordination among state, regional and local levels. 



The new regulatory program for hazardous -waste management is complex and 

 far-reaching. It affects even small businesses and very small generators of 

 hazardous waste. Complying with the regulations is expensive and may necessi- 

 tate changes in business practices. To encourage compliance, DEQE must look 

 beyond its strictly defined regulatory role and coordinate with DEM/Office of 

 Safe Waste Management (OSWM) to engage in outreach, education and planning. The 

 state should provide technical assistance to small businesses and should encour- 

 age and fund regional agencies to sponsor outreach programs, milk runs, and 

 household waste collections. The state should also ensure that attention is 

 focused on waste exchange, source reduction and the creation of economic incen- 

 tives for waste reduction. 



One of the most important lines of defense against improper hazardous mate- 

 rials handling is provided by the on-site presence of inspectors from various 

 local and state programs. The following recommendations highlight the impor- 

 tance of joint DHW/DWPC inspections and increased coordination between local 

 and state inspections. 



