ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2019.03.18 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 2 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL Monday, March 18, 2019 TCAT Main Conference Room Final Minutes Attendance Member Seat Member Seat Sharon Anderson E Cooperative Extension Brian Rahm P Environment Fay Benson E Agriculture Elizabeth Thomas P At-Large Chris Bordlemay Padilla P Water Purveyor Linda Wagenet P At-Large Cynthia Brock P Municipal Mara Alper E Associate Liz Cameron P Co. Environmental Health Annie Bastoni P Associate Amanda Champion P County Government Bill George E Associate Barry Goodrich P Watershed Organization Roxy Johnston P Associate Ed Gottlieb A At-Large Dooley Kiefer P Associate Michelle Henry P EMC Representative Jose Lozano P Associate Marina Howarth A At-Large Todd Miller P Associate Kristen Hychka P Municipal Government Niamh O’Leary P Associate Emelia “Mia” Jumbo A At-Large Steve Penningroth P Associate Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Elaine Quaroni E Associate Lynn Leopold P Municipal Government Marjory Rinaldo-Lee A Associate Jon Negley P Soil & Water Cons. District Joanne Trutko E Associate Frank Proto P At-Large Tom Vawter A Associate Guests: Susan Allen-Gil, Dave Bouldin, Lucas Jacasin Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – Michelle Henry expressed interest in having updates on water quality projects or activities around the Tompkins County watershed included as part of WRC monthly meetings. Jon Negley offered to provide a report in June and discuss it further “off-line” after today’s meeting. Agenda Review/Changes – Cynthia asked to add discussion on Clean Water Act before committee reports start. Presentation: Assessment of Emerging Contaminants in the Ithaca NY Area 2014-15 – J. Lozano & S. Allen-Gil Jose Lozano, in his role as lab director at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF), and guest Susan Allen-Gil, who teaches at Ithaca College, presented findings from their study on emerging contaminants in the Ithaca area (2014-15). In particular, they assessed the presence of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and consumer products in the southern Cayuga Lake watershed. They gave a presentation to the WRC about two years ago when they first started collecting data and explained that it takes the USGS about two years to provide sampling results. Their study, which featured nine sampling events, seven sites, and over 200 compounds, is one of the most comprehensive undertaken on emerging contaminants in the United States. The presentation can be found on the WRC website for more details. They tested both raw and treated drinking water as well as surface waters. In the former group, Six Mile Creek water was found to be cleaner than Fall Creek water, and metformin (diabetes medication), atrazine, nicotine, and acetaminophen were found most often and at highest concentrations. In the latter, seven compounds (two pesticides, two pharmaceuticals, one PCDU compound, and two others) were present in 25% of samples. When comparing Cayuga Lake to other New York State waterbodies, atrazine and metformin ranked in the 90th percentile. However, the emerging contaminants discovered in the surface and drinking water samples are on par with (and in some cases less than) those found in streams around the state. Jose and Susan also talked about the IAWWTF’s performance at removing emerging contaminants and compared the number of contaminants removed from effluent versus present in biosolids. Page 2 of 2 Regarding the high levels of plasticizers found in wastewater, Frank Proto expressed concern about how all the new development in our area, especially in the City of Ithaca, might worsen the situation and thus make educating the public on emerging contaminants even more critical; however, how does one get the word out and what would the word be? As Lynn Leopold commented, a key takeaway from Jose and Susan’s research is that changes in policy and consumer behavior regarding plastics in food and clothing are crucial. An educational invite-only boat tour aboard the MV Teal is scheduled for June 19 (rain date is June 26). Jose will share information as it becomes available. In addition, an exhibit on microplastics and other emerging contaminants is planned for the Cayuga Nature Center as are more informal events on the MV Teal. Welcome and Introduction of New Member Elizabeth Thomas – Cynthia welcomed new at-large member Liz Thomas to the WRC. Everyone introduced themselves. Action: Approval of February 2019 Minutes – Darby Kiley made a motion, seconded by Amanda Champion, to approve the Feb. 25, 2019, minutes. Motion carried with one edit: on page 2, the language in the third motion recorded was changed from “adopting” to “adopting/accepting.” Public Comment Period on Proposed Changes to Clean Water Act Open until April 15th The public has until April 15th to submit comments on the proposed changes to definitions of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) in the Clean Water Act. The revisions would reverse clarifications made to the definitions in 2015. To meet the April 15th deadline, the WRC would need to appoint a subcommittee to draft comments for the Executive Committee to sign on behalf of the WRC. Action: A motion was made by Lynn Leopold, with a second from Linda Wagenet, to have Roxy Johnston, and Brian Rahm draft comments on the proposed revisions to the WOTUS definitions in the Clean Water Act for the Executive Committee to approve on behalf of the Water Resources Council. Dooley Kiefer would advise on content development for the letter based on her research into the topic. Motion carried. Committee Reports (as needed) Monitoring Partnership – Roxy Johnston The TMDL is in the final stages of review. Tony Prestigiacomo, of the NYSDEC Watershed Hub, hopes it will be released for public comment later this spring. Chair’s Report Cynthia, along with Hilary Lambert and Tee-Ann Hunter, attended a meeting of the Water Quality Management Agency of Cayuga County, which is the Cayuga County version of the WRC, to learn more about the proposed revisions to the Owasco Lake Watershed Rules and Regulations. The draft document will be out soon for public comment and be presented to the Owasco Town Board on March 28th. Cynthia suggested inviting Stephen Lynch, Director of Cayuga County Planning and Economic Development, to speak to the WRC on the process they have undertaken to develop the Owasco WRR. In addition, at the Water Quality Management Agency meeting Steve Penningroth gave a presentation on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Staff Report -- None Member Announcements • Todd Miller reported on the “HABs in Owasco Lake Symposium,” which he attended March 9th in Auburn. • The Save the Rain event at The Space @ Greenstar was cancelled for tonight (March 18th). Adjournment – Chair Cynthia Brock adjourned the meeting at 5:50 pm.