Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel
- Purpose
- Membership
- Charter
- Meeting Notes and Agendas
- Links
- Revisions to Monitoring Plan and Contingency Plan
- Questions/Comments
Purpose
To advise the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) on scientific and technical matters related to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's Boston outfall and any potential impacts of the discharge on its receiving waters.
Membership
- Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) Membership
- Public Interest Advisory Committee (PIAC) Membership
- Inter-Agency Advisory Committee (IAAC) Membership
2021 Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) Membership
Members
November 4, 2021
Judith Pederson (Chair)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Robert Beardsley
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Peter Burn
Suffolk University
Virginia P. Edgcomb
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Loretta Fernandez
Northeastern University
Robert Kenney
University of Rhode Island
Mark R. Patterson
Northeastern University
Jeffrey Rosen
Corona Environmental Consulting
Juliet C. Simpson
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Juanita Urban-Rich
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Public Interest Advisory Committee (PIAC) Membership
Purpose
To advise the OMSAP, EPA and MADEP on public concerns related to the environmental monitoring associated with the MWRA outfall.
Members
March 2, 2022
Bruce Berman (chair)
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Priscilla Brooks
Conservation Law Foundation
Robert Buchsbaum
Massachusetts Audubon
Sarah Oktay
Center for Coastal Studies
Pam DiBona
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Andreae Downs
MWRA Wastewater Advisory Committee
Joe Favaloro
MWRA Advisory Board
Heather McElroy
Cape Cod Commission
Jo Ann Muramoto
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Jack Murray
Boston Harbor Now
Vi Patek
Safer Waters in Massachusetts
Inter-Agency Advisory Committee (IAAC) Membership
Purpose
To advise the OMSAP on regulatory matters related to discharges from and operations of the MWRA outfall.
Members
March 2, 2022
Todd Callaghan
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management
Ben Haskell
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Aaron Hopkins
US Army Corps of Engineers
Jeff Kennedy
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Alexa Sterling
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Christine Vaccaro
NOAA Fisheries
Cathy Coniaris
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Prassede Vella
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Charter
The two entities responsible for administering the permit - the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) - shall appoint a scientific and technical advisory panel to advise them on all scientific and technical matters related to the outfall and the impacts of the discharge on the receiving waters, both near-field and far-field. The Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel is referred to hereafter as the OMSAP, or simply as the Panel.
The OMSAP shall be appointed by the New England Regional Administrator of EPA and the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Membership shall be restricted to scientists and engineers who are recognized for their expertise within their fields, and for their knowledge of the coupled aquatic system: Boston Harbor-Massachusetts Bay-Cape Cod Bay-Gulf of Maine--that makes up the near-field and far-field receiving waters.
Because of the importance of framing scientific and technical issues in the context of those environmental values and uses important to society, the Regional Administrator and the Commissioner shall also appoint a standing committee advisory to the OMSAP. The committee shall be convened by the OMSAP and shall report to the OMSAP. Membership of the committee shall be drawn from environmental groups, non-governmental organizations, and academia.
Because of the importance of framing scientific and technical issues in the context of environmental regulations, the Regional Administrator and the Commissioner shall also appoint an inter-agency standing committee advisory to the OMSAP to ensure that the OMSAP recommendations have the benefit of information from the regulating community. The committee shall be convened by the OMSAP and shall report to the OMSAP. Membership of the committee shall be drawn from state and federal agencies.
Among the most important areas the OMSAP shall concentrate on are:
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Review the results of the outfall monitoring program.
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Advise EPA and the MADEP if and when there are National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and contingency plan threshold exceedances, recommend any actions that may be needed to protect human and ecosystem health, and evaluate the appropriateness of threshold levels.
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Review and provide recommendations for revision of the outfall monitoring program to ensure that it is capable of detecting changes at an early enough stage to allow action to prevent any unacceptable impacts of the discharge on public health or on the marine environment and its biota.
The OMSAP may form focus groups on an ad hoc basis whenever specific scientific and technical issues arise which require expanded breadth and depth of expertise than exists within the membership of the OMSAP. All focus groups shall be chaired by OMSAP members. Focus groups shall present their recommendations to the OMSAP and the OMSAP will forward them to the Commissioner and the Regional Administrator along with their recommendations for action.
All OMSAP meetings shall be open to the public. The OMSAP shall convene a public forum at least once a year to present findings, to explain their significance, and to hear and respond to concerns from the public.
MEMBERSHIP
- The OMSAP shall consist of 11-13 members appointed jointly by EPA and the MADEP. Membership shall be drawn from, but not limited to, the following areas of expertise:
- fisheries
- phytoplankton
- zooplankton
- marine mammals
- biostatistics
- public health
- aquatic toxicology
- modeling
- benthic biology
- physical oceanography
- nutrient dynamics
- microbiology
- chemical oceanography
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EPA and the MADEP shall appoint a standing committee advisory to the OMSAP, called the Public Interest Advisory Committee (PIAC), which will report to the OMSAP. The PIAC shall consist of no more than 11 members drawn from local non-governmental organizations, academia, and environmental groups. The committee will advise the OMSAP on values and uses of the local natural system important to society.
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EPA and the MADEP shall appoint a standing committee advisory to the OMSAP, called the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee (IAAC), which will report to the OMSAP. The IAAC shall consist of no more than 11 members drawn from state and federal agencies. The committee will advise the OMSAP on environmental regulations.
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Criteria for selection: The initial members of the OMSAP are to be chosen from a list of candidates developed by a selection committee appointed by EPA and the MADEP. The selection committee will review the credentials of each nominee and their relevance to the issues of importance and make recommendations for appointments of members to staggered two or three year terms. Each member may be appointed for two consecutive terms. After two consecutive terms, members must leave the Panel, but may be re-appointed after one year off of the OMSAP. Members of the OMSAP may not be current or imminent contractors to the MWRA, nor may they be employees of any governmental agency in the chain of command. If a member accepts a contract with the MWRA, he/she must resign from the OMSAP.
Membership of the PIAC and the IAAC shall rotate among organizations. OMSAP membership eligibility may include agencies that are not responsible for making direct regulatory decisions. Members of OMSAP, PIAC and IAAC who do not attend meetings on a regular basis may be replaced by the EPA Regional Administrator and the Massachusetts Commissioner, if the Chair of the OMSAP recommends such action.
Meeting Notes and Agendas
For additional information or questions on upcoming OMSAP meetings, please contact Alexa Sterling ([email protected] or 617-918-1580).
Inter-Agency Advisory Committee (IAAC) Meeting Minutes
No subsequent meetings have been scheduled.
- IAAC Meeting April 2002
- IAAC Meeting October 2001
- IAAC Meeting October 1999
- IAAC Meeting May 1999
- IAAC Meeting February 1999
Public Interest Advisory Committee (PIAC) Meeting Minutes
No subsequent meetings have been scheduled.
- PIAC Meeting December 2007 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting August 2006 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting August 2005 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting September 2004 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting November 2003 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting September 2003 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting April 2003 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting January 2003 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting September 2002 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting July 2002 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting April 2002 (pdf)
- PIAC Meeting October 2001
- PIAC Meeting July 2001
- PIAC Meeting April 2001
- PIAC Meeting November 2000
- PIAC Meeting May 2000
- PIAC Meeting October 1999
- PIAC Meeting May 1999
- PIAC Meeting March 1999
- PIAC Meeting December 1998
Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) Meeting Notes and Agendas
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, February 10, 2023 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, February 10, 2023 (pdf)
- OMSAP Final Report of the Framework for Understanding Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Marine Waters, July 2022 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, March 2, 2022 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, March 2, 2022 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, December 6, 2021 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, December 6, 2021 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, May 11, 2021 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, May 11, 2021 (pdf)
- OMSAP Ad Hoc Meeting Agenda, May 19, 2020 (pdf)
- OMSAP Ad Hoc Meeting Notes and Attendance, May 19, 2020 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, October 3, 2019 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, October 3, 2019 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, April 24, 2019 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, April 24, 2019 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, February 28, 2018 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, February 28, 2018 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, October 27, 2016 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Notes and Attendance, October 27, 2016 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, September 23, 2014 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, April 1, 2013 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting Agenda, June 30, 2011 (pdf)
- OMSAP Open Conference Call, October 28, 2009 (pdf)
- OMSAP Open Conference Call, August 18, 2009 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, June 29, 2009 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, December 2, 2008 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, June 10, 2008 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, December 4, 2007 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, August 8, 2006 (pdf)
- Summary of Model Evaluation Group (MEG) Meeting, September 12, 2005 (pdf)
- Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) Meeting, August 11, 2005 (pdf)
- OMSAP Flounder Lesion Focus Group Meeting, March 31, 2005 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, September 27, 2004 (pdf)
- OMSAP Mooring Technologies Workshop, May 19, 2004 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, October 21, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Monitoring Review, July 24, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Monitoring Review, June 18 -19, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Monitoring Review, March 31 - April 1, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Mussel Tissue Contaminant Meeting, March 5, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, January 13, 2003 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, September 24, 2002 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, July 15, 2002 (pdf)
- OMSAP Meeting, April 29, 2002 (pdf)
- OMSAP MEG Meeting, March 18, 2002
- OMSAP Public Workshop, October 23 & 30, 2001
- OMSAP Meeting, October 16, 2001
- OMSAP Meeting, April 4, 2001
- OMSAP MEG Conference Call, March 14, 2001
- OMSAP Meeting, November 16, 2000
- OMSAP Recommendations, July 2000
- OMSAP Meeting, June 21, 2000
- OMSAP Meeting, February 23, 2000
- OMSAP MEG Meeting, December 15, 1999
- OMSAP Public Workshop, September 23-23, 1999
- OMSAP September 22-23, 1999 Abstracts
- OMSAP Meeting, March 22, 1999
- OMSAP Meeting, December 18, 1998
- OMSAP Meeting, October 27, 1998
Links
- NPDES Permit for the MWRA Outfall
- Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- MIT SEA Grant Center for Coastal Resources
- 2300 Days at Sea: Monitoring the Impacts of the Outfall on Massachusetts Bay
- EPA Region 1 Environmental Merit Award Winners 2017
Revisions to Monitoring Plan and Contingency Plan
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Revision 2.1 Report, August 2021 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Annual Revision Approval Letter, January 28, 2021 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Annual Revision Request Letter, November 13, 2020 (pdf)
- OMSAP Support to Approve Proposed Changes to Ambient Monitoring, November 13, 2020 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Interim Revision Approval Letter, July 6, 2020 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Interim Revision Request Letter, June 5, 2020 (pdf)
- MWRA Contingency Plan Threshold Revision 2017 Final Approval, February 15, 2018 (pdf)
- MWRA Contingency Plan Threshold Revision Interim Approval, February 3, 2017 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Floatables Requirement Cessation Approval, June 3, 2013 (pdf)
- MWRA Alexandrium Rapid Response Monitoring Plan Approval, May 15, 2013 (pdf)
- EPA and MassDEP December 6, 2010 letter to MWRA approving the Ambient Monitoring Plan for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Effluent Outfall Revision 2, July 2010 (pdf)
- MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Revision 2, July 2010, Report 2010-04 (pdf)
- OMSAP letter to EPA/MassDEP on 2009 Proposed Revisions to the MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan (pdf)
- Proposed revisions to 2004 Ambient Monitoring Plan
- EPA/MA DEP Letter on MWRA Ambient Monitoring Plan Revisions March 2004 (pdf)
- Ambient Monitoring Plan for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Effluent Outfall, Revision 1, March 2004 (pdf)
- MWRA Phase 2 Post Discharge Effluent Monitoring Plan Report, December 1997 (pdf)
Questions? Comments?
Catherine Coniaris ([email protected])
MA Department of Environmental Protection
Phone: 617-835-6693
Alexa Sterling ([email protected])
USEPA New England Office-Region I
Phone: 617-918-1580