Green First Ken Moraff, EPA New England Falmouth, MA 12/8/11 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

‘Green First’ Ken Moraff, EPA New England Falmouth, MA 12/8/11 Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintagehalloweencollector/3619346215/

Causal Relationships for Narragansett Bay Storm-water Disposable runoff Watershed Atmospheric Emissions & VMT Fertilizer use income GDP deposition reductions CSO tunnels Society ISDSs (Septics & Agriculture BMPs Cesspools) Municipal tax LID and GI revenue ISDSs Improved Energy use improvements treatment Property values Resident beach Tourism Commercial shell & Recreational Wastewater visits fin fishing shell & fin fishing facilities Nitrogen Economy loadings Fin Fish Pathogen Fish kill Eelgrass Near-shore Benthic abundance probability turbidity loading abundance Increased Climate Aquaculture change Legend Micro-algal Sea lettuce Rain blooms blooms Active element Temperature Causal Link Environment Intervention Wind Waterway Dissolved Stratification Inactive engineering oxygen components Tides 3

Overview of Modeling Approach 4

For illustration purposes – model still under development

For illustration purposes – model still under development

For illustration purposes – model still under development

For illustration purposes – model still under development

For illustration purposes – model still under development

Potential Modeled Policy Interventions – Narragansett – Upgrades to wastewater treatment plants – Sewer overflow abatement – Septic system repair or phase-out – Low-impact development – Stormwater remediation – Wetland/salt marsh restoration or construction – Land-care practices – Boating “no discharge” zones – NOx controls on air pollution sources – Bioharvesting of shellfish and algae – Others … 11 11

Causal Relationships for Narragansett Bay Storm-water Disposable runoff Watershed Atmospheric Emissions & VMT Fertilizer use income GDP deposition reductions CSO tunnels Society ISDSs (Septics & Agriculture BMPs Cesspools) Municipal tax LID and GI revenue ISDSs Improved Energy use improvements treatment Property values Resident beach Tourism Commercial shell & Recreational Wastewater visits fin fishing shell & fin fishing facilities Nitrogen Economy loadings Fin Fish Pathogen Fish kill Eelgrass Near-shore Benthic abundance probability turbidity loading abundance Increased Climate Aquaculture change Legend Micro-algal Sea lettuce Rain blooms blooms Active element Temperature Causal Link Environment Intervention Wind Waterway Dissolved Stratification Inactive engineering oxygen components Tides 12

Define goal that reflects a full range of considerations Set limits Ensure that full range of issues is analyzed in planning process Phase the schedule – to allow piloting/testing of new Require planning/action technologies/approaches (so plan can evolve over time) Set schedules Include mechanism to substitute sustainable approaches identified in the future

Thank You moraff.ken@epa.gov