[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6383032,"mediaKeyId","2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997","parentId",2125637,"title","Board of Health hears new PFAS groundwater and well results; town outlines testing, treatment and funding steps","audioSeconds",4105,"startMs",164000,"endMs",4269000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997&start=164&end=4269","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997/thumbnail_164000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6383032/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Board-of-Health-hears-new-PFAS-groundwater-and-well-results-town-outlines-testing-treatment-and-funding-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383032-33af3af673b6e47fb755e7c43fa9e593/orig.mp4?Expires=1774938088&Signature=ce3a8W9-pgvowqj-yJTXC-KuhExRS2BdD7wLRMWVXs7IPa11vrTF7XBlmYIZcF3QC13rNQj3aVkw4w3exjJFXDUhR4cLApbjB1s331I5EWG8XD6jrQKnKGXyfap-9MOZhzuDxstu6NkOUb~VQPUQDgtG4gkf-eFWWKy2lJNa3emK5tKRXjP0Hojggi3GLTclMbUKW-hvRY-pJtl-MDAz6qcAH9~D--nAVGiVLQQe1otW-pusEDzfBj0EmD1~cXuLAWFJIYJ8AhRmKLzwMhOdgW1vWZN-5sFJRzUPdF0NN-2cfj3pVdZdkbzQ-ed7meDHmbs68a4py4PzV4alnYEKmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-01-17T11:28:29Z","article","NANTUCKET, Mass. — Town staff updated the Nantucket Board of Health on Jan. 16 about ongoing investigations into PFAS contamination near the Fairgrounds and in parts of the island’s shallow aquifer, and described steps the town is taking to test private wells, treat an impacted municipal well and set aside funds for further response.

Greg Timman, assistant town manager, summarized municipal work that began after a 2019 notice tied to firefighter-foam releases at the airport and said the town has since spent millions on studies, contracts and targeted infrastructure. “Since 2020 the town has appropriated about $15,000,000 … to allocate amongst different departments to better understand” PFAS sources and receptors, Timman said.

The nut graf: Town and state testing has detected PFAS in several shallow groundwater monitoring wells at the Fairgrounds site and at Wannacomet Water Company’s Well 15, officials said. Staff described work now under way — monthly sampling, proposed treatment for Well 15, a possible pilot to remove PFAS from wastewater influent and improved public notification of private-well results — and said funding and permitting steps are being pursued to keep treatment and replacement options available.

Mark Willett, the town’s water department manager, described the discovery at a Wannacomet well. “Through our routine sampling, we had a hit in Well 15… that well was over the 20 part limit. So it is off,” Willett said, adding that Well 15 and nearby Well 16 sit in a shallow, upper aquifer that is hydrologically separate from deeper drinking-water sources used year-round. He said the town and Wannacomet have taken the precaution of turning Well 15 offline and are designing a treatment system so the well can be returned to service before the summer season.

Willett said the treatment system design is under way and that the town expects to change carbon/resin canisters about once a year; spent media would be handled by a hazardous-waste contractor and shipped off-island under manifest. He estimated construction of a treatment system for Well 15 would likely be “a couple $1,000,000.” He also described a larger, new deep well at the North Pasture site that is under MassDEP review and could add high-capacity, deeper-source supply if approved.

Chuck Larson, senior project manager, reviewed MassDEP’s recently completed monitoring-well installation and sampling at the Fairgrounds campus. Larson said a 12-well network installed for MassDEP produced mostly low detections but included a monitoring well “just over 20 nanograms per liter” (the MassDEP groundwater screening level referenced at the meeting) near a police station geothermal supply well; three monitoring wells were non-detect. He cautioned the results are preliminary and that MassDEP and the town’s consultant TRC will analyze the full laboratory suite (method 1633), which includes many PFAS analytes beyond the six typically reported.

Larson also raised a potential concern about groundwater pumping and geothermal reinjection: some geothermal systems at similar depths elsewhere on the island have the potential to move PFAS into deeper aquifers if reinjection is not carefully managed.

Town staff described a set of parallel projects already funded or in progress: the Fairgrounds MassDEP site investigation (Verdantas, contractor), landfill groundwater sampling that includes MassDEP participation, wastewater-treatment influent monitoring (third year) that is leading toward a $2.5 million pilot to test foam-fractionation PFAS removal and a voluntary water-main expansion west of the airport funded in part with an $8.3 million zero-interest State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan.

On private wells, Andrew Shapiro, the town’s new environmental contaminant administrator, said a private-well testing regulation that took effect Jan. 1, 2024 requires testing ahead of property transfers and that the health department will promote compliance. “I am currently thinking through ways to make that data available through some sort of de-identified map,” Shapiro said, adding that MassDEP recommends private-well testing in a one-mile radius around detected sources.

Public commenters and board members pressed for faster, clearer public notification and broader disclosure of private-well results. Several residents who live near Toms Way and the Fairgrounds said they did not learn of nearby testing or the detection in Well 15 until they were already exposed. Board member Meredith said public disclosure is a health priority and urged staff to publish street-level information; Andrew Shapiro said he is exploring a de-identified one-mile-radius mapping approach that would follow MassDEP guidance while protecting property-level privacy.

Board members and staff also discussed the cost of system-wide treatment if PFAS standards are tightened by federal or state regulators. Willett said treating Well 15 is a high near-term priority and estimated “a couple $1,000,000” to build a system for that shallow well; he said treating every town well in the worst-case scenario could reach tens of millions of dollars. Timman noted the town still has roughly $2 million unencumbered in existing PFAS funds and proposed an additional $1,000,000 article before the town to keep funds available for MassDEP-related needs.

Next steps

- Town and Wannacomet will continue monthly sampling of wells in the affected area (wells 12, 15 and 16) and are designing a treatment system for Well 15, with the aim to have it operating before summer.
- MassDEP will finalize its report on the Fairgrounds monitoring-well round; town consultants (TRC, CDM Smith) will analyze the broader method-1633 results.
- Town staff will publish testing results and explore a public, de-identified map showing areas within one mile of confirmed detections; private-well test kits remain available through the health department.

Why this matters: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent compounds linked in studies to health risks at high exposures. Nantucket officials said recent sampling indicates detectable PFAS across several monitoring wells and one municipal well in the upper aquifer; staff framed the response around limiting human exposure, pinpointing sources where possible and pursuing treatment pilots and infrastructure to protect the municipal water supply.

The board asked staff to provide regular updates; staff proposed quarterly briefings and said they will continue public outreach and enforcement of the private-well sampling regulation that took effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Ending: The Board of Health scheduled continued PFAS reporting and said it will revisit public-notification proposals and capital funding requests as technical results from MassDEP and town consultants arrive.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Board of Health - January 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","NANTUCKET, Mass. — Town staff updated the Nantucket Board of Health on Jan. 16 about ongoing investigations into PFAS contamination near the Fairgrounds and in parts of the island’s shallow aquifer, and described steps the town is taking to test private wells, treat an impacted municipal well and set aside funds for further response.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6383022,"Votes at a glance: Board of Health approves minutes, several septic/sewer loans and continues two public hearings",7549,108000,7657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997&start=108&end=7657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6383022/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-of-Health-approves-minutes-several-septicsewer-loans-and-continues-two-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383022-37213199490216b557058ded24e5aeae/orig.mp4?Expires=1774938088&Signature=MenwsMaGRH~S322wxw2c3Dsn7kqpGcA~Xi~mnJ5y53sEqkYQrlx5QSzTxifhFWxeFMhu7GOLLE2W8F6SeVZutPRaS6v2wTCOMr8Zw1AeGaQBPIZLSOiRWmOC61pg2ZsxsAky-cOIgufvJ2zWrWRcDAJq6sJ7tbBy~eToeomnDv5v3JOsevqOAdE3zzTSPYKyYzP0BqNg4f2k2rOxUaxXotd9YCWMIvCKj6-Thva1mv--4Pwd5twppgleq2-8UWXjnLphtpsipfdAuW4jAAbD~8zr0amu8Ghl7YUyUagjX0NgiSLSipcuwVDkHJEM~O1N2Uv7traZWSF8NhD1VAkpGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NANTUCKET, Mass. — The Nantucket Board of Health took a string of procedural and funding votes at its Jan. 16 meeting, approving minutes, several septic- and sewer-related loan requests, removing a betterment lien and continuing two pending public hearings.

Lede: The board approved minutes and multiple loan requests by roll call and continued two hearings that remain open for follow-up.

Key votes and outcomes (at-a-glance)

- Approval of Dec. minutes — Approved by roll call. Recorded ayes included: Carrie, Meredith, Anne, James and the chairman.

- 6 Squam Road — Removal of betterment lien: Motion to remove the betterment lien was approved by the board (recorded ayes during roll call included multiple board members); staff will remove the lien and update town records.

- 28 Tennessee — Loan request for septic repair (IA system); approved at 50% assistance (property identified as not primary residence). Motion passed by roll call (aye votes recorded).

- 48 Hammock Pond Road — Retraction of an earlier loan and approval of an increased loan (new amount $40,825) to cover revised septic/sewer connection costs; approved (board authorized retraction and approved the new loan request by roll call).

- 4 Main Avenue — Septic loan request for replacement IA system (Madaket area); approved at 50% assistance; vote passed by roll call.

- 34 Hinsdale Avenue — Public hearing regarding corrective orders and required work remains open; the board found the septic had been pumped but ordered remaining corrective work (including mold remediation tied to an occupant) remain outstanding and continued the hearing until the outstanding items are resolved.

Procedural notes: Several loan approvals included the standard assistance policy (50% for non-primary residences) and were approved with roll-call or voice votes that recorded board members saying “aye.” For properties within sewered watersheds, board action approved loans to tie failed septic systems to the municipal sewer where allowed.

Why this matters: The board’s loan approvals unlock funding to fix failed septic systems and, in some cases, connect properties to town sewer — both actions intended to protect public health and water quality. Continued hearings preserve oversight for unresolved compliance issues.

Ending: The board instructed staff to record the approved actions, proceed with lien removals and loan paperwork, and to provide updates on ongoing public-hearing items at future meetings.","At the Jan. 16 meeting the Nantucket Board of Health approved minutes, approved several septic-repair and sewer-connection loans (many at 50% assistance for non-primary residences), removed a betterment lien and continued open hearings on a rental sale and a corrective-order matter.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6383027,"Board of Health opens public hearing on events at short-term rentals; attorney presents three regulatory options",1220,4548000,5768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997&start=4548&end=5768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125637-42962398214bd6a54bebd9afc9cf0997/thumbnail_4548000.jpg","/articles/6383027/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Board-of-Health-opens-public-hearing-on-events-at-short-term-rentals-attorney-presents-three-regulatory-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383027-6fee006887bdb0436eb2c7f0968941d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1774938088&Signature=QoPxAg-gWnvnP4QKzQXgpKrSmEmaFHlk7S41tIvUDSX-tVAzMFyD4yRFH6kbMlS4Z5JJ0gYLc-gByqCQCxNYyNIX5qTO5hg8WI5NCMvE120fmuWnyBSaxUEJZjtNHbIUKXfUBnmq6rDD0g1Oa3KnLHHGJ2cUZiDHOdGlWb3mVsrcld4t5IwVvScBTXVoTsT-YBNx1tz0c9kenZOpO8--kbEcsFK8maYu4rD6CdAHUvq03fE74Z7L3i3DY0HlCQyexuImRHxqu8ShcRI3BifYxofIWH0ucttrPYaR6GR9Ckn3IXSa9J7BGq1fpdra0lpCgssap-tn6PBcOec5~D2Mww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NANTUCKET, Mass. — The Nantucket Board of Health on Jan. 16 opened a public hearing to consider how the town should regulate large events at private homes, particularly when those homes are used as short-term rentals.

Greg Corbeau, town counsel, laid out three general options for the board: do nothing and rely on existing regulations (short-term rental rules, noise bylaw, tent permits and other enforcement tools); amend the short-term rental regulations to require permits or limits for large gatherings at rental properties; or expand permitting requirements to any private residence hosting a large event.

“...there are 3 sort of broad options for the board could take,” Corbeau told the board, summarizing the regulatory approaches he had reviewed. He added that the town could require event plans and conditions — parking, trash, police details, septic/porta-potty arrangements — if it chose a permit route.

Nut graf: Board members and residents said the issue primarily concerns commercial activity that harms neighbors — rentals used as de facto event venues where occupants are not local and on-site stewardship is limited. The board directed staff to draft regulation language that focuses on short-term rentals and to return with options rather than pursue a town-wide prohibition on private-residence events.

Several board members said the main concern is short-term rentals used commercially as event venues where the owner is not present to manage impacts. Board member Carrie said homeowners typically notify neighbors of modest private events; the board’s focus should be commercialized rentals. Board member Kerry and others favored exploring a permit model tied to short-term rental registration and enforcement, while some members cautioned that a town-wide permit requirement for all private gatherings could be overly broad.

Public-commenters and members of the public urged clarity and enforceability. Board members asked staff to catalogue existing regulations (noise, parking, tent permits, septic rules) and to draft proposed short-term-rental amendments that would require notice to abutters, limits on maximum occupancy, and, where necessary, event-specific permits that include a parking and trash plan.

The board voted to continue the public hearing and asked staff to return with draft language and an enforcement plan. The hearing will remain open to take further public input.

Ending: The Board of Health asked town counsel and staff to prepare text for a short-term-rental amendment (focused on large gatherings/events) and to present a draft at the next board meeting for discussion.","The Board opened a public hearing to consider regulating large events at short-term rental properties. An attorney presented three approaches — enforce existing rules, amend short-term rental rules to require permits or prohibit certain gatherings, or expand permitting to all private residences — and the board asked staff to draft options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board of Health hears new PFAS groundwater and well results; town outlines testing, treatment and funding steps

Votes at a glance: Board of Health approves minutes, several septic/sewer loans and continues two public hearings

Board of Health opens public hearing on events at short-term rentals; attorney presents three regulatory options