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Board approves two nitrogen-reduction variances amid wider concern over cumulative impacts
Summary
The Nantucket Board of Health approved variances allowing two properties to install enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic systems so owners can add bedrooms. Board members and staff raised repeated concerns about the cumulative environmental and infrastructure impacts of repeated variances and requested a future policy discussion.
The Nantucket Board of Health on March 20 approved variances allowing two properties to install enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic systems that would permit each house to expand from three to four bedrooms.
The variances apply to a property in the Hammock Pond watershed at 57 Madaket Road and a property on Lovers Lane in the Wellhead Protection District. Board members voted to accept the 57 Madaket Road variance 4–1 and approved the Lovers Lane variance by voice vote.
Board members said the microFAST-style enhanced systems reduce nitrogen loading compared with conventional systems and therefore produce a net benefit at the individual site, but several members warned that approving such requests “one variance at a time” can have cumulative environmental consequences for the island.
Ryan Maxwell, an engineer with Bracken Engineering, said the…
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