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Select Board presses for feasibility focus as EPA AOC negotiations continue on wastewater plant
Summary
Town staff said they will push back on elements of an EPA draft Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) that would require immediate implementation; the town plans to commission a feasibility‑first study (Black & Veatch amendment) and seek clearer compliance scheduling before committing to construction work.
Town staff and the Select Board spent part of their April 1 meeting on the status of the wastewater treatment plant project and ongoing negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Municipal services lead (speaker 9) told the board that Black & Veatch is reworking flows and loads and that the town will seek an amendment to the engineering contract so the firm can perform a feasibility‑first study. "What we proposed to [EPA] was simply just a study," speaker 9 said. "They took what we characterized as a study and are trying to make us implement any findings. We're going to push back and make sure they understand that a construction schedule is not what we proposed."
The town said EPA’s on‑site inspection appeared to be conducted primarily by the Region 1 compliance division and that EPA staff required clarification about operational details. Town staff plan to submit a formal counterproposal and to meet with EPA, the town attorney and consultants to reach a workable AOC and a reasonable compliance schedule.
Board members expressed concern that AOC language bypassing feasibility work could force premature commitments and escalate costs. Staff said they expect updated engineering work by mid‑ to late‑May and will prepare an amendment to authorize the necessary Black & Veatch tasks at the next meeting.
No firm funding decisions were made; the board directed staff to continue negotiations, obtain a refined project schedule and cost estimate, and discuss possible funding approaches — including a sewer district or phased bond program — so that the town can avoid a large single‑year tax increase if construction is necessary.
