APNAG Description The Air Force Center for
Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) has committed to reducing phosphorus impacts to Ashumet
pond that are related to the operation of the former MMR wastewater treatment plant
(closed 1995). Since 1997, AFCEE has proposed several different types of projects for
reducing phosphorus impacts to the pond. Scientific studies related to the MMR wastewater
treatment plant plume have been ongoing for many years. These studies as well as studies
about the ecological health of Ashumet Pond have greatly intensified during the past few
years and a large amount of data has been collected from Ashumet Pond. This data helps
AFCEE to better understand the unique and complex nature of Ashumet Pond’s ecology
and nutrient impacts from the plume. Numerous public meetings have been held by AFCEE to
provide the public with an opportunity to discuss the results of these studies and plans
for reducing phosphorus impacts to the pond. Scientists, who performed many of the
studies, have been present at these meetings to explain what the data means in terms of
the pond’s ecological health. Additionally,
AFCEE also has presented its strategies for reducing phosphorus impacts to the pond at
APNAG meetings. The APNAG was created as a mechanism to gather public input on the proposed phosphorus reduction projects. AFCEE hosted a scoping meeting to discuss the creation of a local advisory group for Ashumet Pond on May 4, 2000. AFCEE invited many of the active participants from previous meetings held about Ashumet Pond, local officials, state regulatory representatives and residents that have historically exhibited an interest in the pond. At this meeting, attendees were solicited for their level of interest in creating an advisory group. All attendees agreed that the issues involved in this project were complex and that a local citizen advisory group would be helpful in not only providing feedback for AFCEE on its proposed strategies, but would help all interested citizens better understand the ecology and nutrient dynamics of Ashumet Pond. The group then discussed the advisory group’s mission, membership and role with AFCEE, regulators, and the general public. Please refer to this information.
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