July 8 Cyanobacteria, Alum and Lake Morey - update on permitting process
The Town of Fairlee, Lake Morey Commission, and Solitude Lake Management have an effective partnership with Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in part due to the persistent attention of Lakes and Ponds Manager Oliver Pierson. The Lakes and Ponds program believes that Lake Morey is eligible for an alum treatment. From a permitting perspective, an alum treatment in early summer 2024 is feasible based on recent conversations with DEC Lakes and Ponds. The accelerated funding and Solitude’s rapid completion of the Lake Morey Sediment Study (a.k.a. alum feasibility study) has significantly shortened the timeline. DEC Lakes and Ponds appreciates Lake Morey and Solitude as key sources of valuable scientific data.
Part of what has been time consuming is Vermont’s revision of the State Environmental Review Process (SERP).
Part of what has been time consuming is Vermont’s revision of the State Environmental Review Process (SERP).
- The accelerated funding and Solitude’s rapid completion of the Lake Morey Sediment Study (a.k.a. alum feasibility study) has significantly shortened the timeline. DEC Lakes and Ponds appreciates Solitude as a key source of valuable scientific data.
- Fairlee applied for and was accepted as a Priority Project for Emerging Contaminants by the Clean Water Board, one of only two projects in the state. (The line item from the Draft Intended Use Plan (IUP): Fairlee, Lake Morey Alum Treatment Project, 68 NPS-H 0 0, $790,000, EC)
- At this point, there appears to be just under $1M available in Emerging Contaminants Grant funding, which would be a 100% forgivable loan.
- The revised SERP is currently in internal review, after which a duly warned public meeting will be held on the Draft IUP which will then go out for 30-day public comment.
- Once accepted, the revised SERP is subject to US EPA approval.