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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 05082023 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary May 8t'', 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Veronica Penn Beattie, Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Regina Baratta, Reade Oakley, Jessie Birckhead, Andrea Zimmerman (via Zoom), Kim Livingston, Geneva Gray, Ian Morse (via Zoom), Kim Piracci Absent: David N. Mcnelis, Jane Harris Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Himi,Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen I. Call to Order Veronica Penn Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda None. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—April 10t'',2023 Motion to approve by Regina Baratta; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. "Industrial Toxins in Drinking Water" -Presentation Emily Sutton from the Haw River Assembly attended the meeting via Zoom and gave a presentation titled"PFAS & 1,4-Dioxane in the Haw River...Where are We Now." There is significant industrial discharge going into the Haw River causing the problem, but land applied bio solids is also a big issue. Here in Orange County, the Cane Creek Reservoir has been affected by land application contamination. The EPA is currently working on Maximum Contamination Loads and the Haw Rivers Assembly is urging DEQ to apply Technology-Based Effluent Limits to NPDES permittees. In regards to cleanup,the cost is so high for the end user that the Haw River Assembly is pushing for cleanup costs to be on the polluters. Emily urged the CFE to push for local government and public support. V. Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project Wesley Poole gave the CFE a brief update on the County's participation in the Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project (TAWSMP). The County is currently in Phase IX of the Project and it will last for five years, from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027. Orange County contributes $16,534 per year towards the effort. The primary objectives of the TAWSMP are to continue monitoring water quality at a network of 21 water- Page 1 of 3 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary May 8th12023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting supply reservoir and stream sites and streamflow at 10 gaging stations, and to provide new information on the occurrence and distribution of contaminants of concern to water suppliers. They are continuing to monitor bromide and 1,4-dioxane at sites with previous occurrences, and will be conducting a one-year sampling campaign across all sites for PFAS starting this Fall. This study will provide policy makers and water-resources managers with information essential for protecting drinking-water supplies. VI. Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan Kim Livingston led a presentation to the CFE of the Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan. The initial meeting with Eno-New Hope stakeholders started back in 2015. The 3 guilds being focused on are the eastern box turtle,the bobcat, and the 4-toed salamander. They would like to see the new data incorporated into the updated Comprehensive Plan by replacing the corridor portion of the resource protection areas with the corridors from the Eno-New Hope Plan. Kim asked the CFE to support this effort and take a Resolution to the BOCC. Kim Livingston, Kim Piracci and Geneva Gray volunteered to draft a Resolution for review at the next meeting. VII. Earth Day/Evening Celebration—Overview All events were rained out so not much to discuss. The Blackwood Farm Grand Opening will be on May 19th 11 AM-2PM and their will be a tabling opportunity for CFE members to help Amy Eckberg if they would like. VIII. Updates and Information Items • Kalani Allen notified the CFE that Little River Regional Park would host a Year of the Trail hike on Saturday June 3rd and that they were looking for volunteers from advisory boards to help. Jessie Birckhead, Regina Baratta, Kristie Mather, and Ian Morse volunteered. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the 2nd year of the Solarize the Triangle campaign. There will be an official kickoff at Hi-wire Brewing on May 15th from 6-8PM. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Climate Action Plan. The recent County staff focus group meeting and survey was a success. They are going to keep the community client survey open through the end of May to get more responses. • Veronica Penn Beattie informed the CFE that she was the current representative from the CFE for the Intergovernmental Parks Working Group and that they meet twice per year. Kim Livingston said that she also attends on behalf of the Eno River Page 2 of 3 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary May 8th12023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Association and can wear two hats if need be. Veronica said she would continue to go. • Kim Livingston notified the CFE that the Panther Branch Natural Area opening had been moved to May 18th from 5-7PM. • Kim Piracci asked staff about the US 70 Multimodal Corridor Study and Chris Hirni stated what he knew. Kim will reach out to Nishith Trivedi about the details and let the CFE know what she finds out. IX. Adjournment Kim Piracci motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:57 pm; seconded by Reade Oakley; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 3 of 3