Duxbury Joins Regional Age-Friendly Initiative, Takes Stand Against Nuclear Wastewater Evaporation
Selectboard approves support for OCPC's AARP designation request and sends letter to state officials about Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station concerns
DUXBURY - June 2 - The Duxbury Selectboard has approved a letter of support for the Old Colony Planning Council's application for regional age-friendly designation from AARP, highlighting the town's commitment to improving livability for older adults.
During their June 2 meeting, the board heard from OCPC representatives about the benefits of the regional designation, which would build upon work already done in individual communities.
Mary Waldron, executive director of OCPC, explained that several municipalities in their 17-community region have already received age-friendly designations, including Duxbury.
"It has come to our attention that we could apply for regional designation," Waldron said. "We could apply for the whole region and be working with all of our communities."
Paul Umano, Senior Grant Specialist for OCPC, emphasized that the regional designation would allow them to continue developing age-friendly plans and "open up the door to more grant opportunities."
When questioned about potential requirements or obligations, Waldron assured the board there are "no strings attached" to the designation.
"The work that we apply for this regional status does not affect anything that has happened with the town in terms of your recent age-friendly plan," she said.
Selectboard Chair Brian Glennon noted Duxbury's active involvement in age-friendly initiatives through its Livable Duxbury group, formerly known as the Age and Dementia Friendly Task Force.
The board unanimously approved the letter of support, which states that "older adults are essential members of our communities, and our region strives not only to meet their needs, but also to ensure their inclusion in social life and community decision-making."
In a separate action, the board approved a letter to Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell requesting immediate intervention to stop the evaporation of contaminated wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.
Mary Lampert of the Nuclear Advisory Committee presented the issue, explaining that Holtec, the company that purchased the plant in 2019, has been evaporating untreated, radioactively and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater "24/7" since acquiring the facility.
"Duxbury has been a leader in this whole issue of public safety and deposition of the contaminated wastewater," Lampert said. "We took the lead on having the first meeting for the proposal to discharge into the bay."
The letter, approved by Duxbury voters at the annual town meeting, requests state officials enforce existing laws to prevent the discharge into the air. According to Lampert, similar measures have been approved by towns across Cape Cod and coastal southeastern Massachusetts.
"The winds typically blow towards the Cape, but the winds are variable here. And in the summer we have an inversion called the sea breeze effect," Lampert explained. "And so wherever it lands, too bad, whether it's on the beach, in the bay or on somebody's house."
Jim Lampert added that Holtec has evaporated approximately 1 million gallons since 2019, with about 800,000 gallons remaining.
"You'll hear from them, 'No, we're not gonna evaporate, this is all natural evaporation.' Frankly, I don't care what you call it, it's all gonna be gone and it's all going into the air," he said.
The board voted unanimously to approve the letter with an amendment to list all communities that have passed similar measures.
The letter states that evaporation is "occurring all day, every day, in violation of state law and opposing a threat to public safety, health, safety, and our marine-based economy."
It further notes that "Duxbury is a major aquaculture center in the Commonwealth" and that "a healthy and perceived healthy Cape Cod Bay is key to our blue economy."
Other business addressed by the Selectboard:
* Approved a one-day wine and malt license for the Boys and Girls Club Golf Classic at Marshfield Country Club on June 23
* Accepted a donation from Duxbury Youth Baseball of a 35-foot flagpole at Chandler Baseball Field, with Board member Michael McGee noting the organization's "long history of providing a wide array of generous donations to the town"
* Approved a one-day wine and malt license for South Shore Conservatory's music recital on June 27
* Announced the upcoming special town meeting on June 16 at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center
* Announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly created Clancy Playground, in honor of the three Clancy children, at Wadsworth Field on June 7 at 11 a.m.
* Announced a public informational meeting by MassDOT on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. regarding the proposed Powder Point Bridge replacement project
The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 6:30 p.m.