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FAIRHAVEN
Action Fairhaven is already taking and should continue in 2008 to protect and improve Bay health:
- Providing local funding for the Massachusetts Estuaries Project to assess and develop a plan to reduce nitrogen pollution to Nasketucket Bay. This report is due to be released in 2008.
- Active support of open space acquisitions.
- Participation in regional Oil Spill prevention efforts and in local spill response planning.
- Important steps taken at 2007 Annual Town Meeting to plan for nitrogen reductions at the Fairhaven wastewater treatment plant.
What Fairhaven Can Do:
1. Reduce Nitrogen Pollution
- Work with New Bedford and Acushnet to reduce nitrogen pollution to New Bedford Harbor. In the next few months, the Massachusetts Estuaries Project will release its restoration plan for the Inner Harbor.
- Implement the most cost effective approach to reducing nitrogen pollution from the Fairhaven Wastewater Treatment Plant to New Bedford Harbor.
2. Expand Protection for Wetlands and Stream Buffers
- Establish ‘No-Build Setbacks’ around freshwater and coastal wetlands for all new construction. Falmouth, Bourne, Carver and Rochester all require construction setbacks from wetlands to protect these natural pollution filters.
- Prioritize forest and wetlands when planning for new open space acquisitions, particularly those lands within the Nasketucket River Basin.
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