In response your editorial Jan. 10, promoting the resolution of the Rehoboth Beach wastewater issue, an examination and update of some points of contention. If the outfall proposal process were a civics class in the real world, we could issue a report card to DNREC and the City of Rehoboth. In its own way, the debate represents a teachable moment in a pluralistic, democratic society. Accountability and Transparency: Grade F for both Rehoboth Beach and the environmental groups opposing the ocean outfall alternative. DNREC has closed the door for almost a year on a final review and determination. This is yet another process failure by the state agency responsible for upholding both Delaware and federal regulations.
Compliance with Endangered Species Act: Grade F. As of Nov. 2013, the NOAA Office of Protected Services had not received the final draft of the Environmental Impact Statement for comment. The EPA cannot proceed with issuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit without compliance with all federal agencies. Both the endangered Atlantic Sturgeon and the newly listed Loggerhead sea turtle (threatened status) are under federal review for Critical Habitat (CR) designation. The proposed ocean outfall diffuser will greatly impact their benthic habitat with contaminants. As the East Coast has witnessed with the Unusual Mortality Event in 2013 for the Bottlenose Dolphin, even trace amounts of PCBs, pharmaceuticals, and proprietary endocrine inhibitors bio accumulate in all sea life.
The responsible morbillivirus is a natural occurring, highly-communicable pathogen in cetaceans (dolphins, whales), yet the compromised immune systems of the 1,000 stranded dolphins counted (and many more untold numbers lost at sea) precipitates into a fatal occurrence. Public admonishment and much shame on NOAA and DNREC if they add yet another point source of toxicity in an ocean that is failing to support a sentinel species.
Adherence to principles of Rehoboth City Charter: Grade F. Even if DNREC clearly violates applicable DE 7 Administrative Code laws and issues a permit, the mayor and city commissioners must approve a bond measure to finance the project. In doing so they subject themselves to both a legal review of the process and adherence to community standards, which is defined in Section 1, Article B of the city charter as such; "Except as hereinafter provided in this Charter relative to the power to issue Bonds, The Commissioners shall have all other powers and functions requisite to or appropriate for the government of the City, its peace and order, its sanitation, beauty, the health, safety, convenience, government and well-being of its population, and the protection and preservation of property, public and private, and the maintenance of a permanent seaside resort and the furnishing of proper conveniences and attractions requisite to the same." Teacher’s note: National Resource Defense Council has been apprised of the potential impact on swimmable water quality for this project along with the questionable upgrade of the city’s storm drain system in 2013. Losing the five-star status of the resort beaches presents an economic liability that is untenable. How does an ocean outfall enhance beauty, exactly?
Promoting the Inland Bays, Degrading the Ocean: Grade F. Trading the health of one ecosystem for the degradation of another is disingenuous and more 1954 than 2014. Rehoboth Beach and DNREC will have to constantly reassure the public that swimming in the ocean is “safe” despite the wastewater treatment only removing at best 50 percent of pharmaceutical load, adding thousand of pounds of nitrogen and phosphates which can trigger HABs; harmful algae blooms or red tides impairing respiratory abilities in beach goers. These HABs enter the marine life cycle as a biotoxin, a component of the food web. The ocean outfall would be at maximum capacity during the tourist season, some eight million gallons per day. Also, the Rehoboth wastewater treatment facility was fined twice by DNREC in 2013 for procedural violations. Is the city up to the task for preserving the well-being of the population? Class dismissed.
Time for everyone concerned to preserve the health of the ocean, the vital economic engine of our coastal environment in Delmarva, and re-think a viable solution for the future. Clean oceans, clean bays, clean economy, clean Delaware.
Gregg W. Rosner
West Fenwick Island
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
