Falmouth Enterprise 12/7/01 By HUGH R. McCARTNEY

The Ashumet Plume Citizens Committee is about to initiate an all-out campaign aimed at reducing use of nitrogen-bearing lawn fertilizers which are damaging the ponds.

The committee will recommend to selectmen next Monday night that the town enter a one-year contract for $250,000 with O’Sullivan Communications Inc., of Acton, to launch a fertilizer conservation program.

A 50-percent reduction in the use of nitrogen, particularly around Great, Green and Bournes Ponds, is the primary goal of this campaign.

The plume committee, whose chairman is John E. Barnes of West Falmouth, also will recommend that selectmen approve appointment of a fertilizer subcommittee to be the liaison once O’Sullivan Communications starts its public education program about the threat posed by fertilizers.

“Fertilizers containing such nitrogen,” the committee states in a position paper, “contribute some 20 percent of the nitrogen load that is contaminating Great, Green and Bournes Ponds." This threat to the ponds is second only to septic systems as a source of nitrogen pollution.

The fertilizer subcommittee candidates recommended by the Ashumet committee are Hila Lyman, of Westminster Street; Dorothy Sherrerd, Fells Road; Wendi Buesseler, Lakeview Avenue, and Bruce Dobberteen, Bournes Pond Road. All four are board members of FACES, Falmouth Associations Concerned for Estuaries and Salt Ponds, an organization that has been hard at work on pollution problems for 10 years.

The $250,000 will not come out of any town budget line items.

As part of its long and expensive multi-million dollar pay-back to Falmouth for polluting the town’s water system with plumes from the base, the Air Force gave the town $8.5 million to address the nitrogen emanating from the plume that would not be captured by the military's cleanup system.

The town established the Ashumet Plume Citizens Committee to study the problem of nitrogen overload, not only from the plume but other sources, and to recommend steps to reduce the nitrogen that is harming the southern coastal ponds.

The Ashumet Plume is responsible for only a fraction of the nitrogen. Septic systems and lawn fertilizer are the primary sources.

“That $8 million will be the source of the funds to be used to initiate this fertilizer conservation program,” Assistant Administrator Heather B. Harper said.

Is a quarter of a million dollars a fair price for such a marketing/ public relations program?

“Yes,” was Mrs. Harper’s quick response. She added, “based on what we want the program to do, it is a reasonable cost. Fertilizers contribute at least 20 percent of the nitrogen content of our coastal ponds. The task requires a proficient company to design a program that will get the message out to the public using such strategies as outreach and compliance incentives to help convince the public.”

The Ashumet Plume Citizens Committee sent requests for proposals to 36 firms and individuals.

Two qualified firms responded, according to the committee.

Both were interviewed on October 11.

O’Sullivan Communications of Acton received a committee consensus score of 85 compared to a 63 score for the other interested firm, Spotlight Communications Inc.

In a statement, John E. Barnes said, “the OC proposal contains more detail of deliverables and a more comprehensive approach to control and results measurement.”

The contract price of O’Sullivan Communications includes $92,000 in one-time set up costs in the launch year.

Mr. Barnes said, in his letter to selectmen, that a plan for the second and later years would be developed before the first year contract ends.

Mr. Barnes said the committee is recommending to selectmen that Ms. Lyman be chairman of the fertilizer subcommittee and that David R. Palmer, Whistler's Way, and F. Bradley Stumcke Jr., Sailfish Drive, be the other representatives from the Ashumet committee.

“Considerable effort over many months has yielded a fully-qualified contractor and,” Mr. Barnes said, “a sound strategy to begin a challenging but extraordinarily vital task.

“We hope you will agree and continue your steadfast support of our efforts,” Mr. Barnes said in his letter to selectmen.