July 31, 2001

Ms. Linda Murphy, Director
Office of Ecosystem Protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Water Technical Unit "SEW"
P.O. BOX 8127
Boston, MA 02114

Mr. Glenn Haas, Acting Commissioner
Bureau of Resource Protection
Department of Environmental Protection
1 Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108

RE: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Permit Number MA0103284
Part 1.7 Quarterly Ambient Monitoring Report

Dear Ms. Murphy and Mr. Haas:

I am pleased to submit a recently-finalized interpretive synthesis report providing results from MWRA’s baseline Outfall Monitoring Program and permit-required Ambient Monitoring program. Part I.7.c.iv of the permit requires:

"The results of all monitoring required by the ambient monitoring plan or the eutrophication model shall be reported to EPA, MADEP, OMSAP and NMFS, on a quarterly basis."

The enclosed report contains results from seafloor monitoring in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays in 1999, and therefore contains baseline monitoring results.

MWRA anticipates finalizing synthesis reports containing discharge monitoring data later this summer. The first discharge monitoring synthesis reports will be the second semi-annual water report from 2000, the 2000 annual water column monitoring report, and the 2000 nutrient flux report. We will continue to submit baseline reports as they are finalized.

MWRA will provide raw monitoring data upon request.

If you require additional information or need clarification, please contact Michael Mickelson, Program Manager for Outfall Monitoring at (617) 788-4746.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Hornbrook
Chief Operating Officer

Attachments: One Monitoring Report

Kropp RK, Diaz R, Hecker B, Dahlen D, Boyle JD Keay KE, Hunt CD. 2000. 1999 Outfall Benthic Monitoring Report. Boston: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Report ENQUAD 2000-15.