Disposal of fats, oils and grease – such as those produced by restaurants and other sources – was a major topic undertaken by the city’s Board of Health at their latest meeting.

By Max Eidelman

Somerville’s Board of Health met for a virtual meeting this past Thursday, March 18.

The bulk of the meeting addressed the city’s FOG (fats, oils, grease) regulation. Per the EPA’s website, “Grease from restaurants, homes, and industrial sources are the most common cause (47%) of reported blockages” in sewage systems.

The Board is working in conjunction with the EPA to adhere to the guidelines. The EPA wants the city to be more stringent with its FOG regulations and has instructed the new program to include eight aspects: a requirement for insulation equipment at all restaurants; periodic inspections; procedures for noncompliance; a public education program; necessary planning for a procedure to ensure enforcement of the regulations; a clear explanation of which department in Somerville is responsible for FOG regulation; a list of all food-preparation establishments; and a proposed schedule for the FOG program.

Discussion at the meeting focused on the details of the regulation’s language, and the Board plans to further refine the language in May.

The Board also discussed updates on the Covid situation, which has recently surpassed its one-year mark of being identified as a pandemic. Somerville remains in Phase 3 Step 1. The Board cited various metrics from institutes such as John Hopkins and the CDC of the current status of cases. The numbers suggest that – despite the optimism that predictably comes with the recent nice weather, and the fatigue that ought to be expected one year into this ordeal – caution is still very much necessary.

Joe Lynch, Chair of the Licensing Commission, briefly spoke at the end of the meeting as well to provide the Board with an update about outdoor dining, which reopened on March 1. According to Lynch, the Commission has created “strict guidelines and bumpers” for outdoor performances at temporary outdoor seating arrangements. He added that thorough adherence to the guidelines is necessary for the sustainability of an arrangement for the city to see safe outdoor dining and performances.

As much as everyone is looking forward to enjoying a better spring and summer than last year, patience and continued diligence is necessary to prevent a setback, which is all the more reason to take heed of the city’s data-motivated recommendations, according to Lynch.