MAINE
PUBLIC DRINKING WATER COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING #97
April 11, 2007
The Maine Public Drinking
Water Commission (DWC) held its 97th meeting on April 11, 2007, at
the Poland Spring Bottled Water Plant in Hollis,
Maine.
Present were:
- Members: Judith Kelley – Chair,
Vaughn Smith – Vice Chair, Richard
Berry, Kenneth Sonagere, Harvey Chesley, Jr., Thomas Brennan, Bob MacKinnon, Allen
York, and Nancy Beardsley
- Guests: Chris Ryan (EPA, Region 1), Roger Crouse
(DWP), Tera Pare
(DWP) and Cheryl Pratt (DWP)
Time: Judy Kelley called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
A.
Approval
of Minutes:
Harvey Chesley made a
motion to accept the minutes of the prior meeting (#96). Judy seconded the motion, which carried
unanimously.
Reappointments:
Judy asked about the status of the reappointments
for Ken Sonagere, Vaughn Smith, and Bob MacKinnnon. Nancy reported that she
called Joe Bouche, the Appointment Secretary for the
Governor’s Office. Nancy is still waiting to hear back from Mr. Bouche but will try to contact him again. Nancy
suggested that all three members send their letters, asking for reappointment,
and she will provide them with contact information.
B.
Recurring
Business:
1.
Security / Operator Licensure / Compliance: Nothing new
2.
Legislation: Bills and Bond Issues:
Bond
·
Nancy provided an update on bonds for the Drinking Water
Program (DWP) by happily reporting that the DWP will receive two years worth of
bond money, provided the public approves the funding in the June 2007
vote. This result is even more
miraculous, when the DWP’s request was not in the
Governor’s bond package. The Legislature
is aware that Nancy
will return next year to secure 2009 match.
If the vote approves of the funding, public water systems receiving SRF
money will be able to begin their summer 2007 SRF construction projects. Nancy
thanked Judy Kelley for her testimony, in support of DWP match money.
Bills
·
Nancy reported on LD 1685, which is a bill to develop a
comprehensive water use plan (“CWUP”).
The DWP supports the concept of planning and would like to insert the
Groundwater Stakeholders Group plan into this CWUP. The
intent of this CWUP was to gather real data and science out first, to dispel
the piecemeal legislation sprouting up lately.
·
LD 1743, proposed
by Jim Wilfong’s group H2O for Maine, threatens to strip the DWP’s authority to issue bulk water transport permits and
regulate the transport of water.
Instead, a Freshwater Resource Board would control these decisions and
be routed in authority from DEP. The DWP
is strongly opposed to this bill, particularly because no state agencies would
participate in the decision making process.
·
Portland Water
District wanted to raise penalties for swimming in the no-contact area near the
District’s intake at Sebago Lake’s Lower
Bay. PWD also wanted to change the word “bathing”
to “swimming”. The Committee voted 5-5
to allow swimmers in Lower
Bay within two miles of
the intake, which proves a disturbing development.
·
The first work
session was held on the Stream water bill consensus, with the condition taken
out of the Clean Water Act and put into state law. Andy Fisk from DEP provided a packet to the
AG’s Office, and it should go forward.
·
The Groundwater
Stakeholders Group was presented by Bob Marvinney
last month. Nancy reported that the presentation was
well-received. The Legislature will look
at the Bulk Water Transport Law. Bob Marvinney recommended that we wait until court decisions
give the DWP more guidance.
3. Staffing Update:
·
Staffing: Roger
reported that there are currently two vacant positions at the DWP. The Field Inspector position will be
advertised on the ESS III Register.
Reviewing applications, conducting interviews, determining and hiring
the best candidate will probably take one month, according to Roger. This position will inspect transient and
non-transient, non-community public water systems in the southern Maine region. The GIS Coordinator position vacated by Robin
Frost (who accepted the Data Management position) has been filled by Amilyn
Stillings. Ami has worked with the DWP
for over two years as the Lead / Copper Rule Coordinator within the Compliance
Section. The GIS Coordinator position
will expand to include inventory tracking for new and transitioning public
water systems. Of course, this shift
will create a vacancy in the Compliance Section of the DWP. A Compliance Officer for the Southern /
Central Region overseeing Community and Non-Transient, Non-Community will be
filled in late summer, hopefully.
·
NSF Standards Meeting on April 26, 2007: The
DWP will be holding a stakeholders meeting in Augusta at 1:00 pm to discuss
proposed language for rule changes requiring public water systems to use
NSF-approved chemicals or products used in drinking water distribution,
maintenance, or treatment.
4. AFM Fee and Collection Status: Another
list of public water systems owing overdue AFM fees was
distributed to the Drinking Water Commission.
· Setting AFM
Fees: Roger presented two scenarios
for how to increase fees, in order to sustain the DWP for the next three to
four years. Roger used data for
populations based on March 2007 population.
Nancy
reminded the Drinking Water Commission (“DWC”) that revenue from AFM fee
payments support five full-time staff positions. The 25% increase of $80,000 seemed reasonable
to the DWC. Vaughn suggested that the
DWC provide more notice to municipalities in the future, in order for their
budgets to anticipate the increase in expenses.
In deciding between the two populations, the DWC agreed that all systems
should get the same percentage increase, in the name of fairness and
simplicity. Bob MacKinnon made a motion
to approve Scenario #2, where a $45 minimum and 40 cents per capita would be
assessed. Allen York seconded this fee
structure for July 2007, and the DWC voted unanimously to approve. Judy will contact Ron Miller of Portland
Water District to let him know that the DWC is discussing changes to the caps
created for PWD and the bottled water companies. More discussion to come at the June 2007
meeting.
5. Thank you, Tom Brennan, for hosting this DWC
Meeting and providing a very
informative and interesting tour of Poland Spring’s Bottling Plant in Hollis!
C.
New Business
· Chris Ryan,
USEPA: Chris discussed two grants being released to Maine’s DWP soon. The first, the PWSS Grant is secure. EPA Region 1 received all $90,000, and Chris
will be sending a letter to Maine
shortly. The second grant, the Annual
Security Grant, will be sent to Maine
for the same amount as last year, $50,000.
Suggested
Agenda Items for Next Meeting:
Ř
Rule changes and
legislation;
Ř
Annual Report due
August 1st; and
Ř
6th
Annual Staff Merit Award: Nominations must be submitted to Cheryl Pratte before
May 25th.
D.
Next Meeting:
·
June 13, 2007, 9:00 to 11:00 am at Pine Tree Camp in Rome, Maine. Harvey Chesley will
send directions to Cheryl, who will forward to Commission members.
Motion to Adjourn
Judy made a motion to
adjourn the meeting, and Vaughn seconded.
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tera R. Pare, Drinking Water
Program
