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TO:
MEMBERS OF THE
MAINE WATER WELL COMMISSION
FROM:
Edward
Bowie, Chairman
date: DECEMBER 12,
2006
subject: Meeting Tuesday, DECEMBER 12, 2006
The next Commission
meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at
9:00 A.M. at the Maine Motor Transport,
AGENDA FOR JANUARY MEETING
1. Approve the December 12, 2006 minutes
2. Discuss pending matters, complaints,
Responses,
application, etc.
3. New Business
4. Public Comments
Minutes of December 12, 2006 Meeting
|
Members Present: Ed Bowie, Chairman Glenn Dyer, Driller Dwight Doughty, DOT David Braley, DWP Ira Goodwin, Driller Marc Loiselle,
MGS |
Others
Present: Carol Champagne,
Board Clerk Dean Getchell,
Inspector Paul Gauvreau,
AG’s Office Barry Sanford,
Driller Frank Smith,
Driller Bob Temple, Pump
Installer Lisa & Ken Venoit George Soucy Pat & Rodney
Pratt, Drillers |
Call to Order:
Meeting
was called to order at 9:10 AM.
Approval of November
12, 2006 meeting minutes:
Ike
Goodwin made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 12, 2006 meeting with
changes and Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion. The proposed changes accepted were as
follows:
Clarification
of the finding of no violations found for Doug Wright for not having the
Commission’s inspector present during drilling.
Clarification of the effective date of the
proposed license suspension regarding the Charette
vs. Levesque complaint.
Clarification of the progress to date
regarding the contract to have retired sheriffs investigate unlicensed drillers.
David
Braley explained the reason for the December meeting to be changed so that all
parties concerning the Lisa & Kenneth Veniot well
could be present. This is a fact finding meeting.
Update on
Complaints:
Kenneth & Lisa Veniot vs Kennebec Well Drilling: All parties, including the Venoit’s, Mr. Soucy and Mr.
Smith, had a chance to explain their version of what happened at the well
drilling site the day the second well was drilled. Mr. Soucy (neighbor)
told the Commission that under no circumstances does he want the well to stay
on his property or be repaired. He
also stated that he didn’t intend his comments or actions the day the
well was drilled to be interpreted as his approval for completing the
well. Mr. Smith (driller) stated
that he was drilling in a location previously approved by Mr. Venoit, and that when Mr. Soucy
approached him concerning the location and his property line the three parties
consulted and determined that the well should be completed. Mr. and Mrs. Venoit
(complainants) disagreed, stating that they never approved of the location and
thought they had agreed to drill the second well ahead of the old well, not
behind it.
The Commission discussed the complaint and
determined that the remaining issues must be resolved in court, that the
Commission is not authorized or equipped to make this determination.
Paul Gauvreau explained to Mr. & Mrs Venoit their options. The
Commission does not have jurisdiction concerning these non-technical (well
construction) legal issues.
Ed Bowie made a motion to order the well be properly
abandoned after the legal issues are resolved through another venue. Mr. Soucy will be notified prior to the well being abandoned. After the Venoit’s
contact the Commission confirming that the legal issues have been resolved the
Commission will order Mr. Smith to properly abandon the well within 60 days as
required in statute. Mr. Soucy indicated that he will allow the abandonment of the
well. Marc Loiselle 2nd the motion. Passed. Notices required.
Dan Staples vs Knowlton Well Drilling:
The
The Commission has received a recent survey from the
Staples that shows the new well as a surveyed point relevant to the property
lines. The survey submitted by the Adam’s attorney is older than the
drilling date of the well and has a “penciled in” well location
which the Commission has determined is not sufficient for demonstrating the
well location.
Mr. Staples is not objecting to the abandonment of
the well.
David made a motion to deny the request to
reconsider the time and the Commission’s order remains in effect and
failing to abandon the well prior to the next Commission meeting may result in
penalties being imposed. Passed.
Notice Required.
Rachel Charette vs
Kevin Levesque Well Drilling:
An appeal hearing is scheduled for January 16,
2007. Paul Gauvreau will check to
see if Mr. Levesque has waived his right to appeal all issues when he rescinded
his request for a fair hearing in March 2006. On hold pending appeal.
Douglas Wright
The Commission checked into the piping Mr. Wright
used in the drilling of Mr. Stephen Crane’s well. The pipe used in the
well is not recommended for water wells.
The black inside leaches toxins which can enter the water supply from
this well. There may be a health
hazard resulting from the use of this type of pipe.
Dean Getchell gave the results of his inspection of
Mr. Crane’s well to the Commission.
Mr. Wright requested the issues to be tabled until
the January 9, 2007 meeting as his attendance at this meeting was not possible. The Commission determined that Mr.
Wright’s participation is very important. Ed Bowie made a motion to table the case
due to Mr. Wright’s request and Marc Loiselle 2nd
the motion. Passed. Notice Required.
New Complaints:
Charlie Andrews vs Merl
“Sam” Dunham Well Drilling:
The problem is sand,
dirt and cloudy water. Mr. Andrews
had a second well drilled and the problem is the same with the new well. Marc Losielle made a motion to send Dean Getchell to inspect
both wells, Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion. Passed.
Don Fries vs Woodsome
Well Drilling:
The problem is sediment
with brown water and grit plugging their filter. Glenn Dyer had samples of
filters filled with both course sand and fine sand.
The Commission
requested Dean Getchell inspect the well.
High Pines Well
Drilling:
It was discussed that
High Pine Well Drilling no longer employs a licensed Master Driller. A letter will be sent notifying them
that they cannot drill wells until they hire another licensed Master Driller. Notice Required.
Specialty Well
Applications Approved:
Scott
Herman – James Philbrick Well Drilling:
20 feet from holding tank and 80 feet from leach
field. Ike Gooddwin
made a motion to approve with 100 feet of casing or liner with top and bottom
seals, Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion pending signature of
homeowner. Passed.
Flying Pond Variety –
This is an existing well that needs to be hydro
fractured. It is a salt replacement well.
Salt zones appear to be below 125 feet. Drilling was stopped at 113 feet. Trace
fracture at 40 feet. The request is to set 1st packer at 30 feet, 10
feet below casing. There is
currently no salt contamination at 40 feet. Hydrofracting is to be completed by
Northeast Water Production. The
Commission approved the request to set packer at 30 feet below casing. Passed.
Examinations
Requested
Randy Pelletier request to sit for the Journeyman Well
Driller exam and the Journeyman Pump Installer exam. Ike Goodwin made a motion to accept the
request and David Braley 2nd the motion.
Approved.
William Arthur Crowford Jr request
to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller exam. Ed Bowie made a motion to accept the
request and David Braley 2nd the motion. Approved.
Robeert
B Temple request to sit for the Master Well Driller exam. Ed Bowie made a motion to accept the
request and Glenn Dryer 2nd the motion. Approved.
Examinations
Passed:
William R Johnson, passed the Master Well Driller exam, Stockton
Springs ME.
Meeting Dates for 2007
January 9, 2007 July 10, 2007
February 6, 2007 August 7, 2007
March 6, 2007 September 4, 2007
April 3, 2007 October 2, 2007
May 1, 2007 November 6, 2007
June 5, 2007 December
4, 2007
Subject to change.
Please Notice
change:
The next Well Drillers Meeting will be:
Tuesday,
January 9, 2007 at 9:00 am.
Meeting
Adjourned 1:10 pm