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TO:       MEMBERS OF THE MAINE WATER WELL COMMISSION

 

FROM:     Edward Bowie, Chairman

 

date:     July 11, 2006

 

subject:  Meeting Tuesday, July 11, 2006

 

 

The next Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. at the Maine Motor Transport, Whitten Road, Augusta ME.  The phone number is 623-4128.

 

 

AGENDA

 

1.  Approve the July 11, 2006 minutes

 

2.  Discuss pending matters, complaints,

Responses, application, etc.

 

3.  New Business

 

4.  Public Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAINE WATER WELL DRILLING COMMISSION

 

Minutes of July 11, 2006 Meeting

 

Members Present:

Glenn Dyer, Driller

Edward Bowie, Chairman

William Boettger, DOT

David Braley, DWP

Ira Goodwin, Driller

Marc Loiselle, MGS

 

 

 

Others Present:

Carol Champagne, Board Clerk

Dean Getchell, Inspector

Mark Koenig, Driller

Ron Shannon, Driller

Paul Gauvreau, AG’s Office

Eric Frohmberg, Toxicologist

Phil Lowe, Pump Installer

 

Call to Order:

 

Meeting was called to order at 9:05 AM.

 

Approval of June 6, 2006 meeting minutes:

 

Glenn Dyer made a motion to accept the minutes of the June 6, 2006 meeting and Marc Loiselle 2nd the motion.  Accepted by the Commission.

 

Mark Koenig: Appeared before the Commission requesting a re-consideration of a Specialty Well Application, on the property of Stanley Ferragamo,due to drilling in a difficult area. After deciding to reconsider the application and after discussion, Marc Loiselle made a motion and David Braley 2nd it as follows:

 

In consideration of anticipated problems with boulders and lost circulation in the overburden material, the Commission approved altering the original construction requirements for this well to include drilling an 8 inch borehole instead of a ten inch hole down to 120 feet with the installation of a 4 inch liner centered in the casing “properly grouted”. “Properly grouted” means using an industry standard method that requires the grout be placed   with positive displacement from the bottom of the annulus to the top after an appropriate bottom seal has been installed.  David Braley 2nd the motion.  Passed.  David Braley will inspect during the grouting.

 

Ronnie Shannon of Shannon Well Drilling:  requested his employee be allowed to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller exam.  References and applications were received and the Commission will consider.

 

Eric Frohmberg:  Eric is a Toxicologist from the Maine CDC.  A Power Point slide show was presented which discussed brochures on the topic of the importance of well water testing in Maine households.  The Commission offered suggestions and Mr. Frohmberg will try to incorporate them into a new draft of the brochure.

 

Update on Complaints: 

 

Rachel Charette vs Kevin Levesque Well Drilling:

 

The case is in litigation.  The Commission ordered the old well to be properly abandoned and to refund the homeowner.  The Commission’s order is still in effect. 

 

David Braley will send a letter to Mr. Levesque to notify him the corrective action must be completed by August 1, 2006 or the Commission shall take action to suspend his driller’s license and his company’s license and impose a fine.  Ms. Charette’s attorney, Yankee Water Systems, and Mr. Levesque, attorney will also be notified. 

 

Barry Noyes vs Clearwater Well Drilling:  On hold until July 17, 2006 when the 60 days given to complete corrective action expires.

 

Kathleen MacKenzie vs Adam Baker Well Drilling:   

 

June 30, 2006 (60 days given to complete corrective action) has expired.

 

Marc Loiselle made a motion to suspend Mr. Baker’s license until he notifies the Commission in writing that seals have been installed in Ms. Mackenzie well and confirmation from the homeowner is received, or, Mr. Baker notifies in writing that he was denied access to complete - completetion of action is excluded from the suspensions.  Ike Goodwin 2nd the motion.  Passed

         

 

Kenneth Beach vs Merl”Sam” Well Drilling Inc:  Dean Getchell presented his report of the inspection.  No water test was taken due to leaking casing. Casing is not set in bedrock with small stones and ledge deposited on pump inlet. 

 

     Marc Loiselle made a motion a violation was found of Rule 401.5 (it’s the responsibility of the driller to install a sufficient length of well casing into bedrock and to affect a proper seal in order to prevent surface water and shallow ground water from transmitting gravel, sand, silt, clay, and coliform bacteria into the wellbore at the bottom of the casing or anywhere along to length of the casing). David Braley 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

     Corrective action:  Ike Goodwin motion to have Mr. Dunham install liner and seals in Mr. Beach’s well or properly abandon the well and drill a new well.  Marc Loiselle 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Dan Staples vs Knowlton Well Drilling:  On hold until August meeting.

 

Peter Haraden vs Burns Well Drilling: On hold for response from well driller.

 

Mike Letourneau vs Baker Well Drilling: Dean Getchell report of the inspection was reviewed by the Commission. Dean found that the liner and seals installed by Baker Well Drilling were leaking, allowing surface water and shallow ground water to come into the well.  Ed Bowie made a motion a violation of Rule 401.5 was found (it’s the responsibility of the driller to install a sufficient length of well casing into bedrock and to affect a proper seal in order to prevent surface water and shallow ground water from transmitting gravel, sand, silt, clay, and coliform bacteria into the wellbore at the bottom of the casing or anywhere along the length of the casing)and Ike Goodwin 2nd it.  (4 yes and 1 no) Passed.

 

     Corrective action: Ed Bowie motioned that Mr. Baker repair or replace 4 inch PVC liner or install seals.  Passed

 

Philip Mason vs Goodwin Well & Water:  Ike Goodwin removed himself from the Commission on voting.

 

     Dean Getchell’s report showed the test pump set at approximately 189 feet.  Pump rate at beginning 30 GPM.  The water head cleared the bottom seal, allowing everyone to observe that the bottom seal was not leaking.  Underwater inspection (water very cloudy) at the pump intake revealed silt was being drawn up from below the pump.  Water above the pump intake was quiet and was not being drawn down to the pump.

 

     David Braley made a motion that the well was properly constructed and no violation of the Rules was found.  Ed Bowie 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Complaints Closed:

 

Louise Scott vs L & L Well Drilling:  Closed

 

Tom Rouse vs Merl “Sam” Dunham Well Drilling:  Closed with confirmation received.

 

Kenneth Wood vs Forest Pump & Filter Co. Inc:  Closed

 

Update on Kate Bosse’s hearing:  Closed  

 

Specialty Wells:

    

Applications approved in the office:

 

James L Rivens, Mariaville, 52 feet from septic tank and 115 feet from leach field, Approved with 60 feet of casing or liner.  Merl “Sam” Dunham well Drilling

 

Dan Salisbury, Madison, 48 feet from, septic tank and 61 feet from leach field.  Approved with 70 feet of casing or liner.  Pine State Drilling.

 

Robert & Sherrill West, Lincolnville, 57 feet from tank and 80 feet from disposal field.  Approved with 60 feet of casing or liner.  E.A. Cross & Sons.

 

John Kosela, Rockwood, 60 feet from tank and 70 feet from leach field.  Approved with 60 feet of casing or liner.  Merl “Sam” Dunham Well Drilling.

 

Joe & Pegeen Ranhosky, Greenville, 60 Feet from tank and 70 feet form leach field.  Approved with 60 feet of casing.  Merl “Sam” Dunham Well Drilling.

 

Jean Scott, Phippsburg, 50 feet from tank and 95 feet from leach field.  Possibility of salt water intrusion. Approved with 20 feet of casing or maximum amount of liner to prevent salt water intrusion with seals bottom and top. Hatch Well Drillers.

 

G. Leonard Shea, Union, 57 Feet from tank and 95 feet from leach field.  Approved with 60 feet of casing or liner.  Hatch Well Drillers.

 

Application Approved at the July Meetings:

 

Stanley R Ferragamo – Maine Well & Pump:  (See minutes above).

 

Stephen Crane – Wells Unlimited Inc:  36 feet from leach field and 39 feet from neighbors leach field. 

 

Ike Goodwin made a motion of 120 feet of casing pressure grouted from bottom to top with 2 inch nominal thickness using accepted procedures.  Ed Bowie 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

John Norcross – Hansen’s Well Drilling Inc:  45 feet from septic tank and 65+ feet from leach field.  Approved with proposed well to have a minimum of  20 feet of 6 inch steel casing, or  maximum amount of liner seal to prevent salt water intrusion.  Line it to the fresh water source.  Set seal just above the first water fracture.   Approved by Commission.

 

Examinations Requested

 

Gary Schofield, Gerald Ford, and Sean Mccarthy,  F.X. Lyons Inc, Intervale NH.  All are requesting to sit for the Master Pump Installer Exam.  Ike Goodwin made a motion and Ed Bowie 2nd it.  Approved by the Commission.

 

Richard Dow, is requesting to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller exam.  Ike Goodwin made a motion and Ed Bowie 2nd it.  Approved by the Commission.

 

Jason Giguere, is requesting to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller exam. Ike Goodwin made a motion and Ed Bowie 2nd it.  Approved by the Commission.

 

 

Examinations Passed:

 

Cindy Staples – Western Maine Water Wells of Limerick passed the Journeyman Well Driller and Journeyman Pump Installer exams.

 

New Business:

 

     The brochure was sent to all licensed drillers announcing that the new point system will be going into effect July 1, 2006.

 

Meeting Dates for 2006 

 

         January 3, 2006               July 11, 2006

          February 7, 2006        August 8, 2006

          March 7, 2006           September 12, 2006

          April 4, 2006           October 3, 2006

          May 2, 2006             November 7, 2006

          June 6, 2006            December 5, 2006

Subject to change.

 

The next Well Drillers Meeting will be:

Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 9:00 am.

 

Meeting Adjourned 1:50 pm