TO:       MEMBERS OF THE MAINE WATER WELL COMMISSION

 

FROM:     Edward Bowie, Chairman

 

date:     March 6, 2007

 

subject:  Meeting Tuesday, march 6, 2007

 

The next Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. at the Maine Motor Transport, Whitten Road, Augusta ME.  The phone number is 623-4128.

 

 

AGENDA FOR APRIL MEETING

 

1.  Approve the March 6, 2007 minutes

 

2.  Discuss pending matters, complaints,

Responses, application, etc.

 

3.  New Business

 

4.  Public Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAINE WATER WELL DRILLING COMMISSION

 

Minutes of March 6, 2007 Meeting

Members Present: Ed Bowie, Chairman Glenn Dyer, Driller Dwight Doughty, DOT David Braley, DWP Tom Weddle, MGS Donald Robbins, Pub. Mem.

Others Present: Paul Gauvreau, AAG Carol Champagne, Board Clerk Dean Getchell, Inspector Frank Smith, Driller Gerry Hill, Driller Pat Hill Douglas & Brenda Adams

Call to Order:

 

Meeting was called to order at 9:15 AM.

 

Approval of February 6, 2007 meeting minutes:

 

Donald Robbins made a motion to accept the February 6, 2007 minutes and Glenn Dyer 2^nd the motion passed.

 

Up Date on Sheriff:

 

David Braley has added one section to the proposed contract with the Sheriff Association concerning how payments will be made.  The Commission is now waiting on the final step on approval of the contract. The contract may be in finalized by next month.

 

Case Concerning Wells Unlimited:

 

Doug Wright has requested an appeal.  The case is now being lead by the Attorney Generals office.  The appeal hearing will be scheduled in the near future.

 

Woodsome Well Drilling did not appeal the findings by the Commission and paid the fine.

 

Update on Complaints:

 

Rachel Charette vs Kevin Levesque Well Drilling: Paul Gauvreau reported on the “Hearing Officer’s Recommended Decision”.  The Commission could have the finial decision from the Commissioner by the next meeting.

 

 

Douglas & Brenda Adams: Submitted a new survey done by Good Deeds Inc, Belfast ME on February 9, 2007.

David Braley made a motion for the Commission to approve the Specialty Well Application, previously submitted by Bill Knowlton Well Drilling Inc.  The proposed well is to have 100 feet of casing or liner with bottom seal set at 100 feet, top seal inside the casing, contingent upon appropriate title right or interest having been established by the applicant for the location of the well. Subsequent proper abandonment of the old well according to the Well Drillers and Pump Installer Rules is also required as a condition of approval.  Don Robbins 2^nd the motion. Passed   The Commission requested written notification of the abandonment of the old well from Knowlton Well Drilling when the abandonment is completed.     

 

Don Fries vs Woodsome Well Drilling:  Mr. Fries is requesting an extension for the corrective action due to the weather conditions.  Don Robbins made a motion to allow a 60 day extension and Glenn Dyer 2^nd the motion.  Passed.  The letter will be copied to Mr. Fries

 

     Rodney Damon vs Gerry Hill Well Drilling:  The video showed large vertical fractures all the way down with no surface water entering the well around the seal.  Small rock and stones falling from fractures caused the pump to be stuck. The pump was dislodged by blowing air into the well to release rock sediment. 

 

     Don Robbins made a motion based on the water test from the lab report and the video that no violation of the rules was found.  Because the vertical fracture runs down the well with no evidence of surface or near surface water intrusion or improper well construction. David Braley 2^nd the motion.  Passed

 

 

Ken & Lisa Venoit vs Kennebec Well Drilling:  David Braley made a motion to deny reconsideration of the request by the Venoit’s attorney because the facts that lead to the Commission’s original decision have not changed.  The Commission’s decision to stay any action on this complaint was based on conflicting accounts of the events that lead to the second well being drilled on the neighbor’s property, and the Commission is not the appropriate venue for resolving this disagreement.  Dwight Doughty 2^nd the motion.  Passed

New Complaints: 

 

     Earle Berghman vs Pine State Drilling Inc: 

 

     Ed Bowie made a motion to find no violation of the Well Driller and Pump Installer Rules.  Don Robbins 2^nd the motion.  Passed

 

Specialty Well Applications Approved for February in house:

 

     Jerry & Renee Liabraaten – Brackett & Sons Inc:

 

     41 feet from the septic tank and 44½ feet from the leach field. Approved with 120 feet of 6 inch steel casing or liner with bottom and top Jaswell type seals if needed.

 

SWA Approved at the meeting:

 

     DOT, Property of James MacInnes– Bowie Bros. Well Drilling Inc:     Request to hydrofract a well for increased yield without having to set the top packer at least 40 feet from the casing seal at a salt contaminated site.  The location is 100 feet from a leach field and 60+ feet from a septic tank. 

 

Approved for a DOT salt replacement well.  Hydrofracting needs to be done on MDOT well.   Salt contamination appears to be in deep fractures. The top packer is to be set below the casing seal as required by site conditions. The casing seal must be inspected after hydrofracting and Jazwell type seals installed above and below the casing seal if the seal is leaking.  Ed Bowie recuse himself from voting.   

    

Exams requested:

 

Rodney D Shaw Sr. request to sit for the Journeyman Pump Installer exam and the Journeyman Well Driller exams.  Glenn Dyer made a motion to accept the request and David Braley 2nd the motion Ed Bowie 2^nd the motion.  Accepted by the Commission. 

 

     Matthew R Schneck request to sit for the Journeyman Well Driller exam.  Ed Bowie  made a motion to deny the request and Glenn Dyer 2^nd the motion. Denied by the Commission. Mr. Schneck’s experience is in geo-tech work and a license is not required in Maine for geo-tech, soil sampling or irrigation wells.

    

    

Examinations Passed:

 

Jason Curtis, passed the Journeyman Well Driller exam, Pine State Drilling, Athens ME.

 

New Bussiness

 

     None

 

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, April 3, 2007 at 9:00 am.

 

Meeting Adjourned 12:10 P.M.