Laserfiche WebLink
i Raymond W. Thron/ Director Division of Environmental Health <br />Re; .-.rticle 3, 1989 Ground Water Protection Legislation <br />December 21, 1969 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />Until a delegation agreement between the City of Orono and <br />the Health Department can be effectuated, I have serious doubts <br />about the ability of the Health Department's very minimal <br />inspection staff to provide the level of well location regulation <br />historically provided to the residents of Orono by City^ sta.^^. <br />Eliminating our permitting authority will greatly diminish our <br />ability to require that well drillers verify with ;:he City the <br />appropriateness of a specific well location. <br />I would also make the following comments and raise the <br />following issues regarding the new requirements; <br />1. If a local government may not regulate wells, can the <br />local government still require more strict isolation <br />distances than required by State Code? <br />2, Regarding the new perniit process, the wording in your <br />memo item 6a suggests that it is the property owner's <br />responsibility to "notify" the Health Department prior to <br />construction of a well. Item 11 then goes on to provide the <br />ability to levy fines against contractors who don't follow <br />the proper notification, what is the new process for <br />obtaining well permits? Who is responsible for obtaining a <br />permit, the property owner or the well driller? <br />3, Since after January 1st the City can no longer issue <br />permits for wells, does the City still have the ability to <br />require well drillers to obtain City approval for a specific <br />well location? If not, it i'* highly likely that some wells <br />will be placed in inappropriate locations. <br />In a worst case scenario, if a well is placed on Lot A i.. - <br />location where the isolation radius encroaches into the only <br />feasible sewage treatment system sites on Lot B, Lot B could <br />become unbuildabie. Two acre rolling wooded lots in Orono <br />are currently selling in the range of Slu0,000 to $200,000 <br />per let. In many cases, these lots have a limited area <br />usable for sewage treatment systems, and elimination of the <br />ability to use those areas would have serious financial <br />conseauences. <br />Such nightmares are most easily avoidable when ^ocal <br />government regulates wnere wells are being drilled. Can the <br />City at least continue to regulate well 1 ocations, if not <br />construction, under the new requirements?