Laserfiche WebLink
r Raymond W. Thron, Director Division of Environmental Health Ke: Article 3, 1989 Ground Water Protection LegislationDecember 21r 1989 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />sIM-lSpSfMiihistorically provided to the residents of Orono by City staff. <br />Eliminating our permitting authority will the <br />ability to require that well drillers verify with the 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 permit process, the wording in your <br />memc 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 provide the <br />ability to levy fines against contractors who don t folio <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 is 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 in a <br />location where the isolation radius encroaches into the only <br />feasible sewage treatment system sites on Lot B, Lot B could <br />become unbuildable. Two acre rolling wooded lots <br />are currently selling in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 <br />per lot. In many cases, these lots have a limited area <br />usable for sewage treatment systems, and elimination of tne <br />ability to use those areas would have serious financial <br />consequences. <br />Such nightmares are most easily avoidable when local <br />government regulates where wells are being drilled. Can the <br />City at least continue to regulate well locations, if not <br />construction, under the new requirements? <br />: i