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TO:       MEMBERS OF THE MAINE WATER WELL COMMISSION

 

FROM:     Edward Bowie, Chairman

 

date:     NOVEMBER 7, 2006

 

subject:  Meeting Tuesday, November 07, 2006

 

 

The next Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. at the Maine Motor Transport, Whitten Road, Augusta ME.  The phone number is 623-4128.

 

 

AGENDA FOR DECEMBER MEETING

 

1.  Approve the November 7, 2006 minutes

 

2.  Discuss pending matters, complaints,

Responses, application, etc.

 

3.  New Business

 

4.  Public Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAINE WATER WELL DRILLING COMMISSION

 

Minutes of November 7, 2006 Meeting

 

Members Present:

Ed Bowie, Chairman

Glenn Dyer, Driller

Dwight Doughty, DOT

Donald Robbins, Public Mem.

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

Hollis Temple, Driller

Douglas Wright, Driller

Frank Smith, Driller

Bob Temple, Pump Installer

Cindy & Dan Staples,

Pat & Rodney Pratt, Drillers

Call to Order:

 

Meeting was called to order at 9:10 AM.

 

Approval of October 3, 2006 meeting minutes:

 

Ike Goodwin made a motion to accept the minutes of the October 3, 2006 meeting with changes and Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  The proposed changes accepted were as

follows:

 

Kenneth & Lisa Veniot – Kennebec Well Drilling:  Dean Getchell was to inspect the abandonment of the old well and not inspect the drilling.

Accepted by the Commission.

 

Update on Complaints:

 

Kenneth & Lisa Veniot vs Kennebec Well Drilling:  Mr. Smith approached the Commission with an explanation of the drilling he did for Mr. & Mrs. Veniot that was to be on the neighbor’s property.  The owners apparently told Mr. Smith they had agreed on an easement with the neighbor and that it was OK to continue drilling the well.  With conflicting information Ike Goodwin made a motion for the Commission to reconsider the corrective action order made at the October meeting. Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed.  Ike Goodwin made a second motion to table further consideration until the December 12th meeting to reconsider corrective action so all parties may be present (Mr. Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Veniot, and the abutting neighbor). Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed    Notice Required.

 

Dan Staples vs Knowlton Well Drilling: New information was presented with Mr. Staples addressing the legality of the surveyed map. After discussion Marc Loiselle made a motion that Mr. & Mrs. Adams have not given the Commission the information requested as title.  Ike Goodwin 2nd the motion.  Passed.

 

The application for a Specialty Well Application was denied. 

 

Marc Loiselle made a motion for the well to be abandoned within 30 days because it was drilled without a Specialty Well Application.  Don Robbins 2nd the motion. Passed. A letter will be sent to Mr. & Mrs. Adams with an appeal notice.   cc the Staples. Notice Required

 

 

Douglas Wright appeared before the Commission as requested to answer questions pertaining to a Specialty Well Application that was approved with conditions.

 

1.  Was a master or journeyman well driller on site during the drilling? Section 204.5.

 

Answer; Gerald Cote was on site part time.

 

2.  Was the Variance Deed Covenant filed with the County Registry of Deeds? Section 400.7.1.

 

Answer; Not yet

 

3.  Was the well head terminated below ground level?

 

Answer; Yes, with well tile and with cover vented.

 

4.  The Commission’s independent inspector was not notified when the well was to be drilled and was not present during the injection of grout. Section 400.7

 

Answer; No one told him until after it was done. Deck was replaced before they knew they had to have it inspected.

 

5.  Was a Set Back Reduction Notification form completed for this well?  Section 400.5

 

Answer; No

 

6.  Was the well constructed as required in the conditions of the approval? Section 400.7

 

Answer; The well was “grouted” with drilling mud.  8.75” bit was used. 

 

7.  What materials were used in the construction of the well, were materials not approved for drinking water wells used?

 

Answer; There could be a liner, he didn’t remember. Schedule 20 plastic pipe that is black on the inside. 

 

Question; who were the other employees on the rig?

 

Answer; JR and Rick, they were the two that came up and took exams and are now licensed.  They’ve been apprentices for many years. 

 

The Commission discussed the finding of fact issues and found violations of the Rules. Don Robbins made a motion of finding a violation of rule 204.5, (A master or journeyman must be on site during the drilling), Marc Loiselle 2nd the motion. Passed.  Rule 400.7.1, (Variance Deed Covenant was not filed with the County Registry of Deeds); Rule 400.5,(Set Back Reduction Notification form must be completed);  Rule 400.7 (Well was not constructed as required in the conditions of the Specialty Well Application approval) were also found to have been violated  Ike Goodwin made a motion that the well was not constructed with a minimum of 2” nominal thickness grout as required by the SWA. The well was constructed with mud and not an accepted grout product.  Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

No violations were found of Rules 402.5.1 and 400.7 pertaining to question 4 only because the Commission had omitted this requirement in the Specialty Well Approval.

 

Violation of Rule 401.1.3 was tabled for lack of information.  That motion was made by Ike Goodwin and 2nd by Ed Bowie.  Passed  

 

Marc Loiselle made a motion to defer the case until the December meeting. Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed  

 

Ed Bowie made a motion to send Dean Getchell to look at the lay of the land to see if another well location is possible. Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

 

Update of Complaints: 

 

Nancy J Robicheaw vs Andrew Bowie Inc:  The water test results showed no surface water being introduced into the well. No valid grounds for the Commission to accept the complaint.  The water test shows a natural occurrence of very high Manganese and Iron.

 

Rachel Charette vs Kevin Levesque Well Drilling:  Paul Gauvreau spoke with Mr. Badger and the case is still in litigation.  A request to stay the enforcement order of the Commission by Mr. Levesque’s attorney was considered by the Commission.  Ike Goodwin made the motion to deny the request to stay the action.  Don Robbing 2nd the motion. Passed

 

David Braley made a motion that the original order stands including the 17th of November deadline to pay the remaining $990 or license suspension, effective November 18th, will result.  The Commission needs written notification that the balance has been paid in full.  Marc Loiselle 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Kenneth Beach vs Merl “Sam” Dunham Well Drilling:  Closed

 

Other Business:  

 

Sheriff Contract:  Is in the process.  The Division of Health’s office manager has reviewed the proposal and made suggestions for the final draft of the contract and noted information needed before the contract is submitted.  These suggestions are being incorporated into a draft contract that will be submitted for review by the DHHS contract section.

 

Specialty Well Applications Approved:

 

 

     Daniel Allison – Lawrence Lord & Sons Inc:  36 feet from the septic tank and 45 feet from the leach field. Approved with 120 feet of casing.

 

Examinations Requested

 

     Jason L Curtis request to sit for the Journeyman Pump Installers exam.  Ike Goodwin made a motion to approve the request and Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Approved by the Commission.

 

     Jay Levesque request to sit for the Journeyman Well Drilling exam.  Marc Loiselle made a motion to approve the request and Glenn Dyer 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

     William R Johnson request to sit for the Master Well Driller exam.  Ike Goodwin made a motion to approve the request and Glenn Dyer 2ne the motion.  Passed

 

     Mark A Storozynsky request to sit for the Master Pump Installer exam.  Glenn Dyer made a motion to approve the request and Don Robbins 2nd the motion.  Passed

 

Examinations Passed:

 

Elwin Sanborn, passed the Journeyman Well Driller exam, from Well Unlimited, Standish ME.

 

Richard Pacheco, passed the Journeyman Well Driller exam, from Wells Unlimited, Standish ME.

 

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 12, 2006

Subject to change.

                       

Please Notice change

The next Well Drillers Meeting will be:

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 9:00 am.

 

Meeting Adjourned 2:25 pm