Published: July 17, 2008 05:31 pm         

Board votes to sell water

By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier

The final decision is now up to the trustees following a vote Monday morning by the water board to recommend the village of Cooperstown sell 300,000 gallons of water to Barber & Deline, for three gas exploration wells in Otsego County. Barber & Deline was subcontracted by Covalent Energy to provide the water for gas wells in the towns of Cherry Valley, Maryland and Springfield.

Orville Cole, President of Gastem USA, which is partnering with Covalent, explained that the legal notice published July 3 in The Daily Star seeking approval by rule from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) for the use of up to 99,000 gallons of water a day to be purchased from the village Cooperstown was ``somewhat taken out of context.’’

The notice gave rise to concerns among residents and officials alike about the sale of water.

Cole said the SRBC requires water usage permits to be based on the maximum amount of water that could be used in one day. When pumping water and chemicals down into the well to release the gas _ a process called hydro-fracturing _ it may be possible to use almost 100,000 gallons in one day, he said.

In reality, what they are asking from the village is 100,000 gallons per well or a total of 300,000 gallons of water, he said.

Jay Deline, of Barber & Deline, said his tank trucks would haul the water to the well site over a period of a month.

``Four loads is a good day with the traffic in Cooperstown and the 40 mph speed limit going up along the lake,’’ he said. Covalent’s level of usage is below the threshold to require a SRBC permit, but Deline said they applied anyway. The approval by rule process is much quicker than a formal application that must be approved during a quarterly meeting of the SRBC board. It is usually viewed as a stopgap measure until a full approval is granted because surface water sources closer to the well sites can be used to avoid purchasing and trucking water. The city of Cortland has agreed to sell Covalent water if Cooperstown does not, he said.

Water Board Chairman Milo Stewart said the village does not have a policy regarding water sales and he was ``little leery about jumping into this.’’

Cole said he could appreciate the village’s position and was willing to discuss paying a premium rate for the water.

At the current rate, the sale of water would generate approximately $2,400. Both Cole and Deline said that they would be willing to adjust their trucking schedule and route to conform to the village’s wishes.

``Obviously municipal use comes before commercial use,’’ Cole said, adding that they do not expect carte blanche approval. Adrian Kuzminski, of Fly Creek, said during a period of public comment that it seems there are more questions than answers and that it seemed imprudent to set a precedent at this point. ``I hate to see the village be pennywise and poundfoolish. I hope you folks deny the request to buy water,’’ he said. ``You’re selling a precedent here. You’re selling endless access for lake water here.’’

Former Mayor Wendell Tripp said the water department is a public utility and not a commercial business. ``I for one don’t believe the village should be selling water to an outside entity,’’ he said.

Nicole Dillingham, a resident of Springfield and the interim director of Otsego 2000, said the request for water illustrates the need for regional planning for gas exploration.

Village Trustee and Water Board member Neil Weiller said he had agonized over the issue and wished he didn’t have to vote.

Water Board member Doug Walker said that gas drilling is not an issue for the water board. The issue is whether to sell or not sell water.

``I am very concerned about the precedent. This wouldn’t be the last firm that comes to us. Our first responsibility is to the residents. We’re not in the business of selling water,’’ said Stewart, who admitted he had no idea the village sold water for other uses such as filling swimming pools and the annual Hall of Fame Induction.

Stewart made a motion to recommend the board of trustees deny the request. Weiller seconded the motion for discussion, but it failed to gain support. ``I don’t think it would hurt us to sell some water as long as we control how much and when,’’ said Dr. Theodore Peters, who served for decades on the village sewer and water board and is still a consultant to the board.

DPW Superintendent Brian Clancy said the sale of water would present no extra wear and tear on the system.

Walker made a motion to recommend to the trustees that the village sell the water. It was seconded by Ron Streek. Both voted in favor of the motion. Stewart voted no and Weiller abstained, which is counted as a no vote and created a tie. Weiller then changed his vote to a yes.

Village Clerk Teri Barown said the Water Board’s recommendation to sell the water will go to the trustees Monday night.