July 17, 2008 05:30 pm
—
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.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.