Agenda - Council - 08/11/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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'\. .I Comments Regarding: City' of Ramsey - Wellhead Protection Plan (Draft) Page 2 participate in the Water Resources Task Force meetings that are currently being held by the CHES Department. The Plan does not mention that the City is a member of the Anoka County Municipal Wellhead Planning Group (ACMWPG) joint powers organization with Anoka County and ten (10) municipalities that was formed in accordance with MN Stat. 471.59 (Anoka County Contract No. 97-2256). The ACMWPG (inCluding the City) is currently exploring options to cooperatively implement their wellhead plans. We Recommend: that the Plan be revised to indicate that the City will explore potential collaborative efforts to implement its wellhead protection program in an efficient and cost- effective manner. . SPECIFIC COMMENTS Well Abandonment. The terms abandoned wells and proper well abandonment is used in. place of well sealing in numerous (but not all) parts of the Plan. To abandon something (such as a well) is defined to withdraw from it and the responsibility to care for it. We believe that the term "well sealing" better describes the management goal that the Plan calls for. Abandonment should be used only to indicate the illegal act of permitting an unused/unsealed well to exist on a property without an MDH permit and approval. We Recommend: that the Plan be revised to consistently use the term "well sealing" to indicate the goal of removing a threat to the City's water supply wells. Chapter 3 -Issues, Problems, and Opportunities I. Land Use Issues, Problems, and Opportunities Related to: A. The Aquifer The reference to the development a "hydrologic atlas" is incorrect (Page 16). Currently, the Anoka Conservation District, Minnesota Geologic Survey, and DNR are developing an Anoka County Geologic Atlas. We Recommend: that the Plan be revised. Chapter 3 -Issues~ Problems, and Opportunities II. Identificati<?n of: A: Problems and Opportunities Disclosed at Public Meetings and in Written Comments. The Plan states "To date, no comments from the LUGs have been received." (page 17) The City of Ramsey is a member of the AnokaCounty Municipal Wellhead Planning Group. On August 11, 2000 the ACMWPG Chairman, Charles Lenthe, notified local government units that the organization member's intend to prepare their municipal wellhead protection plans. As a result, ACMWPG received replies from MDH, the Metropolitan Council, Washington County, St. Paul - Ramsey County Health Department; and the Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District (copies attached). We Recommend: that the Plan be revised to indicate that LGUs and the MDH have been notified of the City's planning efforts and comments were received by multiple organizations. Chapter. 3 - Issues, Problems, and Opportunities II. Identification of: B. Data Elements The Plan states "The Ramsey Water Utility will inform the MDH if it is considering the construction of a new water supply well so the MDH can determ!ne whether and potential sites for a new well present concerns over well interference..." (page 19)