From: Stephen Litwhiler [swlitwhi@gw.dec.state.ny.us]
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 11:34 AM
To: Stephen Litwhiler
Subject: DEC INVITES PUBLIC TO MEETINGS ON PROPOSED WATER BOTTLING PLANT
in LEWIS COUNTY

For Release: IMMEDIATE  		Contact:  Stephen W. Litwhiler 

  Thursday, August 27, 2009		     (315) 785-2252 
		

DEC INVITES PUBLIC TO MEETINGS ON PROPOSED WATER BOTTLING PLANT in LEWIS COUNTY Comments Accepted Until Sept. 11

 
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced it will host two public meetings on a proposal by Hidden Falls Spring Water to develop a bottled spring water business in the Town of Turin, Lewis County. The focus of the meetings will be on what’s known as the scoping documents for the project. The purpose of scoping documents essentially is to outline what environmental factors must be included in a “Draft Environmental Impact Statement” (DEIS), the document that will eventually guide the review of the proposed development.

The meetings will be held Sept. 3, 2009, at the Glenfield Fire Hall on Blue Street in the hamlet of Glenfield and will be broken into two sessions, one beginning at 3 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.

 
The scoping process has six objectives:
?	Focus the DEIS on the potentially significant adverse
environmental impacts.

?	Eliminate non-significant and non-relevant issues. 
?	Identify the extent and quality of information needed. 
?	Identify the range of reasonable alternatives to be discussed. 
?	Provide an initial identification of mitigation measures. 
?	Provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the
identification of impacts.
	
	Scoping comments will be accepted until the close of business on Friday, Sept. 11. In addition to speaking at the public meetings, the public can send written comments via E-mail, fax or regular mail. Send comments to: Mark A. Wiggins, NYS DEC - Region 6 Office, 317 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601. Fax number is: (315) 785-2242, or E-mail:
or mawiggin@gw.dec.state.ny.us .
	
	As lead agency in the environmental review,  DEC has determined that the proposed bottling operation might have a significant adverse impact on the environment and that a DEIS must be prepared. The proposed project by John Smoke, of Bangor, PA, would consist of the development of a bulk and bottled spring water business to be located  on Burdicks Crossing Road and the use of existing spring well heads (4) and additional well heads to meet the maximum total projected flow of approximately 288,000 gallons per day. The spring water source area is located in the Town of Greig and the proposal would be to run a water pipeline under the Black River to the distribution facility in Turin. 

	Potentially significant environmental impacts include possible changes in water temperature, water flow and stream depth in a nearby stream; impacts to quantity and quality of groundwater in existing private water supply wells; erosion and sedimentation during pipeline installation where earth is exposed; increased stormwater impacts from development of the distribution facility; increased truck traffic on area roads as relates to safety, highway wear and potential fuel spills.
	
	The company is currently undertaking required stream flow and temperature data collection to be used as baseline information against a proposed maximum withdrawal (200 gallons per minute) test period. In addition, the company will determine whether the water withdrawals under maximal conditions would impact any private water wells within one mile of the well head area. 
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