On February 9, 2012, the Doaktown Village Council, in a public meeting , unanimously adopted a resolution asking the province, “to establish a formal well field protection area” for the village after completion of a “hydro-geological survey of the aquifers” .
“Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers: the Village asks the Province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas, or extraction within or near those well field areas."
Read the motion in full below:
Whereas the Village of Doaktown considers a safe and secure water supply essential for the existence of its citizens;
Whereas the Village antiquated sewage system threatened Village water;
And Whereas the Village of Doaktown with the assistance of the other two levels of government has spent approximately $9,000,000 since 1983, to upgrade and expand its sewage and water systems;
And Whereas it has decided to spend an additional $1,200,000 to install water treatment plant beside its new well on the North side;
And Whereas the Province’s granting exploration companies the right to test for commercial quantities of natural gas in and around the Village may jeopardize the Village’s water supply;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Village of Doaktown asks the Province to:
Complete a hydro-geological survey of the aquifer(s) that supply both the Village springs on the South Side and the new well on the North Side;
To establish a formal well field protection area for both North and South Sides based on the survey;
Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers in question; the Village asks the Province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas or extraction within or near those well field areas.
The Village further asks the Province to provide bench mark tests of all wells and springs, including the Village’s 30% residents dependent on their private wells or springs, within its municipal boundaries at no cost to the home owner or Village. These bench mark tests shall be given to the Village and affected home owners and shall become the baseline for any potential damage to the water supply now or in the future resulting from the exploration or extraction of natural gas.
Should any damage or contamination to the Village’s water supply occur from either the exploration or extraction of natural gas, or any connected potentially damaging activity, the Province would automatically assume any costs for remediation up to and including purchase of any and all affected properties at replacement value. Such payment would be immediate and it would be the Province’s responsibility to recover its costs from the gas exploration or extraction company.
The Village of Doaktown has assumed a large and onerous tax burden to provide this essential water service and cannot responsibly permit the Province to threaten its purity through its issuing leases to gas drilling companies. Since the Province has made the decision on this issue, it must be accountable to any and all persons suffering damages.
Further, since the surrounding communities of Storeytown, Hazelton, Blissfield, Grand Lake Road, Bettsburg, Nelson Hollow, and Big Hole Brook, are an integral part of the greater Doaktown, the Council asks that the same protection be given to them as well.
BE IT MOVED by Councillor Price and seconded by Councillor Gillespie to duly adopt the preceding Resolution of Council.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Read the motion in full below:
Resolution of Council
February 9, 2012
Whereas the Village antiquated sewage system threatened Village water;
And Whereas the Village of Doaktown with the assistance of the other two levels of government has spent approximately $9,000,000 since 1983, to upgrade and expand its sewage and water systems;
And Whereas it has decided to spend an additional $1,200,000 to install water treatment plant beside its new well on the North side;
And Whereas the Province’s granting exploration companies the right to test for commercial quantities of natural gas in and around the Village may jeopardize the Village’s water supply;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Village of Doaktown asks the Province to:
Complete a hydro-geological survey of the aquifer(s) that supply both the Village springs on the South Side and the new well on the North Side;
To establish a formal well field protection area for both North and South Sides based on the survey;
Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers in question; the Village asks the Province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas or extraction within or near those well field areas.
The Village further asks the Province to provide bench mark tests of all wells and springs, including the Village’s 30% residents dependent on their private wells or springs, within its municipal boundaries at no cost to the home owner or Village. These bench mark tests shall be given to the Village and affected home owners and shall become the baseline for any potential damage to the water supply now or in the future resulting from the exploration or extraction of natural gas.
Should any damage or contamination to the Village’s water supply occur from either the exploration or extraction of natural gas, or any connected potentially damaging activity, the Province would automatically assume any costs for remediation up to and including purchase of any and all affected properties at replacement value. Such payment would be immediate and it would be the Province’s responsibility to recover its costs from the gas exploration or extraction company.
The Village of Doaktown has assumed a large and onerous tax burden to provide this essential water service and cannot responsibly permit the Province to threaten its purity through its issuing leases to gas drilling companies. Since the Province has made the decision on this issue, it must be accountable to any and all persons suffering damages.
Further, since the surrounding communities of Storeytown, Hazelton, Blissfield, Grand Lake Road, Bettsburg, Nelson Hollow, and Big Hole Brook, are an integral part of the greater Doaktown, the Council asks that the same protection be given to them as well.
BE IT MOVED by Councillor Price and seconded by Councillor Gillespie to duly adopt the preceding Resolution of Council.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
