Ltr re water deliver-geological study survey concerns_20170119

Date: lanuarylgth,2017
To: DEQ & DENR representatives responsible for administering the Coal Ash bill
S. Jay Zimmerman, NCDENR
Thomas Reeder, N CD EN R
William G. Ross, Jr., NCDEQ
From: James Ramsey, President, River Lakes HOA
c/o Property Matters Realty
PO Box 158
Gastonia, NC 28053
thelms(@propertymattersrealty.com
Subject: Water Deliver /Geological Study survey concerns
I am president of the Homeowners Association fora 36 home/lot community named
River Lakes located in Belmont, North Carolina. Our community well is located just
200 yards outside of the �/z mile radius from the Allen Steam Station. Since June 2015
we have been receiving bottled water delivered by Duke Energy. We have been told
by representatives from Duke that this delivery will be suspended effective January
16th because they had inadvertently labeled our water supply as being within the 1/z
mile boundary. After speaking directly with representatives from Duke, they
informed me that our neighborhood would not be subject to provisions contained
within HB630 requiring Duke to provide a permanent water supply to homes
impacted by coal ash ponds and thus water delivery would be suspended.
As you can imagine, this change of course by Duke has caught us off guard since we
were originally told our well would be included in the settlement. Our water quality
has not changed and we believe our water quality is no better than those who have
been identified as being within the 1/2 mile radius of the coal ash pond near the Allen
Steam Station.
We believe the section of legislation referenced below will likely result in our
community being eligible for permanent water solution by Duke but until this study
has been completed, we are in a state of limbo.
G. S. 130A-309-211 (cl) reads as follows: "EACH HOUSEHOLD THAT HAD A
DRINKING SUPPLY WELL THAT IS LOCATED IN AN AREA IN WHICH
CONTAIMINATION RESULTING FROM CONSTITUENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PRESENCE OF COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS IMPOUNDMENT IS EXPECTED TO
MIGRATE AS DETERMINED BY GROUND WATER MODELING AND HYDROGEOLOGIC,
GEOLOGIC, AND GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SITE, CONDUCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF G.S. 130A-309.2.214A(4).

0
I am writing to formally request that you reinstate our temporary water deliver
furnished by Duke Energy until the general statute requirements above have been
completed. Furthermore, we continue to believe our water supply and home values
have been severely impacted by the coal ash ponds as our well water contains
excessive amounts of hexavalent Chromium, Strontium, Sulfate and Vanadium. In
addition, the test results for our well showed a higher level of Boron that any of the
other three community wells who are within the 1/2 mile radius of the coal ash ponds.
Up until very recently Duke Energy did think we were within the 1/2 mile boundary
about the Allen Station Coal ash ponds. We know this because Duke Energy gave our
community well the designation AL115 and had our well water tested together with
three other community wells designated AL112, AL113, and AL114. The test results
found on the DEQ website show that the contaminants in our well water are in
amounts similar to the other three community wells tested by Duke.
In a phone conversation with Richard Sisley, a member of our HOA board, on January
13, Ms. Debra Watts of your Department said that Duke Energy has not yet fully
complied with a request to supply all the technical data needed to determine whether
in fact our well does or does not meet the condition stated in G.S.130A-309-211 (cl)
as quoted in Fact #2 right above.
In the light of these facts I think it is entirely reasonable that the households in our
community that have been receiving potable water supplies from Duke Energy
continue to supply potable water to our community until they have provided the NC
DEQ with all the information requested and required to determine whether we
qualify for a permanent water supply. It is not right that Duke Energy determine on
their own to stop supplying potable water before the NC DEQ has the information
needed to determine whether or not we qualify for a permanent solution for
providing safe water.
Thank you for taking the time to hear about our concerns. The favor of a reply is
appreciated.
Best regards,
James Ramsey
President
River Lakes Homeowners Association