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DuBois council to voice support of Injection Well Safe Water Act
Friday, June 22, 2012
By Josh Woods Staff Writer
DUBOIS - DuBois City Council, at its work session yesterday, voted to write a letter in support of the Injection Well Safe Water Act. House Bill 2350, sponsored by state Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-74 of Houtzdale, would provide a two-year moratorium on the drilling of new deep injection wells across the commonwealth and provide greater water protection when it expires.
Councilman Ed Walsh made the motion to write a letter in support of the bill that was amended after seismic activity in Ohio was blamed on the use of injection wells. The Injection Well Safe Water Act bans deep waste disposal injection wells in floodplains and mandates a 2,000-foot setback from known geologic fault lines. It provides 2,000-foot setbacks from trout streams, high quality/exceptional value waterways and private water supplies and a 5,500-foot setback from public water supplies.
The letter of support was requested by Darlene Marshall, who represents a group of Highland Street Extension residents who are opposed to the location of a deep disposal injection well in Brady Township. The Injection Well Safe Water Act defines an injection well as a well that is used for the disposal of waste products such as brine, hydraulic fracturing chemicals, produced water and other waste products.
Council approved Resolution 2012-0222, a resolution authorizing Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group to file a proposal for funds with Pennsylvania Wilds. DDRG seeks to obtain $3,000 to purchase a sign that would be placed at Shaffer Avenue and Brady Street to welcome travelers to the City of DuBois. The city would assume the in-kind match in the form of installation and materials for installation.
Code Enforcement Officer Zac Lawhead said cleanup continues at the 333 S. Brady St. property and its owner plans to construct a shed at the site. The property owner said the walls of the new shed would be up within the next 30 days, Lawhead said. Walsh said the property owner's cleanup efforts have moved along at a snail's pace and asked Lawhead to speak to the property owner and provide an update Monday.
"It's been almost two months," said Councilman Randy Schmidt. "If I were a neighbor I'd be very upset with that."
However, Schmidt said cleanup at other properties is going well. He commended work that has been done at the Tubbs Estate, calling the outside of the building "nice" and "presentable."
Lawhead said code enforcement continues to pursue the property owner of 210 Rumbarger Ave. in district court. A small amount of debris was removed from the property and placed in a Dumpster but no further cleanup has taken place at the location, he said.
City Manager John "Herm" Suplizio reiterated residents should cut their grass. He said residents have complained after city officials cut their grass and sent them a bill for $300. However, the city does not want to cut grass, he said, and residents should take responsibility for maintaining their properties. Suplizio said McCloyd Terrace is "an absolute mess" and junk has piled up at a location along Williams Street.
"Like councilman Schmidt said, who would want to live by that stuff," said Suplizio. "Redd up your property. Take some pride in your own property."
In other business, council authorized the advertisement of bids for the senior center parking lot and amended a consent order from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Councilwoman Diane Bernardo was absent from the meeting.
DuBois City Council's next meeting is Monday at 7 p.m. at the city building.
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