DEC reviews Turin bulk water plans

GLENFIELD — The state Department of Environmental Conservation will hold two public scoping sessions next week on the latest incarnation of a controversial proposed bulk-water operation in eastern Lewis County.

The sessions — scheduled for 3 and 7 p.m. Thursday at the 3-G fire hall on Blue Street — are part of the State Environmental Quality Review of the Hidden Falls Spring Water project, proposed by John T. and Lynn L. Smoke, Bangor, Pa.

"We want to hear specifics about what kinds of environmental things need to be looked at," said DEC spokesman Stephen W. Litwhiler.

Department staff have already identified numerous potentially significant environmental impacts that should be addressed in the project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, according to a DEC release. They 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 storm water impacts from development of the distribution facility; increased truck traffic on area roads as it relates to safety, highway wear and potential fuel spills.

A draft scoping document has been prepared for the project and is available by contacting Mark A. Wiggins at DEC's Watertown office at 785-2245, Mr. Litwhiler said.

Comments may also be sent to Mr. Wiggins by mail at 317 Washington St., Watertown N.Y. 13601, by fax at 785-2242 or by e-mail at mawiggin@gw.dec.state.

ny.us.

For the better part of the decade, the Smokes have been working to develop a facility for collection, bulk storage and shipment of spring water on their property off Sweeney Road in the town of Greig. Following a public outcry against the project by many Greig residents, the Town Council and Planning Board both rejected plans by the Smokes.

After attempts to overturn the Greig Planning Board's decision in court were unsuccessful, the Smokes obtained property and easements that would allow them to build a distribution center on a 100-acre site off Burdicks Crossing Road in the town of Turin and construct a water line under Black River connecting the spring with the proposed building.

The Lewis County Planning Board in October approved a special permit request to construct an 80-by-48-foot metal building with two storage tanks and two truck bays off Burdicks Crossing Road. The Turin town Planning Board must still give its approval.

DEC — with the towns' blessing — earlier this year became lead agency for the environmental review of the project.

The projected maximum flow for the project would be 288,000 gallons per day, according to the DEC release. While the Smokes' plan has historically been to ship truckloads of bulk water from their distribution center, the release indicates the proposed business could also include bottling.

The company is now collecting required stream flow and temperature data to be used as baseline information against a test period with maximum water withdrawal, the release states.

The test also will determine whether it would impact private wells within one mile of the well-head area.