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Needham commission approves exploratory well testing, grants waivers for Charles River wellfield
Summary
The Needham Conservation Commission closed the hearing and issued an order of conditions plus waivers for exploratory drilling at the Charles River Wellfield, approving temporary access and testing at three proposed locations.
The Needham Conservation Commission voted Feb. 27 to close a public hearing and issue an order of conditions allowing the town to conduct exploratory drilling for a redundant well at the Charles River Wellfield.
The action matters because the work supports the town’s water-supply planning. Commission members granted waivers for work in bordering land subject to flooding and for the 25-foot and 50-foot buffer zones, and the commission issued an order of conditions for the limited, temporary testing work.
Commission Chair Dave Harrer opened the item and asked staff to summarize the project. A staff member said, “It’s a pretty simple project. The town is trying to come up with a redundant well, at the Charles River Wellfield,” and described three proposed testing locations and temporary access over existing fire roads.
Staff told the commission the disturbance would be minimal and temporary, and that access would use existing roads some of which lie within 25- and 50-foot buffer zones but would not involve new clearing in those buffers. The project was described as a utility limited project; if the first test location proves promising the town will not pursue the other two locations.
The commission voted to allow three waivers—work in bordering land subject to flooding and the two buffer zones—and to issue the order of conditions. The commission also asked that the town submit the standard certificate-of-compliance form when the testing is complete; staff noted that because the filing is a town project there is no filing fee. Commissioners recorded their votes by roll call.
Votes at the Feb. 27 meeting: - Motion to close the hearing for 914 Charles River Street: approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Motion to grant waivers for work in bordering land subject to flooding and the 25-foot and 50-foot buffer zones: approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Motion to issue an order of conditions for 914 Charles River Street (DEP file 234-944): approved by roll call (ayes recorded).
The commission noted that if the town seeks a permanent well at the site it would return to the commission for additional review and permitting. No further special conditions beyond standard erosion controls and submission of the certificate-of-compliance were imposed for the temporary testing work.
