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Board told state expects well #3 to be formally decommissioned; attorney review needed on site rights
Summary
Consultants said the Department of Health expects well #3 to be decommissioned rather than abandoned; the village has an easement for access but may not own the parcel, so trustees asked for legal review before finalizing the DEC decommissioning plan.
Village consultants told the Board that state reviewers expect well #3 to be formally decommissioned, a process that typically requires confirming site control and submitting a DEC‑approved decommissioning plan. Brian Skidmore said the consultant will arrange to have the well examined (pump removal, camera scope and casing verification) so a decommissioning specification can be prepared under DEC requirements.
"He conveyed the department's expectations that the well be formally decommissioned as and not just abandoned in place," Skidmore said, describing the steps needed to document casing depth and remove pumps before grout placement and surface sealing. Mayor Peter Lennon noted that the village has an easement dating to about 1994 but that property ownership has changed several times; trustees requested the village attorney review rights and any constraints before committing to work on the site.
The consultant said the decommissioning plan must demonstrate compliance with DEC rules and that a well driller will need to remove the cap and run a camera down the bore to confirm conditions. Trustees directed staff to obtain counsel advice on whether current easement language grants authority to decommission and to coordinate the field scope with the selected driller and DEC.
