TRR photo by Sandy Long In days gone by, water wells were fairly simple affairs, like this one at Fort Delaware in Narrowsburg, NY. Today’s wells tap deep aquifers, with casings meant to prevent contaminants from entering drinking water supplies. Increasing episodes of contamination linked to the process of natural gas extraction have stirred recent legislative action to protect against such impacts.

Protecting private water wells

Part one: Who pays? Grab your checkbook...

By SANDY LONG

PENNSYLVANIA—Wayne County resident Lucille Giffone recently paid $450 to have her private well water tested to establish baseline readings in hope of protecting her water supply against the potential impacts of natural gas extraction in the Upper Delaware River region. Concerned at the financial burden imposed by the testing, Giffone contacted the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) by email.

“Who is going to pay for this?” Giffone wrote. “Is the county financially prepared to assist people for water testing bills? Are the gas companies going to pay for this? If an accident happens and a person’s well water is contaminated, who is going to assist us in paying to clean up our water, if that is even possible?”

click for story

Buy flood insurance now

Prices will rise next year

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY—If your home or building is in a newly designated flood zone, you should buy flood insurance now, before the new flood maps are officially adopted, because you will save a lot of money.

That was the advice of Paul Weberg, a risk analysis engineer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who addressed a number of town, village and school officials at the government center on June 19.

click for story

Stove store burns

By FRITZ MAYER

YOUNGSVILLE, NY—For the second weekend running, Route 52 in Youngsville was closed off as firefighters battled a structure fire in the middle of town.

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on June 20, a fast-moving blaze broke out at the Countryside Stove and Chimney store. The owner, Mark Schroeder, had reportedly left the store and returned to find it burning. Witnesses said the building, one of the oldest in town, was fully engulfed in flames within minutes after smoke was seen.

click for story

Other stories in this issue:

• Northeast climate change report
• Cell tower location opposed
• Sullivan officials’ gas drilling moves
• Shohola to test wells
• Differences over camp sprinklers discussed
• Callicoon Dems slate set
• Wayne County prison razed

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S