TRR photo by Sandy Long The Safe Drinking Water Act only applies to public water systems and does not protect private wells. While many owners of private water wells have never had their wells tested, the arrival of natural gas exploration in the Upper Delaware River region is stirring interest to do so.

Protecting private wells

Part two: Which tests and why?

By SANDY LONG

PENNSYLVANIA—Residents of Meadville and Dimock continue to live with contaminated water wells as the companies drilling for natural gas nearby strive to meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) directives to restore those water sources. Such impacts have stirred concerns among those who depend on private water wells for their drinking water, prompting questions about the best ways to protect this priceless and irreplaceable resource.

It is estimated that three million Pennsylvanians depend on private wells for their drinking water.

In Pennsylvania, a natural gas well can be drilled within 200 feet of a drinking water source and within 100 feet of many streams and springs, as well as any wetland greater than one acre in size.

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Bethel zoning adopted

Golf course battle continues

By FRITZ MAYER

KAUNEONGA LAKE, NY—Two and a half years after adopting a new comprehensive plan, new zoning provisions have been adopted to complement the plan. At a town meeting on June 24, the Bethel town board voted unanimously to adopt amendments to the zoning code.

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Gillibrand’s dairy plan

Fixing a broken system

By FRITZ MAYER

WASHINGTON, DC—In a free-market society, the price of goods is normally set by the market, not by the government. In the United States, however, that’s not true in the case of milk. Through a complex formula, the federal government sets the price. And the price being paid to farmers just now doesn’t come close to covering the cost of production.

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Other stories in this issue:

• Narrowsburg’s railroad bridge beautified
• ‘The end of an era’
• Pike election director requests transfer
• Fawns in our forests—and along our roads
• Schumer challenges new FEMA flood maps
• Popular Catholic priest transferred
• A life on the road
• Sound investment

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