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15 <br /> Responses to Public Hearing Comments will be in Bold Red Italics. <br /> • A local citizen expressed concern over the proposed community well and <br /> potential impacts to adjoining property owners. <br /> A BOCC member expanded on this comment and expressed concern over well <br /> recharge rates in the area and inquired about the anticipated completion of a <br /> comprehensive ground water study for the County. <br /> Staff Comment: Staff understands the concerns over potential impacts to <br /> existing wells by the development of any project in the area. Unfortunately <br /> there is no evidence in the record indicating the proposed community well will <br /> have any greater impact than 26 individual wells located on each proposed <br /> parcel of property. <br /> The development of the community well would be in accordance with <br /> applicable State regulations. Orange County Environmental Health will only <br /> issue a well permit, authorizing development of the aforementioned well, <br /> once a copy of the State's approval is received. <br /> According to Mr. Tom Davis, of Orange County Department of Environment, <br /> Agriculture, Parks, and Recreation (DEAPR) there is an observation well <br /> along Millhouse Road as part of the County's observation well network. The <br /> use of the well network is strictly for drought monitoring. <br /> Information related to the drought monitoring program can be found at: <br /> http://orangecountync.gov/ercd/h2orange/index.asp <br /> No further comment necessary, the applicant concurs with the responses providing by the <br /> Planning Staff and is of the opinion that the initial comment has been adequately addressed. <br /> Additionally, please find attached as "Attachment #1", additional documentation from Mr. <br /> Tom Konsler regarding the local geography and ground water. <br /> • A local citizen expressed concern over the use of geothermal wells throughout <br /> the County, especially `pump and dump' systems. This individual went on to <br /> state given the regions propensity for droughts, and the reliance on local wells for <br /> drinking water, geothermal wells should be banned. <br /> A BOCC member asked staff to explain the difference in the different types of <br /> geothermal wells. Another BOCC member stated he thought `pump and dump' <br /> systems would not be permitted in Orange County based on previous comments <br /> made by Orange County Environmental Health staff. <br /> Staff Comment: As stated by staff during the hearing the applicant is not <br /> proposing a geothermal well as part of the project. There is no reference on <br /> the site plan or within the application narrative to the development of a <br /> geothermal well of any type being developed to serve the anticipated 26 <br /> single-family residential lots. <br /> Staff has received a memorandum from Mr. Tom Konsler of Orange County <br /> Environmental Health related to the permitting of geothermal wells in the <br /> County (Please refer to Attachment 2). <br /> At the hearing, the applicant voluntarily agreed to the imposition of a <br /> condition prohibiting the development of geothermal wells of any type within <br /> the project. <br />