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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 23, 2010 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 June 23, 2010 ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life, promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County community. THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON June 23, 2010 at the Link Government Services Center, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Anissa Vines, Chair; Steve Yuhasz, Commissioner Representative; Jim Stefanadis; Tony Whitaker; Christopher Cooke; Mike Carstens BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Jessica Lee, out of town; Paul Chelminski, meeting conflict; Chris Harlan, out of town; Michael Wood, meeting conflict STAFF PRESENT: Wayne Sherman, Personal Health Services Division Director; Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Services Division Director; Carla Julian, Risk Management/Quality Assurance Director; Letitia Burns, Business Officer; Anne Miles Cassell, Administrative Assistant; Pat Gentry, Preparedness Coordinator; Judy Butler, Community Health Services Supervisor GUESTS PRESENT: Elysse Thebner and Breana Lai, UNC School of Public Health students I. Educational Presentation: Tom Konsler Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Division Director, spoke on a topic currently of interest to the Board, Geothermal Wells. The Orange County Board of Health in 1980 was the first Board to adopt local well regulations. In the mid-1990’s that was expanded to groundwater protection regulations. Approximately 40% of Orange County population relies on groundwater for drinking water source. In 2008 all North Carolina counties were required to implement drinking water well rules and the majority began enforcing state rules rather than adopting a separate county policy with the exception of 10 counties that enacted their own local regulations. The Orange County Groundwater Program provides well regulations for permitting, consisting of site approval, specifications, construction observation, and regulates approval of drinking water wells, irrigation and agricultural wells, monitoring wells, geothermal wells and well abandonment. Use of geothermal wells is on the increase. Mr. Konsler noted that applications for geothermal well permits are at mid-year, nearing the total permits for last year. He gave a brief overview and illustrations of the different well types and construction methods. Geothermal systems include open systems and closed systems. An open system known as a “pump and dump” is a water supply well that discharges to the surface and requires a traditional well permit. A water supply well that is a re-injection system requires local permits and a state DWQ permit. Geothermal systems are efficient due to a constant ground temperature of 50 – 55 degrees. System cost is approximately $2,500 per ton with a five to six year pay-back plus tax credits and incentives. Examples of geothermal wells in Orange County include Chapel Hill public works facility (85 wells), UNC Botanical Garden (28 wells), Orange County justice facility (68 wells), and increasing residential use. Jim Stefanadis asked how closely the wells are spaced