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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 22, 2010 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Lisa Smith 3 September 22, 2010 D. Accept Additional Funds The Health Department has received grant award notification from the NC Center for Public Health Quality (NCCPHQ) as part of our participation in the first wave in the Public Health Quality Improvement (QI) 101 course. The new Public Health QI 101 course is an interactive 6-month learning opportunity for local health departments interested in improving the quality of the services they provide. Participants learn about QI methods and tools and apply what they are learning to specific local projects. To ensure that all local health departments have the opportunity and resources to participate in QI training, each health department that participates in the QI 101 course receives grant money to support their QI activities. Non-district health departments receive $13,729. This money is to pay for travel associated with the QI training course, additional QI trainings, and any supplies/materials needed to support and carry out the QI work. The following is a breakdown of the monies the Health Department received from the NCCPHQ: Kaizen Event (4-day rapid improvement project) Consultant Fee: $6360.00* *Funds paid directly by NCCPHQ to NC State Kaizen consultant. Check for Environmental Health quality improvement project: $7,369.00. Motion to approve the remaining items of consent agenda, Items B, C, and D of September 22nd, 2010 meeting was made by Steve Yuhasz, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. VI. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. Well Rules Amendments Tom Konsler reviewed the background and proposed changes to the Orange County Groundwater Protection Rules. He noted that the proposed changes were properly noticed to the public through the publication of an advertisement in the Raleigh News and Observer. North Carolina General Statute (Chapter 130A) grants boards of health the authority to adopt rules necessary to protect public health. Additionally, Article 7 of NCGS Chapter 87 gives boards of health specific authority to adopt rules that are more stringent than those adopted by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) in the area of well construction when necessary to protect public health. Orange County Board of Health adopted well construction rules in 1980 which have been administered by the Environmental Health staff since that time. From time to time, the board reviews and adopts revisions to the rules to bring them into alignment with state rule changes and changes in the industry. In the summer of 2010, the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) convened a series of stakeholder meetings to discuss and formulate amendments to their rules governing construction of injection wells [15A NCAC 02C .0200], which include geothermal wells. Recognizing that Orange County was one of few counties in the state that already regulated the location and construction of these wells, DWQ invited Orange County Environmental Health staff to sit at the table and help draft these rule amendments. In order to remain as stringent as the state rule amendments proposed, as well as to fill a present need for clarification in areas such as geothermal well setbacks and construction issues, the Orange County Board of Health proposes changes to the “Groundwater Protection Rules for Orange County”. Tony Whitaker asked Tom Konsler to explain further, why we would adopt rules now if the new state rules will be released soon. Mr. Konsler explained that the state process is likely to take at