Orange County NC Website
<br />FROM: Commission for the Environment <br />SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting <br />DATE: December 13, 2010 <br />LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center (Hillsborough) <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Kaiser (Chair), Renee Price (Vice Chair), Chris Adams, Lynnette <br />Batt, May Becker, Peter Cada, Michelle Drostin, Loren Hintz, Michael Hughes, David Neal, Gary <br />Saunders, David Welch <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucy Adams, Clay Hudson, Tom O’Dwyer <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw and Tom Davis GUESTS: Commissioner Steve Yuhasz <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> I. Call to Order: 7:30 pm <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – None <br /> III. Approval of Minutes – The November 8 meeting summary was approved as submitted. <br /> IV. 2011 Meeting Calendar – The CFE meeting calendar was approved as submitted. <br /> <br /> V. OWASA Forest Management Plan <br /> Shaw provided an overview of OWASA’s plans for active management of its <br />forestland on 16 properties in southwestern Orange County. He also reported <br />on a Nov. 30 community meeting and a petition received by the BOCC (Dec. 5) <br />requesting that the Board ask the OWASA Board of Directors to reject the plan. <br />Shaw also provided an example of a forest stewardship plan for one of the sites. <br /> Hughes reported on his opposition to the draft plan, citing concerns over the <br />potential adverse impacts to water quality. <br /> CFE members asked for additional information about a) the forest consultant <br />(True North), b) whether state agencies (Division of Forest Resources and <br />Wildlife Resources Commission) and the Duke forest manager (Judd Edeburn) <br />had approved the draft plan, c) whether the plan referenced the use of forestry <br />BMPs, and d) what is OWASA’s primary objective in carrying out this plan. <br /> Becker identified issues of concern: the planned use of herbicides, a potential <br />conflict of interest for the forestry consultant, the lack of financial information <br />from OWASA (will OWASA profit?), and the potential impacts on water quality <br /> Kaiser noted the CFE had received information from many opposed to the plan. <br />He wants to receive OWASA’s views on this matter, including statement of need. <br /> Kaiser asked CFE members to email Shaw with any further concerns/questions <br /> Shaw will compile comments and questions raised by the CFE for the CFE to <br />continue the discussion in January and to prepare memo to the BOCC. <br /> <br /> VI. 2011 Work Plan and Committee Breakout Session <br /> Kaiser reviewed the list of CFE activities anticipated for 2011, along with the list <br />of concerns or emerging issues included in the 2011 work plan. CFE members <br />decided which committee would take the lead on each item. <br /> The four standing committees met separately to discuss and prioritize tasks <br /> Kaiser reconvened the full CFE and asked a representative from each <br />committee to send him a list of prioritized work items for 2011. Kaiser will <br />compile a complete list for consideration at the January 2011 meeting. <br /> <br /> VII. Updates and Information Items <br /> CFE members received updates and information on the following issues: Falls <br />Lake rules, Jordan Lake Partnership, UNC cogeneration plant, and the Unified <br />Development Ordinance, arsenic and radon the groundwater in Orange County. <br /> <br />Meeting adjourned at: 9:36 p.m. Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff