NH OUTLOOK, Tuesday, 10/1/2002
script iconPreshow script iconGoodnight
script iconHello script iconfounders
script iconIntro groundwater script iconkey: environment
script iconGroundwater script iconkey: environment
script iconIntro water Discuss. script iconTonight 10:00
script iconIntro Monks script iconWEB PROMO
script iconTag Monks script iconIntro Well
script iconTomorrow  

script iconPreshow
Return to index of stories... 		Next on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconHello
Return to index of stories... 		Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook.
script iconIntro groundwater
Return to index of stories... 		Debate has been raging in two small seacoast communities over water and who has the right to it.
The town of Nottingham has rejected several proposals made by USA Springs, Incorporated of Pelham to build a water bottling plant on property the company owns.
In a moment we'll talk with people on all sides of the issue, but first, Ben French brings us up to date on the case.
script iconGroundwater
Return to index of stories... 		NAT:
TRACK 1: Water is by many accounts a shrinking resource. Here in New Hampshire many residents are struggling with dry wells and drought. And as USA Springs attempts to build a water bottling plant in Nottingham, area citizens against the facility battle on.
SOT: T2; 8:42:17 Twenty-five years ago I had this well drilled. I've been the recipient of this water up until the last three years. Everybody in this room knows why I'm saying that- because we have been suffering from a water shortage for the past three years.
**BUTT**
43:08 Mother Nature guarantees the water will come back to me. USA Springs guarantees nothing.
TRACK 2: For months residents opposed to the bottling plant have been making their case at forums, public hearings and rallys, like this one recently held in Nottingham.
NATs:
TRACK 3: The main concern is the companies plan to withdraw nearly half a million gallons of groundwater a day.
SOT: T4; My main concern is that if they get this permit and draw that much water, I'm sure, I'm positive, in two years or less that that Aquifer will be drain dry and nobody in this whole area will have any water.
TRACK 4: Pat Newhall is a member of Save Our Groundwater. The group was formed over a year ago to get people involved in the USA Springs case.
SOT: T4; The wells will be gone, the streams will be gone, the lakes will be down and property values will not be because water is life, and where there is no water, there is no life
SOT: I would like to know if anyone from USA Springs is even here!
TRACK 5: When Chris Reagan began fighting plans for a water bottling plant in his town of Nottingham, he never imagined it would be so much work.
SOT: I have been surprised sat the amount of attorneys. I have a business, I'm pro business but every business needs water and we all have to share it.
TRACK 6: But when a companies business is selling millions of gallons of water to another country during a water crisis. The local welcoming committee stays home.
SOT: T2; 57:23 They have stood up and said that Nottingham and Barrington have nothing to say whatsoever about what they do and how they do it and that is a direct slap in the face for citizens of our cmty and residents of New Hampshire.
SOT: T2; 17:25 We have never said that we didn't care what the town thought or that the towns comments shouldn't be taken into account.
TRACK 7: Gregg Smith represents USA Springs. The company is trying get a state issued permit to run a required pump test on the site. The test would pump 300 gallons of water an hour out of the ground. That has residents like Chris Reagan worried.
SOT: T2; 34:29 What if the pump test damages the existing aquifer? What other substances may be pumped out of the ground and redistributed in our neighborhood? How will this pump test effect plant and animal life? What about aquatic life in the pump test zone.
SOT: T2; 18:10 the pump test would tell us what the level would be that would be safe, that wouldn't cause adverse affects for people that have wells or to the natural environment and the pump test would be reduced during the time we're doing it if we think we're pumping to a greater rate.
**BUTT**
17:51 I think that one of the difficulties is that people are trying to slow this down or even prevent us from taking the test that would get us the critical information that would be reassuring to everyone.
STANDUP 8: Whether that information is reassuring is a point of contention. Officials in Nottingham believe the town doesn't have enough say in whether or not USA Springs moves into Nottingham. The town has jurisdiction over sight plan and subdivision applications, but the water withdrawal application is the responsibility of the state- raising local control issues that are currently pending in superior court.
SOT:
script iconIntro water Discuss.
Return to index of stories... 		Joining me now to talk more about Groundwater and the USA Springs case- Gregory Smith, an attorney representing USA Springs, Chris Reagan, a Nottingham resident and member of 'Save Our Groundwater' and Brandon Kernen, of the Department of Environmental Services. Brandon works for the Water Suply Engineering Bureau in charge of authorizing the proposed pump test.
script iconIntro Monks
Return to index of stories... 		Changing focus now, we want to tell you about an event you might want to attend in Peterborough.
This week, Tibetan monks from India will spend several days creating an intricate sandpainting called a mandala. They'll also take time to share their philosophy with observers.
These same visitors were in Peterborough last year.
Here's what they told us about their mission.
script iconTag Monks
Return to index of stories... 		The monks will be at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough from October 1st through the 6th. They will be creating a new sand mandala. For more information, you can go to www-dot-mariposamuseum-dot-com.
script iconTomorrow
Return to index of stories... 		On the next New Hampshire Outlook -
The Informed Voter. We'll find out how to find out where the candidates really stand on the issues. Far from the rhetoric, there's a record out there for you to explore. It's only a few clicks away.
script iconGoodnight
Return to index of stories... 		That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconfounders
Return to index of stories... 		Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook:
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Public Service of New Hampshire
Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust
Putnam Foundation
Stratford Foundation
script iconkey: environment
Return to index of stories... 		NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/01/02 / 2200
HOST: Allison McNair Length: 6:57
In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on debate over groundwater rights.
PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ben French
NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:
Keith Lidback\Northwood Resident
Pat Newhall\Barrington Resident
Chris Reagan\Nottingham Resident
Gregory Smith\Attorney, USA Springs
Grant 'Skip' Seaverns\Chair, Nottingham Planning Board
Dana Bisbee\NH Dept of Env Services/Acting Commissioner
Sen. Caroline McCarley\D - District 6
Brandon Kernen/ NH Dept of Env Services
script iconkey: environment
Return to index of stories... 		NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/01/02 / 2200
HOST: Allison McNair Length: 15:55
In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included an in studio discussion on debate over groundwater rights.
PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ben French
NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:
Chris Reagan\Nottingham Resident
Gregory Smith\Attorney, USA Springs
Brandon Kernen/ NH Dept of Env Services
script iconTonight 10:00
Return to index of stories... 		Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconWEB PROMO
Return to index of stories... 		Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television.
script iconIntro Well
Return to index of stories... 		On average in New Hampshire, we receive about three and half inches of rain or snow every month. This year things are different. Precipitation has only been about 75% of normal and about two-thirds of the state's monitoring wells have been classified as below normal levels. The demand for well service has gone up and that has created a major backlog among companies who dig wells. Producer Phil Vaughn takes a look at the problem.
2:30-2:34
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