VERNON S. WALKER TIMELINE

Summer 2005 -Conversation between Nestle Waters and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) supervisor regarding potential spring water source in Vernon S. Walker Game Management Area.

August 2005- Nestle Waters contacts Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with written proposal for field investigation.

Sept 2005- Inland Fisheries and Wildlife gives Nestle Waters permission to do initial field investigation for potential spring water quality and quantity in Newfield and Shapleigh in the Vernon S. Walker Game Management Area.

Feb 2006 -Drilling of test wells was conducted to perform preliminary spring exploration and water quality testing in Vernon S. Walker Game Management Area. Bore wells placed in both Newfield and Shapleigh.

March 1,2006- A four-hour pump test was conducted in Vernon S.Walker Game Management Area in Shapleigh off the Mann Road. Water samples were collected at the end of the pump test.

March 14,2006- Preliminary results report written and mailed to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regarding the Mann Rd test site in Shapleigh.

Dec 2006- Two Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists do site walk with hydro geologic engineers in Vernon S. Walker Game Management Area. @ the Mann Rd test site.

Jan 2007- next phase of spring water source investigation work plan sent to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife supervisor.

Feb 2007- Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) supervisor contacts engineer regarding the next phase of field investigations in Vernon S.Walker Game Management Area at the Mann Rd. site. This phase will include placing several more bore wells.

March 2007- Nestle Waters representative requests IFW personnel to accompany representative on 4-3-07 to meet with the first selectperson in Shapleigh to let the town know about the aquifer testing on state land in Shapleigh.

June 2007-A representative from MNAP visits the unique spring area south of the Little Ossippee River.

August 2007- Information sent to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from an environmental consultant representing Nestle Waters regarding proposed wetland biological monitoring to asses the ecological conditions of the existing wetlands at the Mann Rd project site. Scheduled to take place on Sept 5,2007.

Winter 07/08- A number of meetings between Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Nestle Waters attorneys took place regarding contract language to start large-scale water extraction in the Vernon S.Walker Game Management Area. These meetings stalled and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was notified at the end of the winter that Nestle Waters was taking their new water source search to the Town of Shapleigh at property located across the street.

Feb7, 2008-First Informational meeting held by Nestle Waters, Poland Springs regarding potential testing for spring water on the Shapleigh town property. Aprox 60 people attended this informational meeting.

March 1, 2008- Second informational meeting held by Nestle Waters, Poland Springs aprox. 80 People attended.

April 10, 2008-Third informational meeting held by Nestlé Waters, Poland Springs aprox 125 people attended.

May 5, 2008-Test results for a couple test wells, stated to exist by Nestle at the March informational meeting, were requested by e-mail from Nestle's representative.

May 7,2008-FIFTEEN bore wells were counted in IFW off the Mann Rd.

May 9, 2008-Records were requested by e-mail from IFW regarding the agreement between Nestle and IFW for existing bore wells.

May 23, 2008-Records were mailed from IFW that included correspondence between an engineering company and IFW. These reports were dated March 14, 2006 and had been cc'd to the Nestle representative who stated in a full-page letter dated 5-27-08 that there weren't any reports. The correspondence included preliminary test results, two water analysis reports, emails and other correspondence, which also indicated borewells, had been placed in Newfield within the Vernon Walker Area.

May 27, 2008-A full-page letter was mailed from Nestle′ representative stating, "no reports, data reduction, or assimilation of any sort has been performed" (see note from May 23rd above)

July 25, 2008-Contacted IFW regarding 15 bore wells. Requested Nestle′ reports from the last 27 months of monitoring. Questions were asked about the status of 15 bore wells. The letter (dated 9-26-05) from IFW in response to the Nestle′ proposal states that the wells should be removed and abandoned if conditions were not favorable.

Aug. 26, 2008-Nestle′s lawyer responds to IFW request regarding monitoring reports for the last 27 months.

Sept. 10,2008- In an e-mail from Chip Ahrens (part of Nestle legal team) to IFW representative. A response is made to the inquiry about a conceptual map showing a water pipeline traversing thru a biologically sensitive area in Vernon Walker Wildlife Area. “Please rest assured that any drawing that shows such a pipeline is conceptual only”.

Sept. 20, 2008-Additional reports were received (dated 9-15-08) regarding fieldwork accomplished between May and June 2007. The cover letter from Drumlin Environmental to the regional wildlife biologist states that 16 bore wells were sunk in the Vernon Walker Area in Shapleigh. Data collected from June 2007 to Sept. 2008 was not made available in this report. Drumlin stated in this letter that it would prepare a compilation of data for submittal of information to IF&W on a quarterly basis starting quarter ending Dec. 2008.

Sept. 20, 2008- Shapleigh citizen’s voted to approve a moratorium on large scale water extraction activities in the town of Shapleigh for 180 days allowing the planning board more time to work on a large scale water extraction ordinance. The moratorium passed with a vote of 204 in favor and 38 opposed.

Oct. 17^th to Feb. 17^th- the Shapleigh Planning Board held four more public hearings on their proposed regulatory ordinance. Citizens packed the hearings and repeatedly asked for a stronger regulatory ordinance. Suggestions were made to strengthen the ordinance but the citizens suggestions were not acted on. It became evident that the people were not being heard. To add further insult, the citizens learned that the Board of Selectmen hired an “Independent” consultant referred to them by Nestle to write the ordinance.

Nov. 15 and 16 2008- Democracy School was held in Newfield and Shapleigh. Citizens received copies of the Water Rights and Local-Self Government Ordinances for each town.

Dec. 16,2008 – Shapleigh & Newfield citizens had began to enact an ordinance based on the peoples constitutional rights named the “Shapleigh Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance” and the “Newfield Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance”. Petitions requesting that these rights based ordinances be placed on the town warrant were delivered to the selectmen of Newfield and of Shapleigh.

Dec 29,2008-Quarterly monitoring report requested from IFW representative.

Jan. 6,2009- Shapleigh Selectmen refuse to put the petition question out to a vote.

Jan7, 2009- Advised that a quarterly report had not been sent to IFW and a request for this record should be made directly to Mr. Dubois from Nestle Waters.

Jan. 26,2009- quarterly report requested via e-mail from Nestle Waters regarding the Vernon Walker Wildlife Areas bore wells in Newfield and Shapleigh.

Jan. 27,2009- E-mail received stating that there are no borings in Newfield that Mr. Dubois is aware of.

Jan. 27,2009 -A petition was turned in to the Shapleigh town clerk stating that the citizens were calling their own town meeting via the notary process. The Shapleigh Board of Selectmen, at their next meeting, start to discuss potential legal action to stop the vote and the enactment of the rights based ordinance. Effectively preparing for legal action against the people that they were elected to serve (the citizens of Shapleigh).

Feb.3, 2009- Newfield Selectmen agree to put the rights based petition question on the town ballot for March 14, 2009.

Feb. 12,2009-Report for quarter ending Dec.2008 received from Drumlin Environmental.

Feb. 26,2009-LD763- "An Act To Clarify the Warrant Article Petition Process"

Sponsored By: Representative WILLETTE of Presque Isle

Cosponsored By: Representative CLARK of Easton, Representative COTTA of China,
Representative HAYES of Buckfield , Senator JACKSON of Aroostook

This bill, if passed, would take away citizens right to hold a special town meeting via the notary process if the selectmen were to decide to block the citizens petition. See Jan. 27 above.

"Governments are instituted to secure people’s rights, and that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed;"      -  The Declaration of Independence

Feb. 28,2009 -Shapleigh Citizens gather for their Special Town Meeting to vote on the “Shapleigh Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance” It passes by a vote of 114 to 66. This ordinance stops large-scale water extraction in the town of Shapleigh on town owned, state owned or privately owned land.

March 13,2009 -The chairman of the Shapleigh Board of Selectmen (an incumbent) was voted out of office.

March 14,2009- Newfield voters enact the “Newfield Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance” by a vote of 228-146.

March 23,2009- Legislative committee public hearing held in Augusta regarding LD 763 "An Act To Clarify the Warrant Article Petition Process." Citizens become alarmed at the timing of this bill and its intent to take power away from the citizens. A grass roots campaign ensues to defeat LD 763.

Article 1, Section 2 of the Maine Constitution, declares:

"all power is inherent in the people; all free governments are founded in their authority and instituted for their benefit, they have therefore an inalienable and indefeasible right to institute government and to alter, reform, or totally change the same, when their safety and happiness require it";

March 30,2009-Legislative Committee on State and Local Government votes "An Act To Clarify the Warrant Article Petition Process" ONTP (ought not to pass) LD 763-bill defeated.

May 5,2009- legislative work session on LD1269-Andrew Fisk-State employee at Department of Environmental Protection- Mr. Fisk presents an eight-page amendment to LD 1269 “Fisk Amendment” which severely impacts a municipalities right to home rule. Large Scale Water extraction permits would be solely permitted by the DEP. Municipalities would be stripped of their right to pass a local ordinance.

May 6,2009 – Citizens are outraged and a grass roots campaign begins to defeat the Fisk Amendment”

May 12,2009- Legislative Committee on Natural Resources votes “Fisk Amendment “ ONTP (ought not to pass). Amendment fails.

May 15,2009- Representative Jim Campbell reported that he was advocating to get the wells removed from Vernon Walker Wildlife Management Area.

May 29,2009- March 2009 quarterly report requested from Mr. Dubois at Nestle Waters, Poland Springs. No response received form Nestle Waters regarding this request. See Jan. 7 note above.

June 2,2009- Information received from Mr. Pratte, Wildlife Management Section Supervisor,

“ ordinances have recently been adopted in the towns of Shapleigh and Newfield banning the extraction of ground water by corporations for sale outside of the town.  Based on that, IF&W and Poland Springs have discussed the future of test wells located at the Vernon Walker WMA. Poland Springs will be or has already conducted one last round of sampling and then we plan to remove the test wells sometime this summer as work schedules allow.” 

July 1,2009- Mr. Pratte from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife releases a work plan , to the public from Drumlin Environmental. This plan outlines the decommissioning of the Nestle Waters bore wells in the Vernon Walker Wildlife Management Area.

July 22,2009- An environmental engineering firm arrives with a tire mounted drill rig to start removing the bore wells from the Shapleigh side of the Vernon Walker Wildlife Management Area. The hydro geologist states wells are located in 16 locations, some locations have multiple bore wells. Four bore wells from two locations are removed today. The holes that did not collapse were filled with several feet (aprox.10) of betonite chips and then approximately two feet of sand and sod.

July 23,2009- Nine bore wells at seven locations were removed.

July 24,2009- Five spring points were accessed by foot and removed by hand. Five bore wells at four locations were removed by the drill rig on this damp rainy day. Some holes were filled with aprox. 10ft of sand and a couple of feet of betonite chips (reverse of first day procedure). A total of 23 wells were removed in three days (18 bore wells and 5 spring points).

Awaiting decommissioning report……………………………..