| 7/18/00 |
The application, now available for viewing at local libraries, actually reveals the company plans to pump 500 gallons per minute. This is 720,000 gallons per day, and does not include additional well sites, from which waters will be trucked in, bottled and removed from the surrounding areas. The application also states the plant would be capable of bottling 500 gallons of water per minute.
- Ms. Lazgin states The Perrier Group's well application proposes withdrawing 150 to 350 gallons of spring water per minute from wells in Big Springs, Adams County.
George Kraft, Professor of Water Resources, UW-Stevens Point, recently said, “For every gallon pumped by the New Haven project, that means there’s a gallon of water that will not get to its natural discharge area. Those 600 gallons per minute have to come from somewhere. Some preliminary calculations indicate that the impacts could be in the neighborhood of 15-percent of the streamflow of one of the local creeks. More information is needed to say for sure.”
The recent referendum tells us that the information you have received so far hasn't convinced you that New Haven could benefit from an Ice Mountain Spring Water project."
- Ms. Lazgin writes: "As a company, we take your opinions very seriously.
If the company indeed cared about the opinion of the citizens, it would leave the New Haven area and seek a new location.
Opposition began immediately when the Big Springs site was selected in February. Since then, thousands of signatures have been collected in protest.
Since February, the New Haven Town Board has passed a moratorium, a resolution calling for a full EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), and, on July 3, a resolution, approved by the water advisory committee, to oppose the Perrier proposal as a result of overwhelming opposition - 74% - in a record voter turnout special referendum election June 13.
From February through June, all Perrier press releases, comments to members of the water committee, and to individuals who had inquired, stated the factory would be 250,000 square feet in size. The June 20 application by Perrier reveals a factory over 1 million square feet, which is 23-acres under roof - with hundreds of trucks traveling day and night to and from the facility.
It appears to be absent in Perrier's release of information. If the corporation was not truthful about the size of the factory, is it being truthful about the amount of waters to be removed?
- Ms. Lazgin speaks of Perrier being committed to "an open and fair process."
The citizens of New Haven are well-informed, educated individuals and are insulted with the hint they aren't seeing the picture clearly. To the corporate office of The Perrier Group of America, what part of NO don't you understand?
Big Spring is a beautiful, little community among rolling hills filled with wild flowers, grasses and wildlife. Southern Adams County has 23 threatened and endangered species. But, it doesn't matter to Perrier, nor, apparently to many on the state level.
We know what drives Perrier in its continued goal to "change the minds" of the growing opposition. They need water, and they need it now. They have contracts to fill to an exploding market of bottled water use.
State Assembly Representative Joan Spillner, Endeavor, said it was "imperative that town board members and county board members do what their constituents asked them to do," and State Senator Bob Welch, Redgranite, added that Perrier needed to "pack up and go home."
Representative Mark Pocan, Madison, said, "I can not believe how arrogant this company is. If they continue their unwanted and ill-conceived quest, the Legislature may have to step in."
"The environment is very important to us here in Wisconsin," said Representative Frank Boyle, Superior. "Obviously, this out-of-state corporation does not understand this and is using a current loophole in the law for their own personal gain. If they don't get the hint through a referendum that we don't want them here, I guess we'll simply have to close the loophole and spell it out for them."
During Wisconsin's Conservation Congress hearings this spring, it was almost a unanimous vote in all 12 counties that all high cap well applications for the purpose of mining, bottling and exporting spring waters be subject to Class 1 Action, which requires a full EIS, full public disclosure and addresses the human and natural environments.
Waterkeepers of Wisconsin has announced a boycott of Nestle/Perrier products. Contact your legislators and call for immediate legislation. Become a Waterkeeper.
Perrier, it is time for you to leave Big Springs. Show us your company has integrity and credibility by respecting the decision of the overwhelming majority of citizens of the Town of New Haven.
Rosemary Carlson, 608-981-2613
Resident of New Haven
Waterkeepers of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 66
Briggsville, WI 53920