07/24/2001 Ordinances 8685
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ORDINANCE NO. 8685
An ordinance to amend Chapter 35 of the Grand Island City Code; to amend the
Title for Article VI within Chapter 35; to add Article VII and Sections 35-74 through 35-83
pertaining to Groundwater Control Area No.2; to repeal any ordinance or parts of ordinances in
conflict herewith; and to provide for publication and the effective date of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA:
SECTION 1. Article VI of Chapter 35 of the Grand Island City Code shall hereby
be renamed "Article VI. Groundwater Control Area No.1 ".
SECTION 2. Article VII and Sections 35-74 through 35-83 shall be added to
Chapter 35 ofthe Grand Island City Code as follows:
Article VII. Groundwater Control Area No.2
~35-74. Purpose
The U.S. Army, in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), issued a Record of Decision and Record of Decision
Amendment (collectively ROD) for the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant (CHAAP) which identified soil
and groundwater contamination consisting of explosives above the USEP A Health Advisory Levels. The revised
proposed plan for OUl ROD Amendment identifies the Preferred Remedial Alternative for remediating groundwater
at Operable Unit One (OUl) of CHAAP and provides the rational for the OUl ROD Amendment. The preferred
remedial alternatives include remedies for the on-post and off-post groundwater plume containing explosives. The
on-post explosives plume will be treated to remedial action objectives using existing extraction and treatment
technologies. The On-Post Plume Institutional Controls will include land use restrictions, enforcement of the Hall
County Reuse Plan for agricultural and industrial zoning on CHAAP and prohibiting water supply well drilling in
the plume area. The Health Advisory Level in effect as of March 1, 2001, is 2ug/l (microgram per liter) or 2 ppb
(parts per billion).
Pending natural attenuation obtaining the remedial action objectives of the ROD, the U.S. Army has
requested that the City of Grand Island enact and enforce an ordinance instituting Off-Post Plume Institutional
Controls by designating a groundwater control area in which groundwater use would be restricted to prevent human
exposure and consumption of potentially contaminated groundwater, requiring registration of existing wells,
prohibiting installation of new wells supplying water for human consumption in the plume area, and requiring
approval and registration of new wells. The Institutional Control Ordinance is to remain in full force and effect until
the explosive contamination identified in the ROD is attenuated to less than USEP A Health Advisory Levels.
~35-75. Definitions
As used in this Article, the following terms mean:
Groundwater means water pumped from a well located within Groundwater Control Area No.2 described
in Section 35-72.
Groundwater Contamination means the explosives described in the U.S. Army Record of Decision and
Record of Decision Amendment (ROD) for the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant (CHAAP).
Approved as to Form T ~
July 19, 2001 ... City Attorney
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ORDINANCE NO. 8685 (Cant.)
Groundwater Control Area No.2 means a defined area within the corporate limits and zoning jurisdiction
of the City of Grand Island subject to the Off-Post Plume Institutional Controls provided in this Article.
Off-Post Plume Institutional Controls means the provisions of this Article which are intended to prohibit
human consumption of potentially contaminated groundwater from wells and contamination of otherwise
uncontaminated water-bearing zones located within Groundwater Control Area No.2.
Well means a hole or shaft sunk into the earth in order to obtain water from a natural subterranean supply or
aquifer.
The definitions found in Neb. Rev. Stat., Chapter 46 - Irrigation and Regulation of Water are adopted by reference,
except where such definitions are in conflict with those provided in this section above.
~35-76. Groundwater Control Area No.2 Boundaries
The boundaries of Groundwater Control Area No.2 shall be maintained in the Hall County - City of Grand
Island Cooperative Geographic Information System (GIS) using information supplied by the U.S. Army and
modified in accordance with periodic monitoring data prepared by the U.S. Army and reviewed by the USEPA and
NDEQ.
~35-77. Duration ofInstitutional Control Ordinance
(A) This Article shall remain in full force and effect for so long as there remains groundwater
contamination identified in the ROD described in 935-70 making the groundwater unsafe to be used as a source of
drinking water because of explosives contamination above the USEP A Health Advisory Levels then in effect.
(B) When the City of Grand Island is notified by the U.S. Army or the USEPA that groundwater
contamination within Groundwater Control Area No.2 has been reduced to a level below the USEPA Health
Advisory Levels, the Mayor and City Council may proceed to repeal this Article forthwith.
~35-78. Prohibited Groundwater Uses
(A) Groundwater pumped from wells within Groundwater Control Area No.2 shall not be used for any
human consumption including drinking water, cooking, washing or other household uses. Because groundwater
from wells within the groundwater control area may be contaminated and present a hazard to the health, safety, and
welfare of persons exposed to said water, any known human consumption of groundwater from wells within
Groundwater Control Area No.2 is a violation of this Article and is declared a public nuisance subject to abatement
as provided hereafter.
(B) This Article shall not apply to uses of groundwater pumped from wells within Groundwater Control
Area No.2 which do not involve human consumption, including, but not limited to, non-contact cooling water for
industrial, commercial or residential uses and watering of vegetation other than gardens, plants, and trees producing
food for human consumption.
~35-79. Well Registration
(A) All wells for which drilling has commenced or existing within Groundwater Control Area No.2 as of
the effective date of this Article shall be registered with the Building Department by the person owning the real
estate on which the well is located. There shall be no fee for registering an existing well.
(B) No person may drill or install a well within Groundwater Control Area No.2 prior to applying for and
obtaining a well permit from the Building Department. There shall be a nourefundable fee in accordance with the
City of Grand Island Fee Schedule paid to the Building Department contemporaneously with making an application
for a well permit.
(C) No person may drill or install a well within Groundwater Control Area No.2 which penetrates two or
more water-bearing zones unless water-tight casings are installed which conform to the regulations governing water
well construction, pump installation, and water well decommissioning standards of the Nebraska Department of
Health and Human Services, Regulation and Licensure Division (178 NAC 12, Section 003.11D - Contaminated
Water-Bearing Zones).
~35-80. Existing Well Registration, Information Required
The following information shall be submitted to the Building Department in connection with registering a
well in existence as of the effective date of this Article:
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Approved as to Form T
July 19, 2001 . City Attorney
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ORDINANCE NO. 8685 (Cont.)
(A) The name and address of the person owning the real estate on which the well is located.
(B) The address and legal description of the property on which the well is located.
(C) The address of all properties being served by groundwater pumped from the well.
(D) A description of the uses of the water pumped from the well, including specifically whether such
groundwater is used for human consumption including, but not limited to drinking water, cooking,
washing, or other household uses.
(E) Whether City water is available to the property currently served by the well.
(F) The depth of the well, if known.
(G) A diagram showing the location of the well.
g35-81. New Well Registration, Application for Well Permit
The following information shall be submitted to the Building Department in connection with applying for a
well permit for a new well in the Groundwater Control Area No 2:
(A) The name and address of the person owning the real estate on which the proposed well is to be
located.
(B) The address and legal description ofthe property on which the proposed well is to be located.
(C) The address of all properties to be served by groundwater pumped from the proposed well.
(D) A description of the uses to be made of water pumped from the proposed well, including a
certification that said groundwater will not be used for human consumption, including but not limited to
drinking water, cooking, washing, or other household uses.
(E) Whether City water is available to the property to be served by the proposed well.
(F) The depth of the proposed well.
(G) A diagram showing the location of the proposed well.
Following installation of any new, permitted well in Groundwater Control Area No.2, a copy of the well
boring logs shall be filed with the Building Department and made a part of the records for the real estate on which
the well is located.
g35-82. Violations of Institutional Control Ordinance, Abatement of Public Nuisance
Whenever the Building Department Director, or his/her designee has inspected any well within the
Groundwater Control Area No.2 and determined that groundwater pumped from the well is being used in violation
of this Article, the Director shall send a written notice to the owner of record or owner's duly authorized agent, or
person in possession, charge or control, or to the occupant by ordinary first-class mail and by certified mail, return
receipt requested, notifying the addressee of the violation. The written notice shall contain the following
information:
(A) The street address and a legal description sufficient for identification of the premises on which the
well is located.
(B) A brief and concise description of the acts or circumstances constituting a violation ofthis Article.
(C) A brief and concise description of the corrective action required to be taken to render the well and
groundwater uses in compliance with this code.
(D) A brief and concise statement advising the addressee that if the well and groundwater uses are not
brought into compliance with this Article within the time specified, that the Building Department Director,
or his/her designee may order electrical power to the well disconnected and may request the City Attorney,
with the consent of the Mayor, to file an action to abate the public nuisance and charge the costs thereof
against the real estate, the owner of record and the addressee.
g35-83. Procedure for Abatement of Public Nuisance
If the addressee of the written notice described in Section 35-78 fails to abate said nuisance within the time
specified, the City of Grand Island, at the written request of the Building Department Director, or his/her designee
directed to the City Attorney, and with the consent of the Mayor, may proceed to abate said public nuisance pursuant
to Section 20-15 of the Grand Island City Code, and charge the costs thereof against the real estate on which the
well is located and the addressee of the written notice.
In the event the use of the groundwater in violation of this Article might cause irreparable harm or poses a
threat to public health, safety or welfare, or the health, safety or welfare of the persons using the groundwater, the
written notice from the City Attorney to abate pursuant to Section 20-15 shall not be required as a condition
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Approved as to Form ... ~
July 19, 2001 ... City ttorney
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ORDINANCE NO. 8685 (Cont.)
precedent to commencing a legal action to obtain abatement of the nuisance. The City of Grand Island, with the
consent of the Mayor, may immediately file an action requesting such temporary and permanent orders as are
appropriate to expeditiously and permanently abate said public nuisances and protect the public health, safety or
welfare or the health, safety or welfare of persons using the groundwater in violation of this Article.
SECTION 3. Any ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and
hereby are, repealed.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall be in force and take effect from and after
its passage and publication, within fifteen days in one issue of the Grand Island Independent as
provided by law.
Enacted: July 24,2001.
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Ken nadt, Mayor
Attest:
QD~ SQ~
RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
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Approved as to Form T e-.cf"2,
July 19. 2001 '" t11y A\tor: