Casino developers want permission to drill wells that would free them from relying on Columbus' water lines.
Wells would take Columbus' key bargaining chip - water service - off the table as city leaders seek to annex the casino site, now in Franklin Township near W. Broad Street and I-270.
Penn National Gaming applied for permission to drill the wells on Oct. 27, shortly after
"Mayor (Michael B.) Coleman views this as a shakedown tactic," Dan Williamson, the mayor's spokesman, said today of Penn National's application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
"While we are keeping our commitments, Penn National is apparently trying to squeeze Columbus taxpayers for public dollars to add to their casino profits."
Columbus usually has two main bargaining chips in annexation talks: water and sewer. But Franklin Township Trustee Timothy Guyton said it's his understanding that the city had agreed to supply sewage service to the area, which includes the site of the former Delphi auto-parts plant, through about 2040. That leaves water.
Columbus stands to gain more than $24 million per year in taxes if the casino is in the city. So far, regulators at the Ohio EPA have told Penn National that they need more information about contamination and other issues before they can think about approving wells.
Bob Tenenbaum, Penn National spokesman, downplayed the well application.
"That's really an effort to try to get a handle on what resources would be available to us," he said. "There's been no decision made, but this is a preliminary step seeking permission from the EPA to drill a test well."
The company is seeking more than a test well, according to documents it submitted to the Ohio EPA.
"We are hereby submitting this application to obtain site approval for the proposed construction of new water supply wells," Penn National's application says. The wells would provide the casino with about 183,000 gallons per day, the application says, enough to supply its restaurants, bars, gambling areas, hotel and RV park.
EPA officials need to know a lot more before they can consider approving the wells, said Erin Strouse, the agency's spokeswoman. There's no typical time frame for approving such a request.
"It's a scientific process. This one likely will take longer because of the known contamination," she said. "We're still discussing what additional information would be necessary."
Penn National's consultants assured the EPA in a filing last week that the proposed wells, drilled into a deep limestone aquifer, would be safe despite contamination found in shallower test wells. That contamination includes hazardous levels of acetone, arsenic, lead and methylene chloride.
As proof, the consultants offered clean readings from the only test well on the site that goes as deep as the proposed supply wells. However, it's 2,200 feet - close to half a mile - from the proposed water wells.
"That's not adequate," Strouse said of the single well. "We need a minimum of three (test) wells in an individual groundwater zone to determine flow direction."
The agency also will need more data on contamination at the site and more information to determine whether the aquifer can sustain such flow rates, she said.
Coleman needs to know just one thing, Williamson said: When will Penn National make good on its commitment to annex to the city? It made the promise during the campaign a year ago to move the casino site to W. Broad from the Arena District.
"We're continuing to negotiate in good faith," Williamson said, "but Mayor Coleman will not allow Columbus citizens to be strong-armed in a money grab by Penn National Gaming.
"They've made a commitment, and they need to make good on their commitment."
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Copyright © 2024 ToCasino.net Online Casino. All Rights Reserved. Designed by