Accomack Supervisors approve resolution condemning deep well injections

By Linda Cicoira

Accomack supervisors unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday night opposing the installation or operation of wells on the Eastern Shore that would inject waste and potentially harm the region’s vital aquifer.

“We are on top of this, and we have been on top of this,” the board members agreed.

The resolution instructed county staff to “take necessary action” to inform the state, federal governments, and officials of the vote.

A county ordinance already bans such injections through permits, conditional use, or special exceptions. However, officials learned of a pending EPA application for multiple Class V bio-slurry injection wells. Such a permit would allow injecting animal and poultry litter, and possibly paper sludge and industrial wastewater.

The Accomack vote explicitly included prohibiting the injection of industrial waste, organic waste, hazardous materials, animal waste, and poultry litter.

There has been significant outcry over the past month as residents considered the possibility of questioning what they drink, cook with, or bathe in. Northampton County supervisors and the local groundwater board had previously voiced opposition.

The Shore’s Yorktown-Eastover aquifer is the main source of drinking water for the region. The proposed wells would be located above this source and would require a pollution abatement permit for discharges.

The state DEQ carried out a preliminary review of the application, noting that the nitrogen levels involved would exceed regulatory limits and that a variance would be needed to comply with Virginia’s anti-degradation policy for groundwater. DEQ also expressed concern about the potential removal of saline water from deep wells within the groundwater management area.