Scott Johnstone, Secretary
Agency of Natural Resources
Center Building
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, Vermont 05671-0301

December 17, 2001

Dear Scott:
Thank you for your letter of November 29. We appreciate the opportunity to submit our comments with respect to TP3.

At our December 12th meeting (and a post-meeting polling of those not present), four members voted in favor of Option 1:
Jim Condict, Strafford Planning Commission
John Freitag, Citizens for a Sensible Solution
E Gwenda Smith, Strafford Historical Society
Steve Willbanks, Strafford Selectboard

Five members voted for Option 3:
Linda Cook, Elizabeth Mine Non-Resident Landowners
Tom Essex, Elizabeth Mine Resident Landowners
Neal Meglathery, Thetford Selectboard
Scott Stokoe, Thetford Conservation Commission
Bob Walker, Elizabeth Mine Study Group

Our facilitator was not able to reach Deby Botelho who represents the Elizabeth Mine Survivors by e-mail or phone, however, in the past she has voiced a preference for Option 3.

Three of the representatives who voted for Option 3 said that they could accept Option 2, provided that there was a clear commitment on the part of the state to fund the Operation and Maintenance costs over the very long run.

At our December 12th meeting, we learned that the state solid waste regulations preclude the cleanup that the Community Advisory Group, EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the State Historic Preservation Office and your agency have been working to develop for the past 15+ months. We are very frustrated that your agency overlooked its own regulations for so long. We do not want the regulations to drive the cleanup design. George Desch has assured us that your staff will be able to devise a "fix" that allows the cleanup as designed to proceed. We look forward to meeting with you or your representative in early January to learn how this will be accomplished, and to discuss how we can assist you.

Sincerely,

Rod Maclay, Chair
Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory Group
Via e-mail:
Cc: Andy Raubvogel
Skip Flanders
George Desch
Mike Young
Senator Bill Corrow
Representative Jim Masland
Thetford Selectboard
Strafford Selectboard
Ed Hathaway
Bill Lovely
Scott Acone
Giovanna Pebbles
Emily Wadhams