Blogs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Seven  Creeks  Roadside  Spring Water</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seven Creeks Roadside Spring Water"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id595.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="To Governor"><B><IMG SRC="0720e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>    </B><A HREF="id659.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blank Message Sheet"><B><IMG SRC="0710e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id727.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matz Malones Investigative Report "><B><IMG SRC="0730e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div>  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" >Attached is a chronological listing of the correspondence we have had.  Details and links are provided in the right column. Send us any comments or inaccuracies noted. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> 04-07-97 letter to  Ag Dept</div> <div> 04-10-97 letter from Ag Dept</div> <div> 07-09-97 letter from OEPA to Ag Dept</div> <div> 04-06-00 letter to OEPA and Ag Dept</div> <div> 02-??-04 JCH Dept license form</div> <div> 03-??-04 Ag  Dept phone calls</div> <div> 04-27-04 phone call to Ag Dept</div> <div> 04-27-04 letter from OEPA</div> <div> 05-04-04 Letter to Sen DiDonato</div> <div> 05-10-04 phone call to Sen DiDonato</div> <div> 05-17-04 FAX to Sen DiDonato</div> <div> 07-07-04 letter from JCHealth Dept</div> <div> 07-29-04  letter to OEPA</div> <div> 08-05-04 letter from OEPA</div> <div> 08-16-04 letter to JCHealth Dept</div> <div> 09-10-04 letter to Governor</div> <div> 10-19-04 meeting in Columbus</div> <div> 12-05-04 Matz Malone Report</div> <div> 12-16-04 3 way teleconference</div> <div> 12-16&17-04 phone call </div> <div> 12-20-04 OEPA  request for info</div> <div> 12-23-04 phone message to OEPA</div> <div> 12-27-04 FAX to Seven Creeks</div> <div> 01-04-05 phone call to OEPA</div> <div> 01-10-05 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> 01-20-04 received OEPA license</div> <div> 01-21-05 letter to Legislaturers</div> <div> 02-09-05 phone call from Domenick</div> <div> 02-17-05 3 way teleconference</div> <div> 03-07-05 Letter from Health Dept</div> <div> 03-10-05 3 way teleconference</div> <div> 05-05-05 OEPA Inspection</div> <div> 05-22-05 EPA Grant</div> <div> 05-26-05 O EPA Letter</div> <div> 06-14-05 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> 07-13-05 letter to OEPA</div> <div> 07-15-05 OEPA Letter</div> <div> 08-03-05 OEPA Letter</div> <div> 09-21-05 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> 10-11-05 letter to Attorney General</div> <div> 12-1-05 Strickland&USEPA  letter</div> <div> 12-12-05 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> 12-21-05 EPA Hearing Officer</div> <div> 01-4-06 OEPA Letter</div> <div> 01-29-06  Letter to OEPA</div> <div> 06-2-95 OEPA Letter</div> <div> 07-19-06 OEPA Letter</div> <div> 01-13-07 Letter to Governor</div> <div> Letter from Governor(no copy)</div> <div> 03-17-07 letter from OEPA</div> <div> 06-20-07 letter to OEPA,ODAG,Health Dept</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>Blogs  </I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" >Margaret Mead</FONT> </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="april_7_1997_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >April 7, 1997</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id608.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 1">April 7, 1997 letter</A> to the Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Division requesting inspection and certification of the spring that we are going to use to sell spring water at the selfservice vending station adjacent to the spring, sell bulk water to a wholesaler and eventually erect a building and bottle water for retail sale.</div> <div>  <A NAME="april_10_1997"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >April 10, 1997</FONT></div> <div> The Food Safety Division <A HREF="id609.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 2">April 10, 1996(7) letter</A> informing Seven Creeks Spring that the April 7 request was forwarded to the Ohio EPA requesting the water source evaluation and inspection.</div> <div>  <A NAME="july_9_1997"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >July 9, 1997</FONT></div> <div> Ohio EPA <A HREF="id611.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 3">July 9, 1997 letter</A> to the Ohio Department of Agriculture with the results of the analyses, performed on May 16, 1997, that no primary MCLs were exceeded, however, because "this is a spring and subject to surface water infiltration, our Agency would not accept this source for use as a public water system without appropriately design and installed filtration and disinfecting facilities."  Based on this letter the Food Safety Division allowed us to proceed with construction. </div> <div>  <A NAME="april_6_2000"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >April 6, 2000</FONT></div> <div>  Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id612.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 4">April 6, 2000 letter</A> to Ohio EPA and Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division providing information for an additional water trap.</div> <div>  <A NAME="february_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >February 2004</FONT></div> <div> Received license application form from Jefferson County Health Department for each of the water kiosks. This is the first time Health Department sent us license, even though they have been aware of our spring and license with the Department of Agriculture since 1998. </div> <div>  <A NAME="march_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >March 2004</FONT></div> <div> Received phone call from Department of Agriculture telling us not to return the Ohio Depatment of Agriculture Bottled water application they had sent us. Contacted Paul Panico and he said that we were being transferred to the Ohio EPA, however, he did not provide any reasoning other than they were reviewing their records and believe we should be under the Ohio EPA jurisdiction.</div> <div>  <A NAME="april_27_2004_phone_call"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >April 27, 2004 phone call</FONT></div> <div> Tom Galownia phone call to Paul Panico of Ohio Department of Agriculture. Per Dept of Ag, a meeting was planned in May between the Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Agriculture, an Ohio water bottling company owned by an Ohio state senator and the International Water Bottling Association  to determine the jusridiction of bottled spring water. </div> <div>  <A NAME="april_27_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >April 27, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Ohio EPA <A HREF="id613.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 5">April 27, 2004 Notice of Violation letter</A> to Seven Creeks Spring recommending three alternatives. 1.Closing the vending kiosks and bottling the water under the license of the Department of Agriculture.2.Closing the business.3.Drilling a well  </div> <div>  <A NAME="may_4_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >May 4, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id614.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 6">May 4, 2004 letter</A> to Senator DiDonato requesting help with jurisdiction</div> <div>  <A NAME="may_10_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >May 10, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Tom Galownia phone call to Senator DiDonato aide to make sure they received the letter. </div> <div>  <A NAME="may_17_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >May 17, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id615.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 7">May 17, 2004 FAX</A> to Senator DiDonato providing additional information and 2004 water analysis </div> <div>  <A NAME="july_7_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >July 7, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Jefferson County Health Department <A HREF="id616.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 8">July 7, 2004 letter</A> to Seven Creeks Spring requesting appearance before Board of Health concerning an approved source</div> <div>  <A NAME="july_29_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >July 29, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id617.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 9">July 29, 2004 letter</A> to Ohio EPA requesting extension in order to consider the six years successful operation and testing as a pilot plant study</div> <div>  <A NAME="august_5_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >August 5, 2004</FONT></div> <div>  Ohio EPA <A HREF="id618.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 10">August 5, 2004 letter</A> to Seven Creeks Spring Designating Spring as Surface Water</div> <div>  <A NAME="august_16_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >August 16, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id619.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 11">Aug 16, 2004 letter</A> to Jefferson County Health Department discussing the definition of an "Approved Source"</div> <div>  <A NAME="september_3_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>September 3, 2004</div> <div> Seven Creeks Spring <A HREF="id620.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Reference 12">September 3, 2004</A> letter to Ohio EPA requesting hearing for designation of water source as surface water</div> <div>  <A NAME="september_10_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>September 10, 2004 Sent Letter to Governor Taft</div> <div> Sent <A HREF="id595_letter_to_governor_bob_taft.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="To Governor">letter to Governor Taft</A> asking for his help to save the spring. Included correspondence references </div> <div>  <A NAME="october_19_2004_meeting_in_columbus"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>October 19, 2004 meeting in Columbus</div> <div> <U>Meeting 1:</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" > Met with the governor's aide. He had received our letter and forwarded it to the OEPA for a response. He had not read the letter in depth. We explained that it was a jurisdictional issue also and the Department of Agriculture and Health Department should also be involved. He said he would read the letter, look at our web site and look into it in more detail.</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" ><U>Meeting 2:</U></FONT> Met with OEPA, hearing officer, and Attorney General representative. Purpose was to discuss OEPA surface water ruling and why it is not considered ground water with surface water effects. In 1997 the OEPA classified it as spring water with surface water effects. OEPA was not ready to discuss in detail, but we are supposed to talk with the OEPA to see if we can resolve this, otherwise it will have to be adjudicated. We have a conference call scheduled for Dec 16, 2004 at 10 am to discuss with the hearing officer the status of our talks. We also discussed in general our situation. The OEPA did not provide many comments. The Attorney General representative had viewed our web site and asked many questions. We also gave them a copy of the New York State Health Department paper on UV light and cyst inactivation. </div> <div>  <A NAME="december_5_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>December 5, 2004</div> <div> Matz Malone <A HREF="id727.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matz Malones Investigative Report ">news article</A> in Steubenille Herald Star discusses the situation in detail and describes it as "It's becoming a riddle, in a puzzle, wrapped inside an enigma"</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="december_16_2004_3_way_teleconference_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >December 16, 2004 3 way teleconference</FONT></div> <div> among hearing officer, Assistant Attorney General, and Tom Galownia. The Assistant Attorney General will send to Seven Creeks Spring guidelines for differentiating surface and groundwater. Since the question of the surface water designation is not resolved, Seven Creeks questioned whether the license fee was to be $800 for surface water or $112 for groundwater, but no answer could be provided at this time. An OEPA engineer' phone number was provided and was contacted to discuss future water treatment options. The OEPA engineer was not totally familiar with the details but said that Ohio did not recognize other states (Nevada EPA and New York Health Department) use of ultraviolet light for cyst control. He also said that the 1 micron absolute filters that are acceptable for bottled spring water are not acceptable for spring water used as a public water supply. Seven Creeks will call next week to discuss further after the EPA engineer has had time to review the case. Another teleconference was scheduled for February 17, 2005, at 9 am to discuss ground versus surface water issue.</div> <div>  <A NAME="december_16__17_phone_cal"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>December 16 &17 Phone call to Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Agriculture</div> <div> Jim Galownia had general discussion and requested list of Ohio bottle water facilities which was provided December 20</div> <div>  <A NAME="december_20_ohio_epa_request_for_info"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>December 20 Ohio EPA field office request for info</div> <div> UV Light calculations and filter housing certifications FAXed to OEPA Dec 21 </div> <div>  <A NAME="december_23_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >December 23, 2004</FONT></div> <div> Seven Creeks left phone message with OEPA Columbus office.</div> <div>  <A NAME="december_27_2004"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >December 27, 2004</FONT></div> <div> OEPA Columbus Office phoned and FAXed Seven Creeks guidlelines used by OEPA for classification of water. Per the guidelines ,springs are classified as ground water under surface water effects, not just surface water. The OPEA determination, in the April 27, 2004 letter,  was incorrect.</div> <div>  <A NAME="january_04_2005"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>January 04, 2005</div> <div> The following is a summary of phone conversation between Ohio EPA Columbus Office and Seven Creeks.</div> <div> 1. Per the Ohio EPA guidance for designation of water sources, the Aug 5, 2004 Ohio EPA letter designating the spring as surface water open to the atmosphere is incorrect and should be ground water under the influence of surface water.</div> <div> 2. The Ohio EPA knew of no water test Seven Creeks could perform on samples of water to test for cysts.</div> <div> 3. The Ohio EPA does not have the technical capability to evaluate ultraviolet light inactivation of cysts and is waitng for future guidelines from the US EPA which is currently testing ultraviolet lights. The apparent use of UV lights by <A HREF="id687_plant_to_attack_cryptosporidium_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultraviolet Light Disenfection ">Henderson Nevada</A> for inactivation of cysts in water from Lake Mead is unaccepatable technical justification since in is a different state. The same is true for the <A HREF="id687_the_nysdoh.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultraviolet Light Disenfection ">New York State Department of Health</A> technical guidelines for ultraviolet light cyst reduction.</div> <div> 4. No public water systems in Ohio are tested for cysts.</div> <div> 5. Ohio EPA has only two designations for public water, surface and wells.</div> <div> 6. The Ohio EPA is aware of tests by NSF using glass beads instead of cysts which do not meet the 3 log cyst reduction required by the EPA for surface water. </div> <div> 7. The Ohio EPA was unaware that one micron absolute rated filters are recommended by the CDC for use for protection against cysts.</div> <div> 8. Ohio bottled spring water, which is considered ground water under the influence of surface water, does not meet the OEPA requirements for public water.</div> <div> 9. The spring water is an approved source for Seven Creeks to provide spring water to the public by installing an automatic bottling water facility. </div> <div>  <A NAME="january_10_2005"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>January 10, 2005</div> <div> Received <A HREF="id729.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Legislaturers Attorney General">letter</A> from the Ohio Attorney General saying they cannot communicate with  someone from private spring since the equipment is part of a small S Corporation, instead we have to hire a lawyer to tell them the OEPA made a mistake designating the water.</div> <div> January 20, 2005</div> <div> Received Ohio EPA licensed for a publice water supply for 2005 which cost $792 since springs are classified as surface water instead of well water which only cost $112. </div> <div>  <A NAME="january_21_2005"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>January 21, 2005</div> <div> Sent <A HREF="id595_letter_to_legislaturers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="To Governor">letter</A> to five legislatureres for help with spring jurisdiction. We also asked them to submit legislation to <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" >1. exempt</FONT> our spring from the EPA requirements since the Ohio EPA rules were never  meant to regulate springs and  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" >2. exempt</FONT> small S corporations from this lawyer requirement so that we can tell the EPA it made a mistake without hiring an expensive environmental lawyer to tell them for us.</div> <div>  <A NAME="february_9_2005"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" >February 9, 2005</FONT></div> <div> Received phone call from Representative John Domenick aide that they received our letter and are investigating.</div> <div>  <A NAME="february_17_2005"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>February 17, 2005  3 way teleconference</div> <div> among hearing officer, Assistant Attorney General, and Tom Galownia. Tom Galownia was not permittted to officially talk to the Assistant Attorney General (per the Assistant Attorney General, he is only allowed to talk to another attorney) to tell him, per the Ohio EPA own Guidance for Designation of Water Sources as Surface Water or Ground Water revised April 24, 1996, page 1, sent to Seven Creeks Spring Dec 27, 2004, it appears OEPA made a mistake in designating the spring water as surface water and instead it should be ground water under the influence of surface water. Misclassification could cause problems in the future if water treatment rules change. Per discussion between hearing officer and Assistant Attorney General, the Assistant Atorney General is to investigate further the legality of talking with the owner of the spring, Tony Galownia. Another teleconference was scheduled March 10, at 9am with Tony Galownia and his son Tom Galownia, who will provide technical advice to his father. </div> <div> March 07, 2005 Jefferson County Health Department Letter</div> <div> <A HREF="id752.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter From Jefferson County Health Dept">certified letter</A> from the Health Department directing Seven Creeks Spring to immediately cease and desist operating the spring water vending machines. Although our vending machine was originally designed per the Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division standards in 1997 for bottling water facilities, which the EPA and Health Department were aware of, the vending machine also complies with NAMA requirements for water vending machines. Additional water tests per their requirements were performed which were met. We do not manufacture our water kiosks for resell, and have been operating since 1998, therefore, we feel we do not need NAMA certification which would cost $3,000 to send one of NAMA's inspectors for only two water kiosks. Since our spring has an EPA license, we also do not understand the health departments claim that the water is not approved. If not how can we have an EPA license? Since the Health Department only regulates coin operated vending machines,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" > we have disconnected the coin mechanism and are relying on the honesty of the visitors to leave their money in a separate box.</FONT></div> <div> March 10, 2005  3 way teleconference</div> <div> among hearing officer, Assistant Attorney General, and Tony and Tom Galownia who traveled to Seven Creeks from Pittsburgh in order to attend teleconference with Tony. Tom was not permittted to officially talk to the Assistant Attorney General (per the Assistant Attorney General, he is only allowed to talk to another attorney), only Tony Galownia, the owner of the spring was allowed to talk. Nothing technical was discussed, the Assistant Attorney General's position is that he cannot talk to anyone from Seven Creeks without an attorney and will send a letter in the next couple of weeks to Seven Creeks defining their legal postion.</div> <div> May 5, 2005 OEPA Inspection</div> <div> Two OEPA representatives visited the spring for the annual inspection and a source water evaluation. Two water customers asked the representatives questions. The spring and water kiosk were toured. No technical questions were asked by EPA representatives concerning operation of the system. A tour of the property surrounding the spring was provided for the </div> <div> source water evaluation.</div> <div> May 22, 2005  EPAGrant Request</div> <div> This is the <A HREF="id757.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EPA May 22, 2005 Grant Request ">cover page</A> of the grant we requested from the EPA to perform testing of the filters we use to determine if different flow rates affects the effect on filtering of cysts.</div> <div> May 26, 2005  OEPA Letter</div> <div> <A HREF="id753.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA May 26, 2005 Letter ">Letter</A> we received from the Ohio EPA after their inspection on May 5, 2005.We edited the letter for a couple of corrections and removed sensitive marketing information.</div> <div> Jun 14, 2005  Ohio Attorney General Letter</div> <div> <A HREF="id755.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attorney General Letter June 14, 2005 ">Letter</A> we received from the Ohio Attorney General dismissing our request for a hearing to correct a mistake we feel the EPA apparently made in classifying our spring water as surface water instead of ground water under the influence of surface water per their own guidlelines. It came with over 120 pages of two exhibits. We don't understand it well enough to summarize, so you can read it for yourself. </div> <div> July 13, 2005  Seven Creeks Letter to EPA</div> <div> Our <A HREF="id756.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seven Creeks July 13, 2005 Letter ">response</A> to EPA May 26, 2005 letter.</div> <div> July 15, 2005  OEPA Letter</div> <div> Ohio EPA <A HREF="id765.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA Jult 15, 2005 Ruling Letter ">ruling </A></div> <div> August 3, 2005  OEPA Letter</div> <div> Ohio EPA <A HREF="id766.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA August 3, 2005 Letter ">response</A> to our letter</div> <div> Sept 21, 2005 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> 30 page<A HREF="id768.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attorny General September 21, 05 letter "> request</A> for information</div> <div> October 11, 2005 letter to Attorney General</div> <div> Our <A HREF="id769.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="October 11, 05 Response to Attorney Gene">reques</A>t for clarification</div> <div> December 12, 2005 Strickland letter to US EPA and response</div> <div> <A HREF="id772.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="December 1, 2005 Congressman Strickland ">Letter</A> from Congressman Strickland who forwarded our letter asking if it would be possible if the US EPA could provide the Ohio EPA technical help that were told it was lacking in regulating springs and US EPA response.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> December 12, 2005 letter from Attorney General</div> <div> <A HREF="id773.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="December 12, 05 Attorney General Letter">Letter </A>which is similar to the June 14 letter they sent.</div> <div> December 21, 2005 letter from EPA Hearing OfficerAttorney General</div> <div> <A HREF="id774.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="December 21, 05 EPA Hearing Officer sta">Letter</A> indentifying Jan12, 2006 status conference in Columbus</div> <div> January 4, 2006  OEPA Source Water Assessment</div> <div> <A HREF="id779.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January 4, 2006 EPA Source Water Assess">Letter and report</A> for inspection done on May 5, 2005</div> <div> January 29, 2006  Seven Creeks Response to OEPA Source Water Assessment</div> <div> <A HREF="id780.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA June 2, 2006 Letter Designating Spr">Letter </A>identifying OEPA inspection requirements apparently not complied with. </div> <div> June 2, 2006 OEPA Response to our Sept 3, 2005 letter</div> <div> <A HREF="id780.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA June 2, 2006 Letter Designating Spr">Letter </A>that took almost two years to say the OEPA won't change the designation.</div> <div> July19, 2006  OEPA Evaluation Survey letter</div> <div> <A HREF="id783.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA July July 18 Evaluation survey lett">Letter </A>for inspection done on June 27, 2006</div> <div> January 13, 2007 to Governor Strickland</div> <div> <A HREF="id795.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter to Governor Strickland Jan 13, 20">Letter</A> asking governor to look into the situation</div> <div> March 13, 2007 OEPA response</div> <div> <A HREF="id796.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OEPA March 13, 2007 Response">Letter</A> responding per Governors's request</div> <div> June 20, 2007 to OEPA,ODAG, Health Dept</div> <div> <A HREF="id797.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TGalownia June 20, 2007 Letter ">Letter</A> requesting help from these agencies to stay open</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>