Hovnanian plans well testing to move forward with Eagle Ridge By JoAnn Baker WEST MILFORD A number of residents near the proposed Eagle Ridge project received certified letters this week from a company called Eastern Geosciences, Inc. requesting permission to monitor homeowners’ wells. They want to test water quality, chlorinate the wells, put a water level monitor in the wells, check the levels for about four months, test the quality of water again, and re-chlorinate. The tests are being done to determine the impact of a community supply well for the 288-townhouse project known as Eagle Ridge. The tests are part of the requirements set forth by the Department of Environmental Protection in order to get a water allocation permit something K. Hovnanian Homes must have before it can build. But neither the township attorney nor the hydrologist the township hired were aware of the testing plan or the letters. “What is really concerning about this,” said Township Attorney Fred Semrau, “is that the township has fought hard to participate in the process, we won an appellate decision that gave us permission to participate. The township has invested a lot of money hiring a hydrologist who should be involved in the process.” Semrau is contacting both the DEP and the commissioner about the issue. Hovnanian Spokesperson Doug Fenichel said, “We had a meeting with the DEP which included the township consultant. We are c.c.ing the health department on everything we’re doing, so I think we are keeping them in the loop.” In the meantime, environmental activist Dr. Doris Aaronson is advising residents not to sign the agreement. Her problem is not the testing she said the testing is of the utmost importance but with the way the company is trying to do it. “Residents should wait until such time as an agreement that protects the residents rather than the contractor is made,” she said. Her objections are that the letter does not make clear the purpose of the tests, whether the homeowner’s privacy will be protected, or whether the residents will be informed of the results of the tests. She also said that some residents have misconstrued the letter and believe they are mandated to participate and that there might be legal repercussions if they don’t. Other concerns are the risk of chlorinating low-yield wells and the impact that will have on drinking, bathing, and cooking water. There’s also the risk of equipment getting stuck in the wells, which Aaronson said had happened once before during water testing. The indemnity clause in the agreement is yet another concern. It says the testing company will be held “harmless from any and all claims, suits and/or damages to person or property,” which, Aaronson points out, is not in the best interest of anyone but the company. The letters also do not say who has hired Eastern Geosciences, Inc. “Yes, we are sending letters,” Fenichel said. “We’re complying with the court order, DEP is aware of our plans and our actions and will let us know if they require any changes. No matter what the plan is, we’ll still need people who will let us monitor their wells.”