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Wyoming Water Development Commission 
Harry C. LaBonde, Jr., PE, Director 
6920 Yellowtail Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82002 
Phone: 307-777-7626 

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2000 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

 82. PROJECT:Opal Regional Water Supply
LEVEL:New Application
SPONSOR:Town of Opal
LOCATION:Lincoln County
PROGRAM:New Development
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
Level II 268 1989 I $70,000 1990

PROJECT INFORMATION:
In 1989, the WWDC funded a study to supply water to Oakley subdivision from Kemmerer through a two mile pipeline. In 1990 the study was expanded to include an eleven mile line from Oakley to Opal. At that time Opal was under an EPA order for fluoride problems. The Phase II and III Executive Summaries give the basic details of the 1990 studies. From these reports, the residents determined that the costs were too high for these projects and they did not advance to Level III.

In 1999, the town of Opal (with support from Oakley) again requested another feasibility study for a water line from Kemmerer/Diamondville Joint Powers Board (JPB) hookup to Opal via Oakley. In addition to providing water to outlying subdivisions, this additional water would be of better quality than water currently used by Opal. Some of Opal's current water wells have elevated levels of naturally occurring fluoride. The proposed pipeline would provide higher quality water to be commingled with the town's water to reduce the amount of fluoride.

The Environmental Protection Agency currently indicates that it intends to implement regulations on Opal for exceeding total coliform bacteria levels, failure to take sufficient samples, failure to provide public notice, and failure to report to EPA.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project be incorporated into the New Development Program at Level II status with a proposed appropriation of $50,000 to conduct an updated cost analysis of a pipeline from the Kemmerer/Diamondville JPB hookup to the town of Opal via the Oakley Subdivision.

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