THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190370
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY THOMAS YOCUM, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BUXTON LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Alternate ways of getting more water will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cape Hatteras Water Association as a result of a State Court of Appeals ruling that wells cannot be dug in the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve.
``We're all surprised'' by Tuesday's decision upholding the ban, said Jim Coleman, manager of the association. But he indicated Wednesday that contingency plans have been in the works for some time, and will be brought up at a meeting of the board of directors Feb. 14.
One proposal calls for the construction of a reverse-osmosis plant treating lower-quality water from ground outside the reserve. The plant would be built between Buxton and Frisco or on the present water plant site near Buxton.
The other option would be for Hatteras to hook up with the Dare County water system. That has been discussed in the past, and officials indicated that talks now may be stepped up.
There also were indications that attempts would be made in the General Assembly to reword the laws protecting forest reserves so wells could be dug.
The Appeals Court, in upholding a lower court ban on wells in the reserve, said that the proposed well field would not be a ``public use'' under the Coastal Reserve statute.
A permit to dig nine wells in the reserve to bolster the supply available to developing island communities had been granted, but Friends of Hatteras Island objected, and they were supported by a Superior Court ruling that was upheld Tuesday.
The issue has polarized the islanders, and Jim Carolan, president of the association, called the court ruling ``an injustice to the people of Hatteras Island. I think that it is unfair that a small group of people has the effect on the majority that it does.''
The president of Friends of Hatteras, Carol Anderson, said it was ``reassuring to know that Buxton Woods and other coastal reserves won't be targeted for development after all.''
Future action will be decided by the members of the association. They would have to vote, for instance, to join the county system.
A survey of members last summer showed that about 80 percent of those who responded were interested in the possibility of hooking up with Dare County.
The county has expressed interest in such a move. Dare County spokesman Charlie Hartig said the court decision ``might be a catalyst to move discussions into a higher gear.'' by CNB