Deep Groundwater Investigation

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A decision made (21.02.07) to approve the comments and supporting report on the Deep Groundwater Investigation

Subject:	Deep Groundwater Investigation
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2007-0025		Exempt clause(s):	None
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?			Report File ref:
Written report – Title	Comments of the Minister for Planning and Environment on the proposition lodged by Deputy Gerard Baudains (P22/2007 Deep groundwater- La Rocque and St Catherine borehole)
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Dr Tim du Feu, Environmental Protection Officer
Decision(s): The Minister approved the comments and attached supporting report for presentation to the States.
Reason(s) for decision: A thorough scientific investigation of the origin and extent of the deep groundwater resource beneath Jersey has been undertaken with the full co-operation and agreement of members of the Deep Groundwater Advisory Group. The methodology, the data and its interpretation has been extensively reviewed by the independent scientific advisors to the investigation; the British Geological Survey and Entec UK Ltd. The comments are in reply to a proposition by Deputy Gerard Baudains asking that (a) the two test boreholes are re-drilled using alternative testing methods and (b) that the Minister should withdraw the conclusions from the current boreholes until further research has been carried out. The comments by the Minister demonstrate that the conclusion of the investigation ‘that there is no evidence at the two test borehole sites to indicate that the groundwater beneath the Island is anything other than that derived from local rainfall’ remains robust.
Action required: The comments and supporting report entitled ‘Clarification of the construction of the La Rocque borehole’ to be presented to the States for the debate of the proposition by Deputy Baudains on 27 February 2007.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)		Date of Decision: