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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Campbell Water Plans May Contain Problem

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
    Plans to provide water to a planned development on Campbell Ranch are moving forward.
    New Mexico Water Service Co. filed paperwork with the state Public Regulation Commission on April 1, according to an e-mail from Paul Risso, the company's general manager.
    The document may contain a controversial element that could lead to an investigation, according to Paul Carbajal, the public information officer for the PRC.
    He said the controversial element may be the use of an additional well, already drilled on Campbell Ranch, to provide water to the proposed development, according to the agreement. The plan appears to call for the extension of New Mexico Water Service Co.'s lines to the well on Campbell Ranch and for using the enhanced system to feed up to 750 homes on the proposed development using part of NMWSC's water rights from the Sandia Knolls system.
    "We haven't launched an investigation," Carbajal said. "It's still very preliminary."
    He said additional information, such as a map of the area and where the water lines will go, is being requested.
    The document— signed by Risso and Robert Gately, president of Campbell Corp.— has not drawn any objections yet, Carbajal said.
    When the issue of extending service to Campbell Ranch came up in another recent instance, there were objections from Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association.
    Members of the association appealed a preliminary plat approval by Edgewood's Planning and Zoning Commission for the proposed development.
    In its appeal, the association contended that sufficient water was not available to serve both Sandia Knolls and Campbell Ranch, and it cites a 2006 ruling by the PRC on the issue.
    Risso argued that decision may not bar him from extending service to Campbell Ranch and has not been interpreted for this water service extension in particular.
    After the public hearing in March, the original decision was unanimously upheld by the Edgewood Town Council.
    Anyone wishing to file a complaint or concern regarding this issue can call the PRC's consumer relations department at 888-427-5772. Information may also become available on the commission's Web site, www.nmprc.state.nm.us, if an investigation is launched.
    Interested parties can also sign up for e-mail updates on the Web site.