The Carbon County Commissioners may not have been able to offer oral testimony during the Francis E. Walter Dam hearing that was held virtually Thursday morning, but they aired their concerns at their weekly meeting.

The three commissioners each read their submitted written testimony regarding the study currently being completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the dam.

Each commissioner outlined their concerns in their letters before further discussing the matter.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein thanked the Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee for holding the hearing, but noted that New York is presenting this study as a way to help prevent saltwater from backing up in the Delaware River rather than the state taking 15% of Pennsylvania’s water to indirectly supply New York City.

“Let’s get the true information out there that you’re (New York) using the water from Francis E. Walter Dam so you have to use less from your three reservoirs that supply New York City,” he said.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich agreed with Nothstein’s assessment, and called New York’s proposal “a sleight of hand” when it comes to the true intentions of the study.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner offered a number of questions that have not yet been addressed.

“What I have heard a lot of (in the hearing) is the Francis E. Walter Dam project is for additional protection for everybody down past the Delaware and its tributary,” Ahner said. “That would be fine if that was the case, but some of the questions I have are is there consideration for the future?”

He cited the current permit Weatherly has to build a hydroelectric plant on the Francis E. Walter Dam.

“Are they looking into the future for municipalities? You see municipalities who are picking up other little small boroughs for their sewage and water. That’s going to take more water. If they are taking that 15%, it is that going to affect all the plans we have in our area to clean up our system.”

He also pointed out the current housing market, which has been booming in the Carbon County area from people from New York moving to the area either through home purchases or building new homes. This, he said, all will contribute to additional needs for water.

“You just hear about stopping the saltwater, but there are other things than just the saltwater that need to be considered,” Ahner said.