The Chaffee Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 16 as a continuation of the review of the Nestlé Waters North America, Inc. 1041 permit renewal request. The discussion is expected to include a review of economic benefit to the community from the Nestlé operations, following economic research that was approved late last year.
There is no current estimate of when a final decision on the renewal request will be made by the county. The ten-year, 1041 permit was approved in 2009, and a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, county notification requirements, as well as the economic study, have extended the review timeframe.
Arrowhead brand bottled water, one of several Nestlé Water brands. Courtesy image
Nestlé is a North American business unit of Nestlé Waters that produces and distributes numerous brands of bottled water across North America. They include such continent-wide brands as Perrier and San Pellegrino, and regional brands such as Arrowhead Water, produced from the Ruby Spring on its property in Chaffee County.
The terms of the 1041 permit allow Nestlé to pump up to 65 million gallons from the spring annually. It has never pumped the full amount, and as of last year, it pumps about half that amount. The permit arrangement has allowed for the company to replace the spring water that does not then flow into the Arkansas River, with water from the Twin Lakes Reservoir near Leadville, through an agreement with the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District.
Complicating the 1041 permit review, which has stretched on for more than a year, is the fact that Nestlé Waters North America was put up for sale as the review has proceeded. Nestlé recently confirmed it was selling of most of its North American bottled water brands to a private equity investment firm; One Rock Capital Partners, LLC (One Rock) and Metropoulos and Co., for $4.3 billion. There is no word on when that sale might close. Nestlé has said that the sale will not affect the terms of the 1041 permit; that all environmental and community terms would continue to be met.
All documents regarding this hearing may be found on the Chaffee County Public Notice website at http://www.chaffeecounty.org/
County government meetings continue to be held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. No exact time is set for the hearing, but the meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. and the Nestlé public hearing is the last item on the agenda prior to the consent agenda.
To participate in the meeting, connect via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/109079543, or by calling 1-669-900-6833 and entering meeting ID # 109 079 543.
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