Swenka is concerned an intent-to-drill filed by Natural Blue Resources Inc. for the part of the basin near Willard could put the water supply in jeopardy.

"That area near Willard is the lowest part of the basin. "It really is the worst place they could drill," Swenka said. "All the water flows downhill. They may never drill there but it bears watching."

House Bill 19, passed at the last legislative session, gives the State Engineer authority over all undeclared, underground wells below 2,500 feet which contains only nonpotable water. But the paperwork filed before the bill was passed won't be affected. However, after meeting with attorney Chuck Du Mars, and Nancy Cunningham and Jeff Ward with the State Engineer's Office, he thinks the basin's water is better protected.

"The State Engineer has a person on the drilling site at all times and approves their drilling plans," he wrote to the commission. "He has a responsibility to protect the aquifers he has control over and they are doing that very vigorously."

The State Engineer's Office is working to create language for the new law and wants input. Swenka said a committee is being put together of people from around the state, and the State Engineer indicated Swenka would be chosen.

"Thank you for keeping us updated," Commissioner Venessa Chavez-Gutierrez said. "This is a very important issue to our county that we need to be aware of."

In other water-related news: EMW Gas Association will be giving a presentation at the next commission meeting, June 23, on the status of their regional water plan. Chavez-Gutierrez encouraged the public to attend.

In other commission business:

The Torrance County Community Health Profile and Community Health Improvement plan was approved. The profile outlines basic interpretations of data on the counties' quality of life, health status and economics, according to Patricia Lincoln, executive director of the Torrance County Project Office. The improvement plan gives four health priorities for 2011 to 2014, including access to community based resources, teen pregnancy and birth to single parents, domestic and community violence, and substance abuse.

The commission approved a loan agreement for $382,729 for the purchase of the first of two wildland pumpers for the District 2 Fire Station.

A three-year contract with the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association was approved.

A one-year professional services agreement was approved between the county and Wallin & Briones for legal services.