FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1467

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Buys, Blake, Chandler, Pearson, Fagan, Overstreet, Harris, Wilcox, Johnson, Haler, Warnick, McCune and Kelley).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Environment, Water & Energy

Background:

The Washington Well Construction Act (WWCA) governs the design, construction, alteration, and decommissioning of wells in this state. The Department of Ecology regulates well design, construction, and maintenance. Wells are defined in the WWCA.

Under the WWCA, a well is defined to include water wells, resource protection wells, dewatering wells, and geotechnical soil borings. A well does not include an excavation made for the purpose of: obtaining or prospecting for oil, natural gas, geothermal resources, minerals, or products of mining; quarrying; inserting media to re-pressure oil or natural gas bearing formations; or storing petroleum, natural gas, or other products.

Summary:

The definition of a well, as defined in the WWCA, is modified to exempt the following types of excavation from the definition:

siting and constructing an on-site sewage disposal system or a large on-site sewage system; or
inserting any device or instrument less than 10 feet in depth into the soil for the sole purpose of performing soil or water testing or analysis or establishing soil moisture content as long as there is no withdrawal of water in any quantity other than as necessary to perform the intended testing or analysis.

Votes on Final Passage:

House	97
Senate	47	(Senate amended)
House	96	(House concurred)