SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 231

BYHouse Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Rayburn, Nealey and Todd; by request of Department of Ecology)

Changing provisions relating to water well construction, reconstruction, and abandonment.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 31, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Hansen, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bailey, Gaspard.

Senate Staff:Tom McDonald (786-7404)

                  March 31, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, MARCH 31, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Ecology administers the Water Well Construction Act and has the power to establish the rules, regulations, standards, licensing and methods of water well construction.  The Department of Ecology has reported that there continues to be substandard well construction and more stringent requirements and penalties need to be enforced.

In 1985, a Water Well Advisory Committee was formed to review the Water Well Construction Act.  The Advisory Committee submitted a report to the Senate Agriculture Committee and recommended several legislative changes in the Act.  The Advisory Committee addressed problems with the lack of training required for well drillers, the lack of accountability of well drillers under the Contractor Registration Act, which the drillers are now specifically exempt, and the difficult procedure for inspecting the drilling.

SUMMARY:

Before the commencement of work, a water well contractor is required to provide to the Department of Ecology 72-hour written notice of his/her intent to begin construction, reconstruction and abandonment procedures.  Notice may be made by telephone in exceptional situations.

Water well contractors are to be registered, obtain a bond and have public liability and property damage insurance as provided in the Contractor Registration Act.

Before obtaining a construction operator's license, the applicant must have at least two years of field experience with a licensed well driller or one year of field experience and the equivalent of one year of educational training that satisfies the criteria established by the Department.

The Department of Ecology may levy a civil penalty of up to $100 per day for violations of the Water Well Construction Act.  A notice of a violation issued to a contractor for improper well construction must be sent to the owner of the land for informational purposes.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Marvin Hansen, Hansen Drilling Company; Kathryn Hansen, Washington State Well Drillers Association; Bill Miller, Department of Ecology; Gene Wallace; Christina Hansen, Washington State Well Drillers Association