Z-616                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 231

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Rayburn, Nealey and Todd; by request of Department of Ecology

Read first time 1/22/87 and referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development.

AN ACT Relating to ground water management; amending RCW 18.104.070; and adding new sections to chapter 18.104 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 18.104 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of ecology may levy a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars per day for violation of this chapter or rules or orders of the department adopted or issued pursuant to it.  Procedures of RCW 90.48.144 shall be applicable to all phases of levying of such a penalty as well as review and appeal of them.

        Sec. 2.  Section 7, chapter 212, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 18.104.070 are each amended to read as follows:

          Except as provided in RCW 18.104.180, no person may contract to engage in the construction of a water well and no person may act as an operator without first obtaining a license by applying to the department.

          A person shall be qualified to receive a water well construction operators license if he:

          (1) Has made application therefor to the department and has paid to the department an application fee of twenty-five dollars; and

          (2) Has at least two years of field experience with a licensed well driller or one year of field experience and an equivalent of at least one school year of qualifying educational training that satisfies the criteria established by department rule; and

(3) Has passed a written examination as provided for in RCW 18.104.080:  PROVIDED, That should any applicant establish his illiteracy to the satisfaction of the department, such applicant shall be entitled to an oral examination in lieu of the written examination authorized herein.

          ((Licensees hereunder shall, in order to construct water wells, be exempt from the registration requirements of chapter 18.27 RCW.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 18.104 RCW to read as follows:

          To enable the department to monitor the construction, reconstruction, and abandonment of water wells more efficiently and effectively, water well contractors shall provide notification to the department of their intent to begin construction, reconstruction, or abandonment procedures at least seventy-two hours in advance of commencing work.  The notification shall be submitted on forms provided by the department and shall contain the name of the owner of the well, location of the well, proposed use, approximate start date, driller's name and license number, drilling company's name, and other pertinent information as prescribed by rule of the department.  Rules of the department shall also provide for prior telephonic notification by well drillers in exceptional situations.