SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6624

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2002

Title:  An act relating to well construction.

Brief Description:  Modifying well construction provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Keiser, Morton, Fraser and Hale; by request of Department of Ecology.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Environment, Energy & Water:  2/5/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/18/02, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & WATER

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Hale, Honeyford, Keiser and Morton.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786‑7488)

Background:  Existing law governing construction of wells and payment of  fees, Chapter 18.104 RCW, does not fully address current technology and practice for certain types of resource protection wells.

Summary of Bill:  Environmental investigation wells and remediation wells are added to the definition of resource protection well, and each is also defined separately, based on current well construction technology and practice.

For environmental investigation wells that sample groundwater, up to four wells are covered by the $40 base fee, with a $10 fee for each additional well.  There is no fee for soil or vapor sampling.

Refund of fees paid for wells that are subsequently not constructed requires submission of a refund request within 180 days to the Department of Ecology on a form provided by the department.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill was developed with representatives of the well construction industry to address their concerns and was agreed upon.  Reduced fees are in line with reduced need for oversight.  Reduced fees will encourage compliance.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Richard Szymarek, Ecology (pro); Mike Matson, WA State Groundwater Assn. (pro).