CR 18-095 Rule Text

ORDER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

REPEALING, RENUMBERING AND AMENDING, AMENDING, REPEALING AND RECREATING AND CREATING RULES

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board adopts an order to repeal NR 812.07 (1d), (10m), (13), (19), (21), (29m), (30x), (33) (a), (b), and (c), (35) (Note 2), (35e), (42), (47m), (50m), (54g), (55), (55e), (55m), (57), (59) (60), (63), (70), (72m), (75c), (80) (a) and (b), (85m), (88), (96), (100), (104) (105), (112), (112v) (Note), (113), (124) (Note 2), (124m) (Note), (125), and (128), 812.08 (3) (d), 812.09 (4) (e), (g), (h) (k), (L) (n), (o), (r), (t), (z) (Note 1) and (Note 2), 812.27 (5) (Note), 812.29 (4), 812.30 (1) (Note), 812.31 (intro.) (Note) and (1), 812.32 (2) (a) 5., NR 812.36 (2) (d) 2. (Note) and (3) (b) 6., 812.37 (2) (b) (Note), (i) (Note), (3) (c), (e), (f), (4) (c), and (e) 6. (Note 1) and (Note 2), 812.40 (5) (Note), 812.41 (4), 812.42 (1) (intro.), (b) 5. c. and d., (2) (e) (Note), (6) (a) 2.c. (Note), (8) (b), and (11) (b) (Note), 812 Figures 1 to 75, and 845.04 (13); to renumber and amend NR 812.07 (80) (intro.); to amend NR 110.15 (6) (d), 146.08 (9), 507.14 (4) (a), 738.03 (9) (Note), 812.07 (10) and (Note), (22), (31), (32), (33), (35) and (Note 1), (49), (50), (56), (67) and (Note), (73), (75), (79m), (79t), (87), (99), (106), (111), (112q), (112v), (114), (116), (121), (124), and (124m), 812.08 (title), (1) (b), (c), (e) and (f), and (3) (a) and (c), 812.09 (1), (2), (3), (4) (intro.), (a), 1., 2., 4., and 5., (b), (d), (f) and (Note), (v), and (5), 812.27 (3), (5), (7), and (11), 812.28 and (Note), 812.29 (1) and (3), 812.30 (1), 812.31, 812.31 (2) (a), (c), (3) (a) (intro.) and 3., (b) (intro.), (4) (a), (d), (e), and (5), 812.32 (1) (a) 2., (c), (2) (a) 1. (Note), and 3., (b), (3), (5) (b) 2. a., b., c., and d., (6) (a), (7) and (9) (d), 812.33 (1) (b), (2) (intro.), (b), and 4. e., 812.36 (1), (2) (intro.), (b) 1., (c) 5., (d) 2., (3) (b) (intro.), 1., and 5., 812.37 (1), (2) (b), (d) (intro.), 1., 2, and 3., (g), (i), (3) (a), (b), (d), (g), (4) (a), (b), (d) and (e) 5., 812.38 (1), 812.39 (1) and (2), 812.40 (5), 812.41 (1) (c), 812.42 (1) (title), (a), (b) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5. (intro.), a., b., (c), (2) (title), (intro.), (a), (b), (c), (d), 1.b., 2., 3., (3), (4) (e), (f), (g) (intro.), (h), (5) (intro.), (b), (c), (6) (a) 1., 2. a. and (Note), b. and (Note), c., (6) (a) 3., (b) (intro.), 1., 2., 4., (c), (d), (e), (7) (title), (a) (intro.), (b), (c), (8) (a) (intro.), (c), (d), (e), (9) (a) (title), 2., 3, 4.a., b., c., (b) 4., (10), (11) (a), (b), (c) 2., (d) (title), (d), (e) (title), (e), (f), (12) (a) (intro.), and 3., 812.43 (1) (a), 1., (b) and (c), 812.44 (1) (a), (d), (3), (5) (b) 6., 13., 14., 16., and (d), 812.45 (1) (a), (b) and (c), 820.12 (10) and (Note), and (12) (Note), and 845.16 (4); to repeal and recreate NR 146.02 (4r), 146.12 (1r), 812.03 (4) (Note), 812.07 (23), (24), (27t), (38), (43), (44), (45), (48), (50e), (52), (54), (57m), (57s), (57w), (62), (64), (75L), (75p) and (Note), (75t), (75x), (79), (81), (86), (89), (90), (91), (94), (97r), (95), (96g), (97m), (98), (119), and (123), 812.08 (2), (4) and Table A, 812.09 (4) (w), 812 Subchapter II, 812.27 (1), 812.27 (6) and (8), NR 812.29 (5), 812.34, 812.37 (2) (e), 812.38 (2) (a) 1. and (b) 1., 812.41 (3), 812.42 (13), 812.43 (2), 812.44 (4); and to create NR 812.07 (1r), (36), (49) (Note), (50) (Note), (50b), (50d), (55s), (56) (Note), (57k), (60e), (60m), (60s), (69m), (77m), (80) (Note), (94b), (94r), (99) (Note), (112g), (112k), (112p), (116) (Note), and (116m), 812.08 (1) (g) and (1m), 812.09 (4) (a) 6., (u), (4g), (4r), (7) and (8), 812.091, 812.27 (intro.), 812.27 (9) (title), (10) (title), and (12), 812.37 (2) (d) 3. (Note), (j), (k), and (3m), 812.42 (intro.), 812.42 (1) (b) 6., 7., (3m) and Table E, (6) (a) 2. d., (9) (b) 9., and (11) (am), 812 Subchapter VIII, and 812 Appendix relating to well construction and pump installation and affecting small business.

DG-16-16

Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources

1. Statute Interpreted:

Section 280.11 and 281.34, Wis. Stats.

2. Statutory Authority:

Section 227.11(2)(a)(intro.), chapter 280 and chapter 281, Wis. Stats.

3. Explanation of Agency Authority:

Section 227.11(2)(a)(intro.), Wis. Stats., provides that a state agency, “may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute,” subject to certain restrictions. Chapter 280, Wis. Stats., establishes the statutory authority and framework for regulation of well drilling, heat exchange drilling and pump installation. Section 280.11, Wis. Stats., specifically directs the department to prescribe, publish and enforce minimum reasonable standards and rules for methods to be pursued to obtain pure drinking water for human consumption, and to establish safeguards deemed necessary in protecting the public health against the hazards of polluted sources of impure water supplies intended or used for human consumption. This statute gives the department general supervision and control over all methods of obtaining groundwater for human consumption including the construction or reconstruction of wells, authority to prescribe, amend, modify or repeal any applicable rule, and to perform any act deemed necessary for the safeguarding of public health. In addition, section 280.13, Wis. Stats., gives the department the authority to promulgate such rules as are reasonably necessary to carry out and enforce the provisions of Chapter 280, Wis. Stats. Chapter 281, Wis. Stats., gives the department authority to regulate groundwater withdrawals (section 281.34, Wis. Stats.), establish, administer and maintain a safe drinking water program no less stringent than the requirements of the safe drinking water act (section 281.17(8)(a), Wis. Stats.) and includes enforcement authorities (sections 281.98, Wis. Stats.).

4. Related Statutes or Rules:

Chapter NR 146, Wis. Adm. Code, implements the licensing and registration requirements of chapter 280, Wis. Stats., for water well drillers, heat exchange drillers, pump installers and rig operators.

Chapter NR 809, Wis. Adm. Code, establishes minimum standards and procedures for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare in the obtaining of safe drinking water.

5. Plain Language Analysis:

The primary objectives of ch. NR 812 revisions are to correct and clarify language, streamline processes, update construction standards, and ensure consistency with federal and state law related to well construction and pump installation. Specific proposed rule changes are described below:



Correct cross-references in other NR codes.



Add or revise definitions in s. NR 812.07 to provide clarity and to cross-reference definitions in other statutes and codes. Delete definitions in s. NR 812.07 that are not used in the code.



Revise s. NR 812.08 to simplify and clarify compliance with separation distances to possible contamination sources. This was done by deleting redundant text descriptions duplicated in a table, simplifying how to identify possible contamination sources, reducing the number of possible contamination sources, deleting duplicate references to the same possible contamination source and moving heat exchange drilling requirements to its own section.



Revise s. NR 812.09 to simplify and clarify approval procedures, move approval-related language from other sections, and remove product and component approval procedures, which are moved to a new section NR 812.091. The revisions also include a 2-year expiration date for all approvals, updated language to reflect changes in s. 281.34, Wis. Stats., a new requirement for copy of approval to be onsite during construction, and adding a requirement for DNR approval of modified plans.



Create a new section NR 812.091 to consolidate existing requirements for products and equipment used in well and drillhole construction, pump installation and well treatment. The new section allows products or components that meet certain certifications or standards to be used without prior DNR approval, and establishes a process for products or equipment that require prior DNR approval.



Replace existing NR 812 Subchapter II with a revised NR 812 Subchapter II. The subchapter revises content to:

o

Streamline and modernize the construction requirements for new well construction and provide for new methods of well drilling.

o

Clarify driller responsibilities for submitting reports, following up on problem wells and ensuring that flowing wells are controlled.

o

Add a requirement for electronic submittal of well construction reports after January 1, 2023.

o

Add casing options by allowing new methods of joining plastic casing.

o

Change the casing depth requirement for wells completed in limestone to require 60 feet of casing when the depth to limestone is less than 20 feet.

o

Change the grouting requirements to reduce the number of wells that have drilling mud and cuttings as an annular space seal.

o

Provide for additional grouting materials for use in well construction.

o

Reduce the need to collect drill cuttings samples from high capacity wells for submittal to the Natural History Survey.

o

Add the ability to use bentonite chips to help drillers grout through large fractures.

o

Require the filling and sealing of unused seasonal and high capacity irrigation wells after 3 years.

o

Clarify license requirements for the filling and sealing of drillholes.

o

Clarify and streamline the filling and sealing requirements for wells and drillholes.



Revise multiple sections of NR 812 Subchapter III to:

o

Be consistent with changes made to other NR 812 sections.

o

Be consistent with other state statutes and codes.

o

Update cross-references and figure numbers.

o

Correct errors or unclear language.

o

Be consistent with consolidation of sampling requirements into new section NR 812.46.

o

Streamline and simplify installation of bacteria treatment for a private well by eliminating the approval requirement in s.NR 812.37 and replacing it with a well compliance inspection.



Revise s. NR 812.42 to clarify and simplify language, remove redundancies located in other sections, move out-of-context text and create a new table of historic separation distances to possible contamination sources.



Revise s. NR 812.43 to correct cross-references, remove language regarding high capacity wells that is moved to s. NR 812.09, and add language regarding variance for crystalline bedrock casing depth that is moved from s. NR 812.14(1).



Revise s. NR 812.44 to clarify who can conduct property transfer well inspections and how the inspection form is completed, to be consistent with consolidation of sampling requirements into new section NR 812.46, and to correct errors or unclear language.



Revise s. NR 812.45 to correct cross-references to citable offenses that were moved during the current code revision.



Create a new section NR 812.46 to consolidate existing sampling and reporting requirements into one place. The new section also increases the laboratory reporting requirement from 30 to 31 days, eliminates repeat nitrate and arsenic testing when certain repeat pump installation work is necessary, and eliminates written laboratory agreements by stating laboratory responsibilities in the code.



Delete all existing figures and create a new NR 812 Appendix with updated figures.

6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:

Federal law does not directly regulate the construction of wells or heat exchange drillholes, and does not regulate the installation of pumps. For public drinking water systems, Wisconsin is a primacy state, with the primary responsibility to enforce state drinking water regulations consistent with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. One federal requirement of Wisconsin’s primacy role is that the state assures that the design and construction of new or substantially modified public water system facilities will be capable of compliance with the State primary drinking water regulations. For non-community public drinking water systems, ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, provides the design and construction standards to meet this federal requirement.