NR 141.01NR 141.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum acceptable standards for the design, installation, construction, abandonment and documentation of groundwater monitoring wells. These rules are adopted under chs. 281, 160 and 227, Stats.

NR 141.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January, 1990, No. 409, eff. 2-1-90; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, March, 2000, No. 531.

NR 141.03NR 141.03 Applicability. This chapter applies to all persons installing and abandoning groundwater monitoring wells and boreholes for purposes regulated by the department under ch. 160, 281, 283, 289, 291, 292, 293 or 299, Stats., or in permits, plan approvals, licenses or orders issued under those chapters. In addition, this chapter applies to all persons installing groundwater monitoring wells and boreholes in fulfillment of terms of a contract with the department. All wells and boreholes installed for purposes regulated by the department under this chapter shall be abandoned according to s. NR 141.25. All other wells and boreholes shall be abandoned according to the provisions of ch. NR 812.

NR 141.03 NoteNote: Additional requirements concerning soil testing and groundwater sampling are located in other chapters regulating wastewater and solid and hazardous waste disposal, see chs. NR 110, 206, 213, 214, 508, 512 and the 600 and 700 series.

NR 141.03 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January, 1990, No. 409, eff. 2-1-90; am. Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1995, No. 477; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, March, 2000, No. 531.

NR 141.05NR 141.05 Definitions. In this chapter:

NR 141.05(1)(1) “Air rotary drilling” means a drilling method whereby the borehole is advanced using a circular rotating action applied to a string of drilling rods which have a diffused discharge bit attached to the bottom of the rods. Pressurized air is forced through the drilling rods and cools the drilling tools and removes the cuttings from the borehole.

NR 141.05(2)(a)(a) For wells constructed with filter packs, it is the material placed above the top of the filter pack or the filter pack seal up to the surface seal and between the well casing and the adjacent formation; or

NR 141.05(2)(b)(b) For wells constructed into bedrock formations and without well screens, it is the material placed from the bottom of the enlarged borehole up to the surface seal, between the well casing and the adjacent formation.

NR 141.05(2m)(2m) “Aquifer test well” means a well installed to provide information on the hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, storage coefficient, capture zone, specific capacity, radius of influence or other physical parameters of an aquifer, defined geologic unit, or water bearing formation through the imposition of a sustained stress on the aquifer by removal of water.

NR 141.05(5)(5) “Bedrock” means the solid rock underlying any loose surficial material such as soil, alluvium or glacial drift. Bedrock includes but is not limited to limestone, dolomite, sandstone, shale and igneous and metamorphic rock.

NR 141.05(6)(6) “Bentonite” means a clay consisting of at least 85% sodium montmorillonite. Bentonite is available in the following forms:

NR 141.05(6)(c)(c) “Bentonite pellets” means commercially manufactured tablets made by compressing pure bentonite, without additives, into forms greater than 1⁄4″ in size.