BILL NUMBER: SB 995	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pavley

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2016

   An act to add Sections 232 and 13801.5 to the Water Code, relating
to water quality.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 995, as introduced, Pavley. Well standards.
   Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to
investigate and survey conditions of damage to quality of underground
waters that are, or may be, caused by improperly constructed,
abandoned, or defective wells. Existing law requires the department
to report to the appropriate California regional water quality
control board its recommendations for minimum standards for well
construction in any particular locality in which it deems regulation
necessary to protection of quality of underground water.
   This bill, on or before January 1, 2019, would require the
department to update well standards for certain types of wells based
on existing knowledge. This bill would require the department to
establish an advisory panel to identify critical gaps in existing
knowledge about the best practices for well construction, alteration,
maintenance, and destruction for these wells. This bill would, on or
before January 1, 2022, require the advisory panel to make
recommendations for improvements in well regulations and the
department to submit the recommendations to the State Water Resources
Control Board.
   Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to
adopt a model water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring
well drilling and abandonment ordinance implementing prescribed
standards of the department.
   This bill would require the state board to revise the model
ordinance upon the receipt of the recommendations for improvements in
well regulations from the department.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 232 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   232.  (a)  On or before January 1, 2019, the department shall
update the well standards contained in Bulletin 74-81 and Bulletin
74-90 based on existing knowledge for the following types of wells:
   (1) Water wells.
   (2) Monitoring wells.
   (3) Cathodic protection wells.
   (b) (1) The department shall establish an advisory panel to
identify critical gaps in existing knowledge about the best practices
for well construction, alteration, maintenance, and destruction for
the types of wells described in subdivision (a).
   (2) If the advisory panel identifies knowledge gaps that need
further research, the department shall conduct scientific research to
address those needs.
   (3) On or before January 1, 2022, the advisory panel shall make
recommendations for improvements in well regulations and the
department shall submit the recommendations to the board.
  SEC. 2.  Section 13801.5 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   13801.5.  Upon the receipt of recommendations for improvements in
well regulations from the department pursuant to Section 232, the
state board shall revise the model water well, cathodic protection
well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance adopted
pursuant to Section 13801.