BILL NUMBER: SB 995	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2016

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 amended, 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
  water wells, monitoring wells, and cathodic protection
 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
  knowledge and to submit these standards  to the
State Water Resources Control Board.
   Existing law requires the  State Water Resources Control
Board   state 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   standards  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  for
water wells, monitoring wells, and cathodic protection wells 
based on existing knowledge  for the following types of
wells:   and submit   the standards to the
board.  
   (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   standards  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.