Publication Summary

What is the purpose of this regulation?

(1) These regulations are adopted under chapter 18.104 RCW, to establish minimum standards for the construction and decommissioning of all wells in the state of Washington. (2) The following are excluded from these regulations:

(a) Any excavation that is not intended to locate, divert, artificially recharge, observe, monitor, dewater, or withdraw ground water except resource protection wells, ground source heat pump borings, grounding wells, and geotechnical soil borings.

(b) Any excavation for the purpose of obtaining or prospecting for oil, natural gas, minerals, products of mining, quarrying, inserting media to repressure oil or natural gas bearing formations, storing petroleum, natural gas, or other products, as provided in chapter 78.52 RCW.

(c) Injection wells regulated in chapter 173-218 WAC.

Exception: Injection wells used to withdraw ground water and remediation wells that are used to inject any substance to remediate, clean up, or control potential or actual contamination may be regulated by chapters 173-218 and 173-160 WAC. (d) Infiltration or exfiltration galleries, trenches, ponds, pits, and sumps, except where the department determines that the intended use of the excavation meets a definition in RCW 18.104.020.

(e) Grounding wells and grounding rods that are installed to a depth of twenty-five feet or less.

(3) Under chapter 90.48 RCW, those excavations excluded in subsection (2)(a) through (d) of this section shall be constructed, maintained, and decommissioned to ensure protection of the ground water resource and to prevent the contamination and waste of that resource.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW. 06-23-121 (Order 06-08), § 173-160-010, filed 11/21/06, effective 12/22/06. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-010, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW. 88-08-070 (Order 88-58), § 173-160-010, filed 4/6/88; Order 73-6, § 173-160-010, filed 4/30/73.]