Well Operation Permits

Well Operation Permits. (a) No person may operate a well or withdrawn groundwater without an operation permit issued by the chief. (b) Each operation permit shall state the maximum quantity of water which may be withdrawn per day (daily flow rate). The chief shall determine the maximum allowable daily flow rate based on the proposed beneficial use of the water, the results of well testing, and local hydrogeology to ensure the protection of public health and environment, and the beneficial utilization and conservation of groundwater resources. (c) The chief shall issue operation permits for groundwater withdrawal only in designated areas as provided in this chapter. (d) The well operation permittee shall file an annual water consumption report with the Division of Environmental Quality by September 1. This report shall include the quantity of water extracted during each month of the preceding year. (e) All present users of wells prior to November 3, 1988, shall have 60 days from that date to file an operation permit for existing wells. (f) Permits shall expire on September 30 of each year. (g) The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality is hereby authorized to set well water usage rates for commercial and other non-governmental groundwater wells. Source: PL 6-12, § 8; (g) enacted by PL 19-64 § 2 (Sept. 2, 2016). Commission Comment: With respect to the references to the “chief” of the Division of Environmental Quality and to the division itself, see Executive Order 94-3 (effective Aug. 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001.