Ariz. Admin. Code § 12-15-1302

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 44, November 1, 2024

Section R12-15-1302 - Well Spacing Requirements - Applications to Construct New Wells or Replacement Wells in New Locations Under A.R.S. Section 45-599

A. The director shall not approve an application for a permit to construct a new well or a replacement well in a new location under A.R.S. § 45-599 if the director determines that the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B) of this Section.

B. The director shall determine that the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells if any of the following apply:

1. Except as provided in subsection (D) of this Section, the director determines that the probable impact of the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells on any well of record in existence as of the date of receipt of the application will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of operation of the proposed well or wells. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the applicant may submit a hydrological study delineating those areas surrounding the proposed well or wells in which the projected impacts on water levels will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of operation of the proposed well or wells. The director may require the applicant to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection;

2. The director determines that the proposed well or wells will be located in an area of known land subsidence and the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will likely cause unreasonably increasing damage from additional regional land subsidence. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the applicant may submit a hydrological study, which may include a geophysical evaluation, demonstrating the impact of the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells on regional land subsidence. The director may require the applicant to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection; or

3. Except as provided in subsection (E) of this Section, the director determines, after consulting with ADEQ, that withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will likely cause the migration of contaminated groundwater from a remedial action site to a well of record in existence as of the date of the receipt of the application, resulting in a degradation of the quality of the water withdrawn from the well of record so that the water will no longer be usable for the purpose for which it is currently being used without additional treatment, and that the damage to the owner of the well of record will not be prevented or adequately mitigated through the implementation of a program regulated under Title 49 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, or a program regulated by EPA or DOD. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the applicant may submit a hydrological study demonstrating whether the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will have the effect described in this subsection. The director may require the applicant to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection.

C. In making a determination under subsection (B)(1), (B)(2), or (B)(3) of this Section, if the proposed well is a replacement well in a new location, the director shall take into account the collective effects of reducing or terminating withdrawals from the well being replaced combined with the proposed withdrawals from the replacement well if the applicant submits a hydrological study demonstrating those collective effects to the satisfaction of the director.

D. If the director determines under subsection (B)(1) of this Section that the probable impact of the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells on one or more wells of record in existence as of the date of receipt of the application will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of operation of the proposed well or wells, the director shall notify the applicant in writing of the location of the wells of record and the names and addresses of the owners of the wells as shown in the Department's well registry. The director shall not determine that the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B)(1) of this Section if within 60 days after the date on the notice, or a longer time period approved by the director, the applicant submits one of the following for each well of record identified in the notice:

1. A signed and notarized consent form from the owner of the well of record consenting to the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells. The applicant shall use the consent form furnished by the director; or

2. Evidence satisfactory to the director that the address of the owner of the well of record as shown in the Department's well registry records is inaccurate and that the applicant made a reasonable attempt to locate the current owner of the well of record but was unable to do so.

E. If the director determines that withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will have the effect described in subsection (B)(3) of this Section on one or more wells of record in existence as of the date of receipt of the application, the director shall notify the applicant in writing of the location of the wells of record and the names and addresses of the owners of the wells as shown in the Department's well registry. The director shall not determine that the withdrawals from the proposed well or wells will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B)(3) of this Section if within 60 days after the date on the notice, or a longer time period approved by the director, the applicant submits one of the following for each well of record identified in the notice:

F. At any time before a final determination under this Section, the applicant may:

1. Amend the application to change the location of the proposed well or wells or the amount of groundwater to be withdrawn from the proposed well or wells to lessen the degree of impact on wells of record or regional land subsidence; or

2. Agree to construct or operate the proposed well or wells in a manner that lessens the degree of impact on wells of record or regional land subsidence. The director shall indicate in the well permit that compliance with the agreement is a condition of the well permit.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-15-1302

New Section made by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 2193, effective August 7, 2006 (Supp. 06-2).