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Part III. Destruction of Wells <br />Section 21. Definition of "Abandoned" Well. <br />Section 21 (page 52 of Bulletin 74-81) has been revised as follows: <br />"A well is considered 'abandoned' or permanently inactive if it has not been used for one year, unless the <br />owner demonstrates intention to use the well again. In accordance with Section 24400 of the California <br />Health and Safety Code, the well owner shall properly maintain an inactive well as evidence of intention for <br />future use in such a way that the following requirements are met: <br />"(1) The well shall not allow impairment of the quality of water within the well and ground water <br />encountered by the well. <br />(2) The top of the well or well casing shall be provided with a cover, that is secured by a lock or <br />by other means to prevent its removal without the use of equipment or tools, to prevent <br />unauthorized access, to prevent a safety hazard to humans and animals, and to prevent illegal <br />disposal of wastes in the well. The cover shall be watertight where the top of the well casing <br />or other surface openings to the well are below ground level, such as in a vault or below known <br />levels of flooding. The cover shall be watertight if the well is inactive for more than five <br />consecutive years. A pump motor, angle drive, or other surface feature of a well, when in <br />compliance with the above provisions, shall suffice as a cover. <br />(3) The well shall be marked so as to be easily visible and located, and labeled so as to be easily <br />identified as a well. <br />(4) The area surrounding the well shall be kept clear of brush, debris, and waste materials." <br />If a pump has been temporarily removed for repair or replacement, the well shall not be considered <br />'abandoned' if the above conditions are met. The well shall be adequately covered to prevent injury to people <br />and animals and to prevent the entrance of foreign material, surface water, pollutants, or contaminants into <br />the well during the pump repair period." <br />Section 23. Requirements for Destroying Wells. <br />Subsection A, Item 1 (page 53 of Bulletin 74-81) and Subsection B, Item 1, (page 54, of Bulletin 74-81) have <br />been changed. The remainder of Section 23 is unchanged. <br />Subsection A, Item 1 has been revised as follows: <br />"1. Obstructions. The well shall be cleaned, as needed, so that all undesirable materials, <br />including obstructions to filling and sealing, debris, oil from oil-lubricated pumps, or <br />pollutants and contaminants that could interfere with well destruction are removed for <br />disposal. <br />The enforcing agency shall be notified as soon as possible if pollutants and <br />contaminants are known or suspected to be in a well to be destroyed. Well destruction <br />operations may then proceed only at the approval of the enforcing agency. <br />The enforcing agency should be contacted to determine requirements for proper <br />.disposal of materials removed from a well to be destroyed." <br />81 -28-