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