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Committee approves revised well-construction standards (Docket 370-309-2401)
Summary
The Senate Resources & Environment Committee approved updated well-construction standards (docket 370-309-2401) that clarify definitions, align with related IDAPA rules, allow certain low-temperature geothermal wells to be built to cold-water standards under defined conditions, and update sealing and waiver procedures.
The Senate Resources & Environment Committee approved revisions to Idaho’s well-construction standards, docket 370-309-2401, which set minimum construction, modification and decommissioning standards for wells statewide.
Eric Bowe, Water Compliance Bureau Chief and Rules Regulation Officer for the Idaho Department of Water Resources, described the chapter as focused on protecting public health and preventing waste and commingling of aquifers. The updated rules clarify definitions (for example, casing and geotechnical borings), align key terms with IDWR injection-well and DEQ public-drinking-water rules, update well-seal requirements and add waiver procedures that allow the director to solicit comment from DEQ or local health districts when appropriate.
Industry groups testified in support. Roger Batt, representing the Idaho Groundwater Association (the state association for well drillers), said two specific changes will reduce costs for some homeowners and drillers: raising the bottom-hole temperature threshold for treating a well as low-temperature geothermal from 85°F to 140°F (allowing those wells to be constructed to cold-water well standards where they do not flow at land surface) and removing a duplicate casing requirement that can substantially increase construction cost. Batt estimated the rule change could reduce costs for some wells from about $50,000 to $30,000 by avoiding an extra casing string.
Senator Guthrie moved to approve the docket; Senator Harris seconded. The committee approved the rules by voice vote.
The approved chapter defines terminology (Rule 10), regulates groundwater and low-temp geothermal well construction and bonding (Rules 25 and 30), sets health standards (Rule 35), describes owner responsibilities and drilling-permit requirements (Rules 36 and 45), and sets penalties for improper construction or contamination (Rule 50). The department said the pending rule reduces the chapter by roughly 777 words (a 6 percent reduction) and cuts restrictive word count by 24 words (about 10 percent).
