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<br />The following is general information regarding well perm itting. All wells that are being <br />used with the intent of accessing ground water (“water wells”), including wells used for the <br />monitoring and observation of water quality/levels, are subject to the State Engineer’s Office <br />(SEO) well permitting requirements. Exploration boreholes constructed/used for purposes other <br />than accessing ground water do not require notice and/or permitting through the SEO; however <br />these wells will require permits through the SEO if/when they are used to access ground water <br />for monitoring or other purposes. Wells that are drilled as exploration boreholes under MLR and <br />are later used for water monitoring wells are exempt from the Water Well Construction Rules, 2 <br />CCR 402-2 (WWCR). Permitting types that may be applicable to the site include: <br />1) Monitoring Hole Notice: A notice provided to the SEO that water monitoring wells <br />are going to be constructed within a specific quarter-quarter. The exact <br />location/number of wells is not required nor is there a fee for this form. However, <br />these wells must either be plugged and abandoned or permitted as monitoring wells <br />within 1 year of construction. Wells constructed under Monitoring Hole Notices (MH <br />Notices) cannot be converted to production wells at a later date. Please read the MH <br />Notice form for further details and requirements. <br />2) Monitoring Well Permit: A permit to monitor water quality/levels for an extended <br />period of time. Though wells constructed under monitoring well permits (in <br />accordance with the WWCR) can potentially be converted to production wells at a <br />later date, wells constructed under MH Notices and converted to monitoring wells <br />cannot. Please note that if you choose to convert an exploration borehole to a water <br />monitoring well, it will, at the time of conversion, require a monitoring well permit <br />through the SEO. The SEO recommends that, if you drill a well with the intent of <br />monitoring water quality/quantity levels for over 1 year, you obtain a monitoring well <br />permit prior to constructing the well and construct it in accordance with the WWCR to <br />maximize the long-term use of the well. <br />3) Dewatering Well Permit: A permit to conduct long-term dewatering operations. All <br />long-term dewatering operations require a dewatering well permit. The scope of a <br />dewatering well is limited to dewatering only; use of the water beyond dewatering is <br />not allowed under this permit. A well constructed under an MH Notice can be <br />converted to a dewatering well. If you plan on using the water acquired from <br />dewatering operations after the initial dewatering (this includes uses such as dust <br />suppression, potable water supply, operational uses) a non-exempt permit must be <br />obtained and the well will be considered a production well. A well drilled under an <br />MH Notice will not be eligible for conversion to these types of uses. <br />4) Production Well (exempt): These permits are assumed to be non-injurious to the <br />stream system so their use does not require augmentation water. However, their <br />uses are also very limited. These wells can be permitted for drinking and sanitary <br />purposes inside a commercial business (up to 0.33 af/yr) or up to 3 single family <br />dwellings, 1 acre of lawn and garden irrigation, and the watering of the user’s non- <br />commercial domestic animals. They are permitted as the only exempt production ell <br />on the parcel. Wells drilled under MH Notices cannot be permitted for these uses. <br />5) Production Well (non-exempt): These wells are assumed to be injurious to the <br />stream system; in general, if the operation is in an overappropriated stream system <br />an augmentation plan will be required to operate under this type of permit. These <br />well permits cover most other water uses. This includes water used for site <br />operations, irrigation or outdoor uses, and dewatering with supplemental beneficial <br />uses. Also, any ponds or operation pits that intercept ground water are considered <br />wells; they will require non-exempt permits. Multiple non-exempt wells can exist on a <br />parcel. Wells drilled under MH Notices cannot be permitted for these uses.