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STANDARDS FOR PLUGGING AND SEALING WELLS AND WELL EXCAVATIONS <br />RULE 15 <br />April 1, 7995 <br />...~ _, <br />15.1 General -The plugging and sealing of all wells, monitoring and <br />observation wells, monitoring and observation holes, and test holes, which are <br />no longer intended to be used, is necessary to prevent contamination of ground <br />water and the migration of water through the unused borehole. It is the <br />ultimate responsibility of the well owner to have a well properly plugged and <br />sealed. The well construction contractor or authorized individual is responsible <br />for notifying the well owner of these plugging requirements. Persons <br />authorized to install pumping equipment may plug and seal wells which do not <br />require the removal of casing from more than one aquifer or the ripping or <br />perforating of casing opposite confining layers. All materials used ..for <br />backfilling shall be clean and free from contaminants. The well casing may, be <br />cut off below land surface so that it will not interfere with the anticipated use <br />of the land. If the casing is cut off below land surface, a watertight cover shall <br />be permanently attached to the remaining casing and the excavation shall: be <br />filled with materials which are not more permeable than the surrounding soils. <br />15.2 Unconfined Wells -Wells completed into unconfined aquifers shall-be <br />plugged and sealed by filling with drill cuttings, clean sand or clean gravel to <br />the static water level, then with clean native clays, cement or high sdlid <br />bentonite grout to the ground surface. A permanent watertight cover shall be <br />installed at the top of the casing. , <br />15.2.1 Cathodic protection holes, dewatering wells, horizontal drains, <br />monitoring and observation holes, percolation holes, piezometer holes, sump <br />pumps and test holes shall be plugged and sealed either pursuant to Rule <br />15.2 or by removing all casing which was installed and by filling the hole(s) <br />with drill cuttings, clean native clays, cement or high solid bentonite grout <br />to within five (5) feet of the ground surface. The top five (5) feet of the <br />hole shall be sealed with materials less permeable than the surrounding soils. <br />15.3 Confined Wells -Wells which were constructed.through more than one <br />aquifer shall be plugged and sealed by placing a grout plug at the confining <br />layer above each aquifer. If records do not show that the casing opposite each <br />confining layer has been grduted when originally installed, the casing shall be <br />either completely removed from the hole, or perforated or ripped opposite such <br />layer prior to placing the grout plug. No plug shall be less than twenty (20) feet <br />in length and shall be designed to withstand the maximum potential pressure <br />differential between the aquifers. The well casing except for the grout plug <br />intervals shall be completely filled to the land surface with clean native clays, <br />cement or high solid bentonite grout. A watertight cover shall be permanently <br />welded or attached to the top of the casing. <br />