Ohio § 1521.05

§ 1521.05.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Construct ” or “ construction ” includes drilling, boring, digging, deepening, altering, and logging. (2) “ Altering ” means changing the configuration of a well, including, without limitation, deepening

a well, extending or replacing any portion of the inside or outside casing or wall

of a well that extends below ground level, plugging a portion of a well back to a

certain depth, and reaming out a well to enlarge its original diameter. (3) “ Logging ” means describing the lithology, grain size, color, and texture of the formations

encountered during the drilling, boring, digging, deepening, or altering of a well. (4) “ Grouting ” means neat cement;  bentonite products in slurry, granular, or pelletized form,

excluding drilling mud or fluids;  or any combination of neat cement and bentonite

products that is placed within a well to seal the annular space or to seal an abandoned

well and that is impervious to and capable of preventing the movement of water. (5) “ Abandoned well ” means a well whose use has been permanently discontinued and that poses potential

health and safety hazards or that has the potential to transmit surface contaminants

into the aquifer in which the well has been constructed. (6) “ Sealing ” means the complete filling of an abandoned well with grouting or other approved

materials in order to permanently prevent the vertical movement of water in the well

and thus prevent the contamination of ground water or the intermixing of water between

aquifers. (B) Any person that constructs a well shall keep a careful and accurate log of the construction

of the well.  The log shall show all of the following: (1) The character, including, without limitation, the lithology, color, texture, and

grain size, the name, if known, and the depth of all formations passed through or

encountered; (2) The depths at which water is encountered; (3) The static water level of the completed well; (4) A copy of the record of all pumping tests and analyses related to those tests, if

any; (5) Construction details, including lengths, diameters, and thicknesses of casing and

screening and the volume, type of material, and method of introducing gravel packing

and grouting into the well; (6) The type of pumping equipment installed, if any; (7) The name of the owner of the well, the address of the location where the well was

constructed, and either the state plane coordinates or the latitude and longitude

of the well; (8) The signature of the individual who constructed the well and filed the well log; (9) Any other information required by the chief of the division of water resources. The log shall be filed with the division of water resources within thirty days after

the completion of construction of the well on forms prescribed and prepared by the

division.  The log shall be kept on file by the division. (C) Any person that seals a well shall keep a careful and accurate report of the sealing

of the well.  The sealing report shall show all of the following: (1) The name of the owner of the well, the address of the location where the well was

constructed, and either the state plane coordinates or the latitude and longitude

of the well; (2) The depth of the well, the size and length of its casing, and the static water level

of the well; (3) The sealing procedures, including the volume and type of sealing material or materials

and the method and depth of placement of each material; (4) The date on which the sealing was performed; (5) The signature of the individual who sealed the well and filed the sealing report; (6) Any other information required by the chief. The sealing report shall be filed with the division within thirty days after the completion

of the sealing of the well on forms prescribed and prepared by the division. (D) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the chief may adopt, amend,

and rescind rules requiring other persons that are involved in the construction or

subsequent development of a well to submit well logs under division (B) of this section

containing any or all of the information specified in divisions (B)(1) to (9) of this

section and specifying additional information to be included in sealing reports required

under division (C) of this section.  The chief shall adopt rules establishing procedures and requirements governing the

payment and collection of water well log filing fees, including the amount of any

filing fee to be imposed as an alternative to the twenty-dollar filing fee established

in division (G) of this section and including procedures for the quarterly transfer

of filing fees by boards of health and the director of environmental protection under

that division. (E)(1) No person shall fail to keep and file a well log or a sealing report as required

by this section. (2) No person shall make a false statement in any well log or sealing report required

to be kept and filed under this section.  Violation of division (E)(2) of this section is falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code . (F) For the purposes of prosecution of a violation of division (E)(1) of this section,

a prima-facie case is established when the division obtains either of the following: (1) A certified copy of a permit for a private water system issued in accordance with

rules adopted under section 3701.344 of the Revised Code , or a certified copy of the invoice or a canceled check from the owner of a well

indicating the construction or sealing services performed; (2) A certified copy of any permit issued under Chapter 3734. or 6111. of the Revised

Code or plan approval granted under Chapter 6109. of the Revised Code for any activity

that includes the construction or sealing of a well as applicable. (G) In accordance with rules adopted under this section, a person or entity that constructs

a well for the purpose of extracting potable water as part of a private water system

that is subject to rules adopted under section 3701.344 of the Revised Code or a public water system that is required to be licensed under Chapter 6109. of the

Revised Code shall pay a well log filing fee of twenty dollars per well log or, if

the chief has adopted rules establishing an alternative fee amount, the fee amount

established under rules.  The fee shall be collected by a board of health under section 3701.344 of the Revised Code or the environmental protection agency under section 6109.22 of the Revised Code , as applicable. Each calendar quarter, a board of health or the environmental protection agency, as

applicable, shall forward all well log filing fees collected during the previous calendar

quarter to the division of water resources.  The fees shall be forwarded in accordance with procedures established in rules adopted

under this section. Proceeds of well log filing fees shall be used by the division of water resources

for the purposes of acquiring, maintaining, and dispensing digital and paper records

of well logs that are filed with the division.