Arizona Administrative Code
Title 12 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 15 - DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
Article 13 - WELL SPACING REQUIREMENTS; REPLACEMENT WELLS IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION
Section R12-15-1304 - Well Spacing Requirements - Wells Withdrawing Groundwater From the Little Colorado River Plateau Groundwater Basin for Transportation to Another Groundwater Basin Under A.R.S. Section 45-544(B)(1)

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 12-15-1304

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. An LCR plateau groundwater transporter may not withdraw groundwater from a well or wells drilled in the Little Colorado river plateau groundwater basin after January 1, 1991, except a replacement well in approximately the same location or a well drilled after that date pursuant to a notice of intention to drill filed on or before that date, for transportation away from the basin pursuant to A.R.S. § 45-544(B)(1) if the director determines that the withdrawals for that purpose will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B) of this Section.

B. The director shall determine that the withdrawals of groundwater from the well or wells will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells if any of the following apply:

1. Except as provided in subsection (D) of this Section, the director determines that the probable impact of the withdrawals of groundwater from the well or wells on any well of record in existence when the withdrawals commenced or are proposed to commence will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of the withdrawals. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter may submit to the director a hydrological study delineating those areas surrounding the LCR plateau groundwater transporter's well or wells in which the projected impacts on water levels will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of the withdrawals. The director may require the LCR plateau groundwater transporter to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection;

2. The director determines that the well or wells from which the groundwater is withdrawn are located in an area of known land subsidence and the withdrawals of groundwater will likely cause unreasonably increasing damage from additional regional land subsidence. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter may submit to the director a hydrological study, which may include a geophysical evaluation, demonstrating the impact of the withdrawals on regional land subsidence. The director may require the LCR plateau groundwater transporter to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection; or

3. Except as provided in subsection (E) of this Section, the director determines, after consulting with ADEQ, that the withdrawals of groundwater from the well or wells will likely cause the migration of contaminated groundwater from a remedial action site to a well of record in existence when the groundwater withdrawals commenced or are proposed to commence, resulting in a degradation of the quality of the water withdrawn from the well of record so that the water will no longer be usable for the purpose for which it is currently being used without additional treatment, and that the damage to the owner of the well of record will not be prevented or adequately mitigated through the implementation of a program regulated under Title 49 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, or a program regulated by EPA or DOD. To assist the director in making a determination under this subsection, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter may submit to the director a hydrological study demonstrating whether the withdrawals of groundwater will have the effect described in this subsection. The director may require the LCR plateau groundwater transporter to submit such a hydrological study if the director determines that the study will assist the director in making a determination under this subsection.

C. In making a determination under subsection (B)(1), (B)(2), or (B)(3) of this Section, if a well from which the groundwater is withdrawn is a replacement well in a new location, the director shall take into account the collective effects of reducing or terminating withdrawals from the well being replaced combined with the withdrawals from the replacement well if the LCR plateau groundwater transporter submits a hydrological study demonstrating those collective effects to the satisfaction of the director.

D. If the director determines under subsection (B)(1) of this Section that the probable impact of the withdrawals of groundwater from the well or wells on any well of record in existence when the withdrawals commenced or are proposed to commence will exceed 10 feet of additional drawdown after the first five years of the withdrawals, the director shall notify the LCR plateau groundwater transporter in writing of the location of the wells of record and the names and addresses of the owners of the wells as shown in the Department's well registry. The director shall not determine that the withdrawals will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B)(1) of this Section if within 60 days after the date on the notice, or a longer time period approved by the director, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter submits one of the following for each well of record identified in the notice:

1. A signed and notarized consent form from the owner of the well of record consenting to the withdrawals. The LCR plateau groundwater transporter shall use the consent form furnished by the director; or

2. Evidence satisfactory to the director that the address of the owner of the well of record as shown in the Department's well registry records is inaccurate and that the LCR plateau groundwater transporter made a reasonable attempt to locate the current owner of the well of record but was unable to do so.

E. If the director determines that the withdrawals of groundwater from the well or wells will have the effect described in subsection (B)(3) of this Section on one or more wells of record in existence when the groundwater withdrawals commenced or are proposed to commence, the director shall notify the LCR plateau groundwater transporter in writing of the location of the wells of record and the names and addresses of the owners of the wells as shown in the Department's well registry. The director shall not determine that the withdrawals will cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users from the concentration of wells under subsection (B)(3) of this Section if within 60 days after the date on the notice, or a longer time period approved by the director, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter submits one of the following for each well of record identified in the notice:

F. At any time before a final determination under this Section, the LCR plateau groundwater transporter may agree to construct or operate the well or wells in a manner that lessens the degree of impact on wells of record or regional land subsidence. Compliance with the agreement is a condition for the use of the well or wells to withdraw groundwater for transportation away from the basin pursuant to A.R.S. § 45-544(B)(1).

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