82a-1213. Abandoned holes; plugging; failure to properly seal. All holes drilled in search of a water supply and abandoned, shall be properly plugged by the drilling contractor in accordance with rules and regulations established by the secretary in order to assure adequate and proper plugging of abandoned wells to prevent pollution of existing groundwater. Any contractor who fails to properly seal any exploratory wells drilled in search of a water supply and abandoned by him or her shall be subject to the penalties set out in this act. All unplugged abandoned water wells shall be plugged or caused to be plugged by the landowner in accordance with rules and regulations established by the secretary in order to assure adequate and proper plugging of abandoned water wells to prevent pollution to existing groundwater supplies, except that no unplugged abandoned water well existing on the effective date of this act which is not polluting or threatening to pollute a groundwater supply shall be required to be plugged.

History: L. 1973, ch. 417, § 13; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 181; L. 1979, ch. 334, § 8; July 1.