H*3659 Session 104 (1981-1982)
H*3659(Rat #0569, Act #0459 of 1982) General Bill, By R.L. Helmly and
W.E. Applegate
A Bill to amend Section 40-23-10, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
1976, relating to definitions pertaining to environmental systems operators,
so as to provide for additional definitions regarding wells and well drillers;
to amend Section 40-23-20, as amended, relating to the South Carolina Board of
Certification of Environmental Systems Operators, so as to revise the
membership of the Board; to amend Section 40-23-100, relating to the issuance
of certificates of registration for certain wastewater and public water plant
operators, so as to provide for the manner in which certificates of
registration may be issued to certain well drillers; to amend Section
40-23-140, as amended, relating to certificates of registration for certain
environmental systems operators, so as to further provide for such
certification, including the certification of well drillers; to amend Section
44-55-20, as amended, relating to definitions pertaining to public water
supplies, so as to provide for additional definitions regarding wells and well
contractors; to amend Section 44-55-40, as amended, relating to the regulation
of public water supply construction and modification, so as to provide for the
regulation of wells and well contractors; to amend the 1976 Code by adding
Section 44-55-45 so as to establish an advisory committee to the Board of
Health and Environmental Control for the purpose of advising on well standards
and regulations; and to amend Section 44-55-80, relating to unlawful acts in
regard to water supplies and suppliers, so as to further provide for such
unlawful acts; and to give 1976 Code designations to certain provisions of
law.
03/04/82 House Introduced and read first time HJ-1227
03/04/82 House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-1227
03/24/82 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
HJ-1784
03/25/82 House Amended HJ-1836
03/25/82 House Read second time HJ-1837
03/31/82 House Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1898
03/31/82 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-14
03/31/82 Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-14
04/29/82 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Medical Affairs SJ-12
05/26/82 Senate Read second time SJ-77
05/26/82 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-77
06/02/82 Senate Amended SJ-110
06/02/82 Senate Read third time SJ-112
06/02/82 Senate Returned SJ-112
06/03/82 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-3862
06/03/82 House Ratified R 569 HJ-3949
06/14/82 Signed By Governor
06/14/82 Effective date 06/14/82
06/14/82 Act No. 459
06/24/82 Copies available
(A459, R569, H3659)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-23-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OPERATORS, SO
AS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING WELLS AND WELL DRILLERS; TO
AMEND SECTION 40-23-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF
CERTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OPERATORS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP
OF THE BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 40-23-100, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF
CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION FOR CERTAIN WASTEWATER AND PUBLIC WATER PLANT
OPERATORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION
MAY BE ISSUED TO CERTAIN WELL DRILLERS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-23-140, AS AMENDED,
RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION FOR CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
OPERATORS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR SUCH CERTIFICATION, INCLUDING THE
CERTIFICATION OF WELL DRILLERS; TO AMEND SECTION 44-55-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING
TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR
ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING WELLS AND WELL CONTRACTORS; TO AMEND SECTION
44-55-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
CONSTRUCTION AND MODIFICATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF WELLS AND
WELL CONTRACTORS; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 44-55-45 SO AS TO
ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVISING ON WELL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS; AND TO AMEND
SECTION 44-55-80, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL ACTS IN REGARD TO WATER SUPPLIES AND
SUPPLIERS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR SUCH UNLAWFUL ACTS; AND TO GIVE 1976 CODE
DESIGNATIONS TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Definitions
Section 1. Section 40-23-10 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 157 of 1981,
is further amended by adding:
"(8) 'Well' means a bored, drilled or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose
depth is greater than the largest surface dimension, from which water is
extracted or injected. This shall include, but not be limited to, wells used for
water supply for irrigation, industrial and manufacturing processes, or drinking
water, wells used for underground injection of waste for disposal, storage, or
drainage disposal, wells used in mineral or geothermal recovery, and any other
special process wells.
(9) 'Well driller' means any person directly responsible for construction of
wells at the well site."
Board created--composition
Section 2. Section 40-23-20 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 340 of 1980,
is further amended to read:
"Section 40-23-20. There is hereby created the South Carolina Board of
Certification of Environmental Systems Operators to safeguard the life and health
of the citizens of this State.
The Board shall consist of thirteen members, all of whom shall be appointed by
the Governor with advice from the following groups, agencies, or individuals:
(a) Two shall be recommended by the executive committee of the South Carolina
Water and Pollution Control Association to serve terms of three years;
(b) One shall be recommended from the active membership of the South Carolina
Water and Pollution Control Association to serve a term of three years;
(c) One shall be recommended by the Municipal Association of South Carolina to
serve a term of three years;
(d) Two shall be recommended by the President of Clemson University, who shall
be members of the faculty of the university engaged in waterworks and wastewater
instruction, to serve terms of three years;
(e) One shall be recommended from the active membership of the pollution
control section of the South Carolina Water and Pollution Control Association to
serve a term of three years;
(f) One shall be recommended by the South Carolina Land Resources Commission
to serve a term of three years;
(g) One shall be recommended by the executive director of the South Carolina
Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education to represent such agency and to
serve a term of three years;
(h) Two shall be recommended by the Commissioner of Health and Environmental
Control, one of whom shall be appointed to represent the Department of Health and
Environmental Control, and one of whom shall serve as secretary-treasurer of the
board, ex officio, each to serve a term of three years;
(i) One shall be recommended by the South Carolina Well Drillers Association
to serve a term of three years;
(j) One shall be recommended by the executive director of the South Carolina
Water Resources Commission to represent such agency and to serve a term of three
years."
Certificates of registration
Section 3. Section 40-23-100 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:
"(C) Certificates of registrations may be issued without examinations to
well drillers who are actively engaged in well construction and a resident of
South Carolina on July 1, 1982; provided, however, that such application for
registration shall be made prior to July 1, 1983."
Unlawful to practice without certificate of registration
Section 4. Section 40-23-140 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 157 of 1981,
is further amended to read:
"Section 40-23-140. (A) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice
as a public water supply operator except for those water supplies classified in
Group I under subsection (j) of Section 44-55-40, unless the person so practicing
has fully complied with the provisions of this chapter and has been issued a
current certificate of registration by the Board in a grade equal to or higher
than that grade designated for the public water supply at which he is employed.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice as a public wastewater
treatment plant operator unless the person so practicing has fully complied with
the provisions of this chapter and has been issued a current certificate of
registration by the Board in a grade equal to or higher than that grade
designated for the public wastewater treatment plant at which he is employed.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to perform percolation tests unless the
person has fully complied with the provisions of this chapter and has been issued
a current certificate of registration by the Board.
(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice as a well driller after
July 1, 1983, unless the person so practicing has fully complied with the
provisions of this chapter and has been issued a current certificate of
registration by the Board or has been issued a certificate pursuant to Section
40-23-100(C). After July 1, 1983, persons seeking certification under this
chapter shall pass an examination prescribed by the Board. The examination shall
be oral if the applicant so requests.
(E) The Board shall by regulation permit on-the-job training for persons
seeking certification under this chapter.
(F) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons licensed or
authorized by other boards or agencies to perform percolation tests as an
incident to the practice of their profession or to persons constructing, opening,
or closing wells on their own property."
Definitions
Section 5. Section 44-55-20 of the 1976 Code, as amended, is further amended
by adding at the end:
"(h) 'Well' means a bored, drilled or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose
depth is greater than the largest surface dimension, from which water is
extracted or injected. This shall include, but not be limited to, wells used for
water supply for irrigation, industrial and manufacturing processes, or drinking
water, wells used for underground injection of waste for disposal, storage, or
drainage disposal, wells used in mineral or geothermal recovery, and any other
special process wells.
(i) 'Well contractor' means any individual, corporation, partnership,
association, political subdivision, or public agency of this State in immediate
supervision of and responsible for the construction, development, testing,
maintenance, repair, or preparation for abandonment of any well as defined by
this chapter. This term shall not include persons constructing, opening, or
closing wells on their own property."
Unlawful to engage without certification
Section 6. Section 44-55-40 of the 1976 Code, as amended, is further amended
by adding at the end:
"(1) Effective July 1, 1983, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage
in the business of well contracting or represent themselves to the public as well
contractors without (i) obtaining certification from the South Carolina Board of
Certification of Environmental Systems Operators, or (ii) employing well drillers
which are certified by the South Carolina Board of Certification of Environmental
Systems Operators.
(m) The Board, to insure that underground sources of drinking water are not
contaminated by improper well construction and operation, shall be authorized to
promulgate regulations as developed by the Advisory Committee established
pursuant to Section 44-55-45, setting standards for the construction,
maintenance, operation, and abandonment of any well except for wells where well
construction, maintenance and abandonment are regulated by the Groundwater Use
Act of 1969, Act 179 of 1977 (oil and gas production), or the Water Use Reporting
Act. For such excepted wells, the Board is authorized to adopt regulations as
developed with the Water Resources Commission. The Board shall further insure
that all wells are constructed in accordance with the standards. The Board shall
make available educational training on the standards to well drillers or well
contractors who desire such training."
Advisory Committee to be appointed
Section 7. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 44-55-45. An Advisory Committee to the Board shall be appointed
for the purpose of advising the Board during development or subsequent amendment
of regulatory standards for the construction, maintenance, operation, and
abandonment of wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Board. The Advisory
Committee shall be composed of eight members appointed by the Board. Five members
shall be active well contractors, one member shall be a registered professional
engineer with experience in well design and construction, one member shall be a
consulting hydrogeologist with experience in well design and construction, and
one member shall be engaged in farming and shall represent the public at large.
Three ex officio members shall also serve on the Advisory Committee, one of whom
shall be an employee of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, and
appointed by the Commissioner thereof, one of whom shall be an employee of the
South Carolina Water Resources Commission and appointed by the Executive Director
thereof, and one of whom shall be an employee of the Land Resources Conservation
Commission and appointed by the Executive Director thereof.
The term of office of members of the Advisory Committee shall be for four years
and until their successors are appointed and qualify with a maximum of two
consecutive terms. The initial terms of office shall be staggered and any member
may be removed for cause after proper notification and an opportunity to be
heard."
Failure to comply
Section 8. Subsection (a) of Section 44-55-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to
read:
"(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with the
provisions of this article or the regulations promulgated pursuant to this
article; to fail to comply with the conditions of any permit issued under this
article; or to fail to comply with any order of the Department."
Departments to coordinate implementation
Section 9. The Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South
Carolina Water Resources Commission shall coordinate the implementation of this
act.
Code sections designated
Section 10. The following sections of the 1962 Code as contained in Act 658 of
1976 are hereby designated sections of the 1976 Code as follows:
1962 Code Designation 1976 Code Designation
32-1201 ...................... 44-55-10
32-1202 ...................... 44-55-20
32-1203 ...................... 44-55-30
32-1204 ...................... 44-55-40
32-1204A ..................... 44-55-50
32-1205 ...................... 44-55-60
32-1206 ...................... 44-55-70
32-1207 ...................... 44-55-80
32-1208 ...................... 44-55-90
32-1209 ...................... 44-55-100
Time effective
Section 11. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor. |