Utah Code 73-3-25. Well driller’s license — Enforcement
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(1) As used in this section:
Terms Used In Utah Code 73-3-25
- Person: means :(24)(a) an individual;(24)(b) an association;(24)(c) an institution;(24)(d) a corporation;(24)(e) a company;(24)(f) a trust;(24)(g) a limited liability company;(24)(h) a partnership;(24)(i) a political subdivision;(24)(j) a government office, department, division, bureau, or other body of government; and(24)(k) any other organization or entity. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(1)(a) “Well” means an open or cased excavation or borehole for diverting, using, or monitoring underground water made by any construction method.(1)(b) “Well driller” means a person with a license to engage in well drilling for compensation or otherwise.(1)(c) “Well drilling” means the act of:(1)(c)(i) drilling, constructing, repairing, renovating, deepening, cleaning, developing, or abandoning a well; or(1)(c)(ii) installing or repairing a pump in a well.
(2)
(2)(a) Notwithstanding Subsection (3) , a person who installs or repairs a pump in a well on the person’s own property for the person’s own use is not required to obtain a license under this section.
(2)(b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c) , a person who installs or repairs a pump in a well for compensation:
(2)(b)(i) shall obtain a license as required by Subsection (3) ; and
(2)(b)(ii) is subject to all of this section’s provisions.
(2)(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(b) , a person who performs electrical repairs on a pump in a well is not required to obtain a license as required by Subsection (3) .
(3)
(3)(a)
(3)(a)(i) A person shall obtain a license as provided in this section before engaging in well drilling.
(3)(a)(ii) The state engineer may enforce Subsection (3)(a)(i) in accordance with Sections 73-2-25 and 73-2-26 .
(3)(b) A person applying for a well driller license shall file a well driller bond:
(3)(b)(i) with the state engineer; and
(3)(b)(ii) payable to the Division of Water Rights.
(3)(c)
(3)(c)(i) Compliance with this section and the rules authorized by this section is required to obtain or renew a well driller license.
(3)(c)(ii) The state engineer may refuse to issue a license if it appears an applicant violates a rule authorized by this section.
(3)(d) A well driller license is not transferable.
(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act , the state engineer may make rules establishing:
(4)(a) the amount, form, and general administrative requirements of a well driller bond;
(4)(b) the amount of a well driller fine;
(4)(c) minimum well drilling standards;
(4)(d) well driller reporting requirements;
(4)(e) the requirements for obtaining a well driller license, including:
(4)(e)(i) a well driller license application form;
(4)(e)(ii) the license expiration date; and
(4)(e)(iii) the license renewal cycle; and
(4)(f) a procedure to enforce a well drilling standard or other well drilling requirement.
(5)
(5)(a) A well driller shall submit a report to the state engineer:
(5)(a)(i) containing data relating to each well;
(5)(a)(ii) within 30 days after the completion or abandonment of the well drilling;
(5)(a)(iii) on forms furnished by the state engineer; and
(5)(a)(iv) containing information required by the state engineer.
(5)(b) In accordance with Sections 73-2-25 and 73-2-26 , the state engineer may commence an enforcement action against a person who fails to submit a report required by Subsection (5)(a) within 90 days of the day on which the well driller license lapses.
(6)
(6)(a) A well driller shall comply with the rules authorized by this section.
(6)(b) If the state engineer determines that a well driller has failed to comply with a rule, the state engineer may, in accordance with the procedures established in rule:
(6)(b)(i)
(6)(b)(i)(A) order that a well driller pay a fine; or
(6)(b)(i)(B) revoke or suspend the well driller’s license; and
(6)(b)(ii) exact the bond.
(7)
(7)(a) The state engineer shall retain the money from a fine or exacting a bond as a dedicated credit.
(7)(b) The state engineer may expend:
(7)(b)(i) money retained from a fine for:
(7)(b)(i)(A) well drilling inspection;
(7)(b)(i)(B) well drilling enforcement; or
(7)(b)(i)(C) well driller education; and
(7)(b)(ii) money retained from exacting a bond to investigate or correct a deficiency by a well driller that could adversely affect the public interest resulting from noncompliance with a rule authorized by this section.