Arkansas Administrative Code Agency 096 - Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission
Here’s an enhanced overview of Arkansas Administrative Code – Agency 096, which governs the Water Well Construction Commission (AWWCC):
⚙️ Agency 096 – Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission
Overview
Agency 096 comprises the rules and regulations that oversee the construction, repair, abandonment, licensing, and fees associated with water wells—including potable wells, geothermal exchange wells, and monitoring wells—throughout Arkansas. (regulations.justia.com)
📘 Key Rule Sections
Rule 096.00.05‑001
Governs Direct-Exchange (DX) geothermal wells as a subcategory of geothermal systems. (regulations.justia.com)
Rule 096.00.06‑001
Encompasses standards for geothermal wells, apprenticeship certification requirements, and construction specifications for DX wells. (regulations.justia.com)
Rule 096.00.07‑001
Defines fee structures for:
Contractor licenses and certifications (drillers, pump installers, apprentices)
Rig permits and well construction reports (regulations.justia.com, law.cornell.edu)
Rule 096.00.09‑001
Updates sections on fees, introduces a new contractor class, removes apprentice requirements, and establishes abandonment procedures for wells. (regulations.justia.com)
Rule 096.00.16‑001
Contains the core, substantive rules and regulations detailing well construction, repair, plugging, and associated standards.
📝 Highlights from Rule 096.00.06‑001
Section 1 (Scope): Establishes minimum standards for water well construction or repair that must be followed statewide. Non-compliant older wells undergoing rehabilitation must align with current standards. (sos.arkansas.gov)
Section 3 (Licensing & Bonding):
Specifies that only licensed and bonded individuals, per Act 641 (1969), can construct or repair water wells.
Outlines registration categories for drillers (consolidated, unconsolidated, monitoring, hydrofracturing, geothermal) and for pump installers (turbine, submersible, jet, monitoring/sampling, positive displacement, plugging).
Describes contractor licensing for drilling/pump systems and pump-only systems.
States that master electricians and plumbers can perform certain installations at wellheads under proper licensing. (sos.arkansas.gov)
Requires a $10,000 surety bond for contractors and outlines liability coverage for clients and public benefit.
Section 8 (Definitions): Provides clear definitions, e.g., for “annular space,” “aquifer,” “static water level,” “abandoned water well,” “geothermal,” and more. (sos.arkansas.gov)
💲 Fee Summary (from Section 3.4)
Drilling & Pump System License: $200
Pump System License: $50
Registration Certificates (driller, pump installer, apprentice): $70 each
Exam Fee: $25
Rig Permit: $80
Construction Report Copy: $10 (sos.arkansas.gov)
🛑 Abandonment & Public Health
Abandoning a water well requires:
Thorough filling/tamping with clean materials
Top 10 feet sealed with cement grout or impervious material
These procedures are aligned with AWWCC standards to protect groundwater and public health. (regulations.vlex.com, sos.arkansas.gov)
🌐 Purpose & Authority
Under Act 855 of 2003 (ACA §17‑50‑401 et seq.), AWWCC:
Licenses contractors and certifies drillers/pump installers
Requires well-completion reporting
Maintains data in an ANRC database, linked to USGS databases (en.wikipedia.org)
📌 In Summary
Agency 096 encompasses rules for licensing, bonding, construction, plugging, geothermal-specific provisions, and mandatory fees.
It applies statewide and requires that both new and rehabilitated wells conform to modern standards.
Major rules include those for DX geothermal wells, broad licensing/funding structures, and detailed requirements for abandoning wells to protect public health.
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