Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB373%20SUB1.htm&yr=2014&sesstype=RS&i=373
Timestamp: 2017-06-26 15:59:50
Document Index: 290627604

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| Committee Substitute (2)
| Engrossed Version
(By Senators Unger, Kessler (Mr. President), Palumbo, Plymale,
Laird, Yost, Miller, Prezioso, Fitzsimmons, Wells, Cann, Chafin,
Tucker, Stollings, Cookman and Snyder)
A BILL to amend and reenact §22-26-2, §22-26-3, §22-26-5, §22-26-6,
§22-26-7 and §22-26-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
article, designated §22-30-1, §22-30-2, §22-30-3, §22-30-4,
§22-30-5, §22-30-6, §22-30-7, §22-30-8, §22-30-9, §22-30-10,
§22-30-11, §22-30-12, §22-30-13, §22-30-14, §22-30-15, §22-30-16, §22-30-17, §22-30-18, §22-30-19, §22-30-20, §22-30-21,
§22-30-22, §22-30-23, §22-30-24, §22-30-25 and §22-30-26, all
relating to water resources and water protection; clarifying
the Water Resources Protection and Management Act;
establishing the Aboveground Storage Tank Water Resources
Protection Act; making certain legislative findings;
clarifying definitions; amending definition of “large-quantity
user”; eliminating certain variance provisions; requiring
certain reports from the secretary; requiring cooperating
state agencies to continue funding levels for stream gaging
network; requiring notification of inability to continue
funding of stream gaging network; requiring information
regarding private wells and depth to groundwater; requiring
secretary to provide annual update on implementation of State
Water Resources Management Plan; adopting State Water
Resources Management Plan; requiring the Department of
Environmental Protection to report biennially to commission
regarding implementation of plan, survey results and act;
requiring large-quantity users to submit reports annually;
applying to aboveground storage tanks containing fluids except
water; providing exemptions; establishing definitions;
requiring registration and inventory of certain aboveground
storage tanks; making it unlawful to construct, maintain or
use any aboveground storage tank without a permit; requiring
annual inspections of tanks; requiring financial resources to
take corrective action; requiring corrective action for
releases; requiring a spill prevention response plan;
providing notice to local governments, water companies and
industrial users; mandating signage; establishing registration
fees and administrative fund; creating leaking response fund;
permitting public access to information; establishing
requirements for inspections monitoring and testing; providing
for administrative orders and injunctive relief; providing for
civil and criminal penalties; permitting appeals to
Environmental Quality Board; prohibiting duplicative
enforcement; reporting to Legislature; requiring interagency
cooperation; permitting action for imminent and substantial
danger; requiring source water protection plan; authorizing
rulemaking; and setting forth powers and duties of secretary.
That §22-26-2, §22-26-3, §22-26-5, §22-26-6, §22-26-7 and §22-26-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and
reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new
article, designated §22-30-1, §22-30-2, §22-30-3, §22-30-4 §22-30-5, §22-30-6, §22-30-7, §22-30-8, §22-30-9, §22-30-10, §22-30-11,
§22-30-12, §22-30-13, §22-30-14, §22-30-15, §22-30-16, §22-30-17,
§22-30-18, §22-30-19, §22-30-20, §22-30-21, §22-30-22, §22-30-23,
§22-30-24, §22-30-25 and §22-30-26, all to read as follows:
For purposes of this article, the following words have the
meanings assigned unless the context indicates otherwise:
(a) “Baseline average” means the average amount of water
withdrawn by a large quantity user over a representative historical
time period as defined by the secretary.
(b) “Beneficial use” means uses that include, but are not
limited to, public or private water supplies, agriculture, tourism,
commercial, industrial, coal, oil and gas and other mineral
extraction, preservation of fish and wildlife habitat, maintenance
of waste assimilation, recreation, navigation and preservation of
(c) “Commercial well” means a well that serves small
businesses and facilities in which water is the prime ingredient of
the service rendered, including water wells drilled to support
horizontal well operations.
(d) “Community water system” means a public water system that
pipes water for human consumption to at least fifteen service
connections used by year-round residents or one that regularly
serves at least twenty-five residents.
(e) “Consumptive withdrawal” means any withdrawal of water
which returns less water to the water body than is withdrawn.
(f) “Department” means the West Virginia Department of
(f) (g) “Farm use” means irrigation of any land used for
general farming, forage, aquaculture, pasture, orchards, nurseries,
the provision of water supply for farm animals, poultry farming or
any other activity conducted in the course of a farming operation.
(g) (h) “Industrial well” means a well used in industrial
processing, fire protection, washing, packing or manufacturing of
a product excluding food and beverages or similar nonpotable uses.
(h) (i) ”Interbasin transfer” means the permanent removal of
water from the watershed from which it is withdrawn.
(I) (j) “Large quantity user” means any person who withdraws
over seven three hundred fifty thousand gallons of water in a any
calendar month thirty-day period from the state’s waters and any
person who bottles water for resale regardless of quantity
withdrawn. “Large quantity users” excludes farms watering livestock
or poultry, though farms may voluntarily report water withdrawals
to assist with the accuracy of the survey.
(j) (k) “Maximum potential” means the maximum designed
capacity of a facility to withdraw water under its physical and
(k) (l) “Noncommunity nontransient water system” means a
public water system that serves at least twenty-five of the same
persons over six months per year.
(l) (m) “Nonconsumptive withdrawal” means any withdrawal of
water which is not a consumptive withdrawal as defined in this
(m) (n) “Person”, “persons” or “people” means an individual,
public and private business or industry, public or private water
service and governmental entity.
(n) (o) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of
Environmental Protection or his or her designee.
(o) (p) “Transient water system” means a public water system
that serves at least twenty-five transient people at least sixty
(p) (q) “Test well” means a well that is used to obtain
information on groundwater quantity, quality, aquifer
characteristics and availability of production water supply for
manufacturing, commercial and industrial facilities.
(q) (r) “Water resources”, “water” or “waters” means any and
all water on or beneath the surface of the ground, whether
percolating, standing, diffused or flowing, wholly or partially
within this state, or bordering this state and within its
jurisdiction and includes, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, natural or artificial lakes, rivers, streams, creeks,
branches, brooks, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, wells,
watercourses and wetlands: Provided, That farm ponds, industrial
settling basins and ponds and waste treatment facilities are
excluded from the waters of the state.
(r) (s) “Watershed” means a hydrologic unit utilized by the
United States Department of Interior’s geological survey, adopted
in one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, as a framework for
detailed water and related land-resources planning.
(s) (t) “Withdrawal” means the removal or capture of water
from water resources of the state regardless of whether it is
consumptive or nonconsumptive: Provided, That water encountered
during coal, oil, gas, water well drilling and initial testing of
water wells, or other mineral extraction and diverted, but not used
for any purpose and not a factor in low-flow conditions for any
surface water or groundwater, is not deemed a withdrawal.
§22-26-3. Waters claimed by state; water resources protection
survey; registration requirements; agency cooperation;
(a) The waters of the State of West Virginia are hereby
claimed as valuable public natural resources held by the state for
the use and benefit of its citizens. The state shall manage the
quantity of and protect its waters effectively for present and
future use and enjoyment and for the protection of the environment. Therefore, it is necessary for the state to determine the nature
and extent of its water resources, the quantity of water being
withdrawn or otherwise used and the nature of the withdrawals or
other uses: Provided, That no provisions of this article may be
construed to amend or limit any other rights and remedies created
by statute or common law in existence on the date of the enactment
(b) The secretary shall conduct an ongoing water resources
survey of consumptive and nonconsumptive surface water and
groundwater withdrawals by large quantity users in this state. The
secretary shall determine the form and format of the information
submitted, including the use of electronic submissions. The
secretary shall establish and maintain a statewide registration
program to monitor large quantity users of water resources of this
state beginning in two thousand six.
(c) Large quantity users, except those who purchase water from
a public or private water utility or other service that is
reporting its total withdrawal, shall register with the Department
of Environmental Protection and provide all requested survey
information regarding withdrawals of the water resources. Multiple
withdrawals from state water resources that are made or controlled
by a single person and used at one facility or location shall be
considered a single withdrawal of water. Water withdrawals for
self-supplied farm use and private households will be estimated. Water utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission pursuant
to article two, chapter twenty-four of this code are exempted from
providing information on interbasin transfers to the extent those
transfers are necessary to provide water utility services within
(d) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section,
large quantity users who withdraw water from a West Virginia water
resource shall comply with the survey and registration requirements
of this article. Registration shall be maintained annually by
every large quantity user by certifying, on forms and in a manner
prescribed by the secretary. that the amount withdrawn in the
previous calendar year varies by no more than ten percent from the
users’ baseline average or by certifying the change in usage.
(e) The secretary shall maintain a listing of all large
quantity users and each user’s baseline average water withdrawal.
(f) The secretary shall make a good faith effort to obtain
survey and registration information from persons who are
withdrawing water from in-state water resources, but who are
located outside the state borders.
(g) All state agencies and local governmental entities that
have a regulatory, research, planning or other function relating to
water resources, including, but not limited to, the state
Geological and Economic Survey, the Division of Natural Resources,
the Public Service Commission, the Bureau for Public Health, the
Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, the Division of
Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Marshall University,
West Virginia University and regional, county and municipal
planning authorities may enter into interagency agreements with the
secretary and shall cooperate by: (i) Providing information
relating to the water resources of the state; (ii) providing any
necessary assistance to the secretary in effectuating the purposes
of this article; and (iii) assisting in the development of a state
water resources management plan. The secretary shall determine the
form and format of the information submitted by these agencies.
(h) Persons required to participate in the survey and
registration shall provide any reasonably available information on
stream flow conditions that impact withdrawal rates.
(i) Persons required to participate in the survey and
registration shall provide the most accurate information available
on water withdrawal during seasonal conditions and future potential
maximum withdrawals or other information that the secretary
determines is necessary for the completion of the survey or
registration: Provided, That a coal-fired electric generating
facility shall also report the nominal design capacity of the
facility, which is the quantity of water withdrawn by the
facility’s intake pumps necessary to operate the facility during a
(j) The secretary shall, to the extent reliable water
withdrawal data is reasonably available from sources other than
persons required to provide data and participate in the survey and
registration, utilize that data to fulfill the requirements of this
section. If the data is not reasonably available to the secretary,
persons required to participate in the survey and registration are
required to provide the data. Altering locations of intakes and
discharge points that result in an impact to the withdrawal of the
water resources by an amount of ten percent or more from the
consecutive baseline average shall also be reported.
(k) The secretary shall report annually to the Joint
Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources on the
survey results. The secretary shall also make a progress report
every three years annually on the development implementation of the
state water resources management plan and any significant changes
that may have occurred since the survey report State Water
Resources Management Plan was submitted in two thousand six
thirteen. This includes reporting on the implementation of the
Aboveground Storage tank Water Protection Act in article thirty of
(l) In addition to any requirements for completion of the
survey established by the secretary, the survey must accurately
reflect both actual and maximum potential water withdrawal. Actual
withdrawal shall be established through metering, measuring or
alternative accepted scientific methods to obtain a reasonable
estimate or indirect calculation of actual use.
(m) The secretary shall make recommendations to the joint
Legislative Oversight commission created in section five of this
article relating to the implementation of a water quantity
management strategy for the state or regions of the state where the
quantity of water resources are found to be currently stressed or
likely to be stressed due to emerging beneficial or other uses,
ecological conditions or other factors requiring the development of
a strategy for management of these water resources.
(n) The secretary may propose rules pursuant to article three,
chapter twenty-nine-a of this code as necessary to implement the
survey registration or plan requirements of this article.
(o) The secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative
agreements with local, state and federal agencies and private
policy or research groups to obtain federal matching funds, conduct
research and analyze survey and registration data and other
agreements as may be necessary to carry out his or her duties under
(p) The Department, the Division of Natural Resources, the
Division of Highways, and the Conservation Agency (cooperating
State agencies”) shall continue providing matching funds for the
United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) stream gaging network to
the maximum extent practicable. Should a cooperating State agency
become unable to maintain its contribution level, it should notify
the USGS and the commission of its inability to continue funding
for the subsequent federal fiscal year by July 1, in order to allow
for the possible identification of alternative funding resources.
§22-26-5. Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water
(a) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Delegates shall each designate five members of their respective
houses, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority
party, to serve on a joint Legislative Oversight commission charged
with immediate and ongoing oversight of the water resources survey,
registration and development of a state water resources management
plan. This commission shall be known as the Joint Legislative
Oversight Commission on State Water Resources and shall regularly
investigate and monitor all matters relating to the water
resources, including the survey and plan.
(b) The expenses of the commission, including the cost of
conducting the survey and monitoring any subsequent strategy and
those incurred in the employment of legal, technical,
investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other
personnel, are to be approved by the Joint Committee on Government
and Finance and paid from legislative appropriations.
(a) The water resources survey and subsequent registry will
provide critical information for protection of the state’s water
resources and, thus, mandatory compliance with the survey and
(b) All large quantity users who withdraw water from a West
Virginia water resource shall complete the survey and register such
use with the Department of Environmental Protection. Any person
who fails to complete the survey or register, provides false or
misleading information on the survey or registration, or fails to
provide other information as required by this article may be
subject to a civil administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000 to
be collected by the secretary consistent with the secretary’s
authority pursuant to this chapter. Every thirty days after the
initial imposition of the civil administrative penalty, another
penalty may be assessed if the information is not provided. The
secretary shall provide written notice of failure to comply with
this section thirty days prior to assessing the first
(a) In order to obtain important information about the
state’s surface and groundwater, the secretary is authorized to
collect scientific data on surface and groundwater and to enter
into agreements with local and state agencies, the federal
government and private entities to obtain this information.
(1) (b) Any person who installs a community water system,
noncommunity nontransient water system, transient water system,
commercial well, industrial or test well shall notify the secretary
of his or her intent to drill a water well no less than ten days
prior to commencement of drilling. The ten-day notice is the
responsibility of the owner, but may be given by the drilling
(2) (c) The secretary has the authority to gather data,
including driller and geologist logs, run electric and other
remote-sensing logs and devices and perform physical
characteristics tests on nonresidential and multifamily water
(3) (d) The drilling contractor shall submit to the secretary
a copy of the well completion forms submitted to the Division of
Health for a community water system, noncommunity nontransient
water system, transient water system, commercial well, industrial
or test well. The drilling contractor shall also provide the well
GPS location and depth to groundwater on the well report submitted
(4) (e) Any person who fails to notify the secretary prior to
drilling a well or impedes collection of information by the
secretary under this section is in violation of the Water Resources
Protection and Management Act and is subject to the civil
administrative penalty authorized by section six of this article.
(5) (f) Any well contracted for construction by the secretary
for groundwater or geological testing must be constructed at a
minimum to well design standards as promulgated by the Division of
Health. Any wells contracted for construction by the secretary for
groundwater or geological testing that would at a later date be
converted to a public use water well must be constructed to comport
to state public water design standards.
§22-26-8. State Water Resources Management Plan; powers and duty
(a) The secretary of the Department of Environmental
Protection shall oversee the development of a State Water Resources
Management Plan to be completed no later than November 30, 2013. The plan shall be reviewed and revised as needed after its initial
adoption. The plan shall be developed with the cooperation and
involvement of local and state agencies with regulatory, research
or other functions relating to water resources including, but not
limited to, those agencies and institutions of higher education set
forth in section three of this article and a representative of
large quantity users. The State Water Resources Management Plan
shall be developed utilizing the information obtained pursuant to
said section and any other relevant information available to the
(b) The secretary shall develop definitions for use in the
State Water Resources Management Plan for terms that are defined
differently by various state and federal governmental entities as
well as other terms necessary for implementation of this article.
(c) The secretary shall continue to develop and obtain the
(1) An inventory of the surface water resources of each region
of this state, including an identification of the boundaries of
significant watersheds and an estimate of the safe yield of such
sources for consumptive and nonconsumptive uses during periods of
normal conditions and drought.
(2) A listing of each consumptive or nonconsumptive withdrawal
by a large quantity user, including the amount of water used,
location of the water resources, the nature of the use, location of
each intake and discharge point by longitude and latitude where
available and, if the use involves more than one watershed or
basin, the watersheds or basins involved and the amount
(3) A plan for the development of the infrastructure necessary
to identify the groundwater resources of each region of this state,
including an identification of aquifers and groundwater basins and
an assessment of their safe yield, prime recharge areas, recharge
capacity, consumptive limits and relationship to stream base flows.
(4) After consulting with the appropriate state and federal
agencies, assess and project the existing and future nonconsumptive
use needs of the water resources required to serve areas with
important or unique natural, scenic, environmental or recreational
values of national, regional, local or statewide significance,
including national and state parks; designated wild, scenic and
recreational rivers; national and state wildlife refuges; and the
habitats of federal and state endangered or threatened species.
(5) Assessment and projection of existing and future
consumptive use demands.
(6) Identification of potential problems with water
availability or conflicts among water uses and users including, but
(A) A discussion of any area of concern regarding historical
or current conditions that indicate a low-flow condition or where
a drought or flood has occurred or is likely to occur that
threatens the beneficial use of the surface water or groundwater in
(B) Current or potential in-stream or off-stream uses that
contribute to or are likely to exacerbate natural low-flow
conditions to the detriment of the water resources.
(7) Establish criteria for designation of critical water
planning areas comprising any significant hydrologic unit where
existing or future demands exceed or threaten to exceed the safe
yield of available water resources.
(8) An assessment of the current and future capabilities of
public water supply agencies and private water supply companies to
provide an adequate quantity and quality of water to their service
(9) An assessment of flood plain and stormwater management
(10) Efforts to improve data collection, reporting and water
monitoring where prior reports have found deficiencies.
(11) A process for identifying projects and practices that are
being, or have been, implemented by water users that reduce the
amount of consumptive use, improve efficiency in water use, provide
for reuse and recycling of water, increase the supply or storage of
water or preserve or increase groundwater recharge and a
recommended process for providing appropriate positive recognition
of such projects or practices in actions, programs, policies,
projects or management activities.
(12) An assessment of both structural and nonstructural
alternatives to address identified water availability problems,
adverse impacts on water uses or conflicts between water users,
including potential actions to develop additional or alternative
supplies, conservation measures and management techniques.
(13) A review and evaluation of statutes, rules, policies and
institutional arrangements for the development, conservation,
distribution and emergency management of water resources.
(14) A review and evaluation of water resources management
alternatives and recommended programs, policies, institutional
arrangements, projects and other provisions to meet the water
resources needs of each region and of this state.
(15) A review of the implementation of the Aboveground Storage
Tank Resources Water Protection Act and its effectiveness.
(15) (16) Proposed methods of implementing various recommended
actions, programs, policies, projects or management activities.
(1) The interconnections and relationships between groundwater
and surface water as components of a single hydrologic resource.
(2) Regional or watershed water resources needs, objectives
(3) Federal, state and interstate water resource policies,
plans, objectives and priorities, including those identified in
statutes, rules, regulations, compacts, interstate agreements or
comprehensive plans adopted by federal and state agencies and
compact basin commissions.
(4) The needs and priorities reflected in comprehensive plans
and zoning ordinances adopted by a county or municipal government.
(5) The water quantity and quality necessary to support
reasonable and beneficial uses.
(6) A balancing and encouragement of multiple uses of water
resources, recognizing that all water resources of this state are
capable of serving multiple uses and human needs, including
multiple uses of water resources for reasonable and beneficial
(7) The distinctions between short-term and long-term
conditions, impacts, needs and solutions to ensure appropriate and
cost-effective responses to water resources issues.
(8) Application of the principle of equal and uniform
treatment of all water users that are similarly situated without
regard to established political boundaries.
(e) In November of each year, the secretary shall report to
the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources
on the implementation of the State Water Resources Management Plan. The report on the water resources plan shall include benchmarks for
achieving the plan’s goals and time frames for meeting them.
(f) Upon adoption of the state Water Resources Management Plan
by the Legislature, the report requirements of this article shall
be superceded by the plan and subsequent reports shall be on the
survey results and the water resources plan. If the plan is not
adopted a detailed report discussing the provisions of this section
as well as progress reports on the development of the plan shall be
submitted every three years. The State Water Resources Management
Plan is hereby adopted. Persons identified as large quantity users
prior to the effective date of this subsection shall report actual
monthly water withdrawals for the previous calendar year by March
31 of each succeeding year. Persons identified as large quantity
users on or after the effective date of this subsection shall
submit their initial annual report no later than March 31, 2016,
and subsequent annual reports by March 31 of each year thereafter.
ARTICLE 30. THE ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANK WATER RESOURCES PROTECTION
(a) This article may be known and cited as the Aboveground
Storage Tank Water Resources Protection Act.
(a) The West Virginia Legislature finds that it is in the
public policy of the State of West Virginia to protect and conserve
the water resources for the state and its citizens. The state’s
water resources are vital natural resources that are essential to
maintain, preserve and promote human health, quality of life and
economic vitality of the state. (b) The West Virginia Legislature further finds that it is the
public policy of the state that clean, uncontaminated water be
available for its citizens who are dependent on clean water as a
basic need for survival, and who rely on the assurances from public
water systems and the government that the water is safe to consume.
(c) The West Virginia Legislature further finds that it is the
available to its businesses and industries that rely on water for
their economic survival, and the well-being of their employees.
These include hospitals and the medical industry, schools and
educational institutions, the food and hospitality industries, the
tourism industry, manufacturing, coal, natural gas and other
industries. Businesses and industries searching for places to
locate or relocate consider the quality of life for their employees
as well as the quality of the raw materials such as clean water. (d) The Legislature further finds that large quantities of
fluids are stored in aboveground storage tanks within the state and
that emergency situations involving these fluids can and will arise
that may present a hazard to human health, safety, the water
resources, the environment and the economy of the state. The
Legislature further recognizes that some of these fluids have been
stored in aboveground storage tanks in an regulated manner
insufficient to protect human health, safety, water resources,
environment and the economy of the state. 22-30-3. Applicability; exclusions.
(a) This article applies to all new and existing aboveground
storage tanks located within the state that are used to store any
fluid except water that does not contain additives. (b) Exclusions.-- The following aboveground storage tanks are
excluded from the requirements of this article:
(1) an aboveground storage tank containing drinking water,
filtered surface water, demineralized water, noncontact cooling
water, or water stored for fire or emergency purposes;
(2) an aboveground storage tank located on a farm, in which
the contents of the tank are used by the tank owner or operator for
farming purposes, and the contents are not being commercially
(3) an aboveground storage tank located on residential
property of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor
fuel for noncommercial purposes;
(4) an aboveground storage tank of 1,100 gallons or less
capacity used for storing heating oil for consumption on the
premises where stored;
(5) any heating oil, natural gas or propane tanks regulated
under NFPA 58-30A or NFPA 58-30B;
(6) stormwater or wastewater collection systems;
(7) septic tanks; (8) a pipeline facility, including gathering lines, regulated under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 or the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979, or an intrastate pipeline
facility regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission
or otherwise regulated under any state law comparable to the
provisions of either the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 or
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979;
(9) equipment or machinery containing substances for
operational purposes, including integral hydraulic lift tanks,
lubricating oil reservoirs for pumps and motors, electrical
equipment, and heating and cooling equipment;
(10) an indoor tank located inside a building resting on or
elevated above an impermeable floor surface from which a release
would be entirely contained in a secondary containment structure or
not escape through other means;
(11) a mobile tank or truck that is 1,100 gallons or less in
capacity and is located on site for less than 30 consecutive
(12) an aboveground storage tank containing hazardous wastes
which are subject to a treatment or storage permits regulated under Subtitle C of the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. §6921, et seq., or substances regulated under the article eighteen
(13) an aboveground storage tank containing agricultural
pesticides regulated under article sixteen-a, chapter nineteen of
(14) liquid traps or associated gathering lines related to oil
or gas production and gathering operations;
(15) a surface impoundment, pit, pond, or lagoon;
(A) Tanks regulated under the Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act, article three of this chapter;
(B) Tanks that are used to store brines, crude oil, or any
other liquid or similar substances or materials that are directly
related to the exploration, development, stimulation, completion,
or production of crude oil or natural gas regulated under article
six or article six-a of this chapter;
(D) Tanks regulated under the Solid Waste Management Act, article fifteen of this chapter, including, but not limited to, piping, tanks, collection, and treatment systems used for leachate, methane gas, and methane gas condensate management; and
(17) any aboveground storage tank of 1,100 gallons or less
capacity, not otherwise exempt, unless that tank is greater than
500 gallons capacity and is located within 500 feet of surface or
source waters.
(a) "Aboveground storage tank,” “tank," or the plural, means
any container, or set of connected containers, designed to contain
fluids and is constructed of materials including concrete, steel,
plastic or fiberglass reinforced plastic. The term includes all
ancillary aboveground pipes and dispensing systems up to the first
point of isolation and all ancillary underground pipes and
dispensing systems connected to the aboveground containers.
(b) “Department” means the West Virginia Department of
(c) "Nonoperational storage tank" means an aboveground storage tank in which fluids will not be deposited or from which fluids
will not be dispensed on or after the effective date of this
(d) “Operator” means any person in control of, or having
responsibility for, the daily operation of an aboveground storage
(e) “Owner” means a person who holds title to, controls, or
owns an interest in an aboveground storage tank, including “owners”
of tanks immediately preceding the discontinuation of a tank’s use. “Owner” does not mean a person who holds an interest in a tank for
financial security, unless the holder has taken possession of and
operated the tank.
(f) “Person”, “persons” or “people” means any individual,
trust, firm, owner, operator, corporation or other legal entity,
including the United States government, an interstate commission or
other body, the state, or any agency, board, bureau, office,
department, or political subdivision of the state, but does not
include the Department of Environmental Protection.
(g) Public water system means the same in this article as set
forth in subsection (p), section two, article one, chapter sixteen of this code. (h) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching or disposing of fluids from an
aboveground storage tank into groundwater, surface water or
subsurface soils. The term shall also include spilling, leaking,
emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching or disposing of fluids
from aboveground storage tank into a containment structure or
facility that poses an immediate threat of contamination of the
soils, subsurface soils, surface water or groundwater.
(i) Secondary containment means a safeguard specifically
designed to be impermeable to stored substances and which will
contain a release from an aboveground storage tank, and prevent the
release from spreading vertically or horizontally contaminating the
land or water outside of the containment area. (j) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of
Environmental Protection, or his or her designee. §22-30-5. Registration of existing aboveground storage tanks.
(a) To assure protection of the water resources of the state,
the secretary shall compile an inventory of aboveground storage
tanks in existence, regardless of whether it is an operational or
nonoperational storage tank, on the effective date of this article. The secretary shall prescribe a registration form for this purpose
within 30 days of the effective date of the enactment of this
article. All aboveground storage tanks subject to this article
shall be registered no later than 60 days from the effective date
of the enactment of this article during the 2014 regular session of
the 81st Legislature. (b) At a minimum the registration shall include the date of
tank installation, tank location, type of construction, size and
age of the tank, the type and volume of fluid stored therein and
the proximity to any water intake.
(c) If, at the time this registration is required to be
submitted, the secretary has not prepared the form required by this
section, the owner or operator shall nevertheless submit the
information in writing to the secretary. The duty to provide
correct, up to date information about the location and contents of
aboveground storage tanks is an ongoing requirement.
(d) Any aboveground storage tank placed into service on and
after the effective date of this section, but prior to the
establishment of a permit program, shall register with the
secretary and request permission to place the tank into service
pending a permit application.
(e) The secretary may charge a reasonable fee to cover the
cost of the registration program. The fee may be set by emergency
and legislative rules proposed for promulgation in accordance with
(f) It is unlawful for any owner or operator to operate or use
an aboveground storage tank subject to this article which has not
been properly registered or for which any applicable registration
fee has not been paid.
(g) It is unlawful for any person to approve a delivery order,
or to deliver or deposit any fluid subject to this article into an
aboveground storage tank unless the owner or operator provides
proof of valid registration of the tank into which the fluid is to
be delivered or deposited.
(a) Without authorization from the secretary, it is unlawful
for any person to construct, maintain or use any aboveground
storage tank for the storage of any fluid other than water, which
has no additives, without first obtaining a permit from the
(b) To assure further protection of the water resources of
the state, the secretary shall develop a regulatory program for
new and existing aboveground storage tanks. At a minimum, the
program shall include the following:
(1) A requirement to submit a verified application for a
permit containing information as may be prescribed by the
(2) Performance standards for design, construction,
installation, maintenance, corrosion detection and maintenance,
release detection and prevention, and secondary containment;
(3) Requirements for maintaining a leak detection system,
inventory control systems together with tank testing, or a
comparable system or method designed to identify releases from
aboveground storage tanks in a manner consistent with the
protection of human health, safety, water resources and the
(4) Requirements for maintaining records of any monitoring or
leak detection system, corrosion prevention, inventory control
system or tank testing system;
(5) Requirements for early detection of releases and
immediate reporting of releases;
(6) Requirements for developing a corrective action plan to
expeditiously respond to any releases;
(7) Requirements for the closure of aboveground storage tanks
and remediation to prevent future releases of fluids or materials
to the state’s water resources;
(8) Requirements for certification of installation, removal,
retrofit, corrosion and other testing and inspection of
aboveground storage tanks, leak detection systems and secondary
containment by a registered professional engineer or other
(9) The assessment of permit application and registration
fees as determined by the secretary;
(10) Permit issuance only after the application and any other
supporting documents have been submitted, reviewed and approved by
the secretary, and that permits may be issued with certain
conditions or contingencies; and
(11) A requirement that any aboveground storage tank
maintenance work shall commence within six months from the date
the permit was issued and must be completed within one year of
commencement. If the work has not started or is not completed
during the stated time periods, the permit expires and a new
permit is required unless a written extension is granted by the
Secretary. An extension may be granted only if the applicant can
demonstrate that the delay was not deliberate and that the delay
will not present harm to the human health, safety, water resources
(12) A procedure for the administrative resolution of
violations including the assessment of administrative civil
(13) A procedure for any person adversely affected by a
decision or order of the secretary relating to the aboveground
storage tank program to appeal to the environmental quality board,
pursuant to the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-two-b of
(a) Every owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank
regulated herein shall have an annual inspection of each tank
performed by a registered engineer, qualified inspector or other
qualified inspector approved by the secretary in writing. Every
owner or operator shall submit, on a form prescribed by the
secretary, a certification from the engineer that each tank,
associated equipment, leak detection systems and secondary
containment structures meet the minimum standards established by
the secretary by rule.
(b) The certification form shall be submitted to the secretary
on or before January 1, 2015 and each year thereafter.
The secretary shall promulgate rules requiring owners and
operators to provide evidence of adequate financial resources to
undertake reasonable corrective action for releases of fluid from
aboveground storage tanks. The means of demonstrating adequate
financial responsibility may include, but not be limited to,
providing evidence of current insurance, guarantee, surety bond,
letter of credit, proof of assets, trust fund or qualification as
a self-insurer. §22-30-9. Corrective action.
(a) Prior to the effective date of the emergency and
legislative rules promulgated pursuant to the authority granted
under this article, the secretary is authorized to:
(1) Require the owner or operator to develop a preliminary
corrective action plans taking into consideration the types of
fluids and types of tanks on the premises;
(2) Require the owner or operator of an aboveground storage
tank to undertake prompt corrective action to protect human
health, safety, water resources or the environment from
contamination caused by a release; or
(3) Undertake immediate corrective action with respect to any
release or threatened release of fluid from an aboveground storage
tank when, in the judgment of the secretary, the action is
necessary to protect human health, safety, water resources or the
environment from contamination caused by a release.
(b) The corrective action undertaken or required by this
section shall be what may be necessary to protect human health,
water resources and the environment from contamination caused by
a release. The secretary shall use funds in the Leaking
Aboveground Storage Tank Response Fund established pursuant to
this article for payment of costs incurred for corrective action
taken by the secretary in accordance with this article. In
undertaking corrective actions under this section and in issuing
orders requiring owners or operators to undertake the actions, the
secretary shall give priority to releases or threatened releases
of fluid from aboveground storage tanks that pose the greatest
threat to human health, water resources or the environment.
(c) Following the effective date of rules promulgated pursuant to this article, all actions or orders of the secretary shall be
in conformity with those rules. Further, following the effective date of the rules, the secretary may undertake corrective action with respect to any release or threatened release of fluid from an
aboveground storage tank only if, in the judgment of the
secretary, the action is necessary to protect human health, water
resources or the environment from contamination, and one or more
of the following situations exists:
(1) If no person can be found within thirty days, or a shorter period as may be necessary to protect human health, water
resources and the environment, who is an owner or operator of the
aboveground storage tank at issue and who is capable of carrying
out the corrective action properly;
(2) A situation exists that requires immediate action by the secretary under this section to protect human health, safety,
water resources or the environment;
(3) The cost of corrective action to be expended on an aboveground storage tank exceeds the amount of resources that the owner or operator can reasonably be expected to possess based on the information required to be submitted pursuant to this article and, considering the fluid being stored in the aboveground storage
tank in question, expenditures from the Leaking Aboveground
Storage Tank Response Fund are necessary to assure an effective
corrective action; or (4) The owner or operator of the tank has failed or refused to comply with an order of the secretary under this article or of the Environmental Quality Board under article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code to comply with appropriate corrective action measures ordered by the secretary or the Environmental
(d) The secretary may draw upon the Leaking Aboveground
Storage Tank Response Fund in order to take action under subdivision (1) or (2), subsection (c) of this section if the secretary has made diligent good faith efforts to determine the identity of the owner or operator responsible for the release or threatened release and:
(1) The secretary is unable to determine the identity of the owner or operator in a manner consistent with the need to take
timely corrective action; or
(2) The owner or operator determined by the secretary to be responsible for the release or threatened release have been
informed in writing of the secretary’s determination and have been
requested by the secretary to take appropriate corrective action
but are unable or unwilling to take proper action in a timely
(e) The written notice to the owner or operator must inform
the owner or operator that if it is subsequently found liable for
releases pursuant to this section, the owner or operator will be
required to reimburse the Leaking Aboveground Storage Tank
Response Fund for the costs of the investigation, information
gathering, and corrective action taken by the secretary.
(f) If the secretary determines that immediate response to an imminent threat to human health, safety, water resources or the
environment is necessary to avoid substantial injury or damage
thereto, corrective action may be taken pursuant to this section
without the prior written notice required by subdivision (2),
subsection (d) of this section. In that case, the secretary must
give subsequent written notice to the owner or operator within
fifteen days after the action is taken describing the
circumstances that required the action to be taken and setting
forth the matters identified in subsection (e) of this section.
(a) Within ninety days of the effective date of this article, each owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank shall submit
a spill prevention response plan for each aboveground storage
tank. Owners and operators of aboveground storage tanks shall
file updated plans required to be submitted by this section no
less frequently than every three years. Each plan shall be
site-specific, consistent with the requirements of this article,
and developed in consultation with county and municipal emergency
management agencies. The spill prevention response plan shall
contain, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Identify and describe the activity that occurs at the site
and identify applicable hazard and process information, including
a specific listing and inventory of all types of fluids stored,
amount of fluids stored, and wastes generated that are stored in
aboveground storage tanks at the facility. The plan shall include
the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all fluids in use or
stored in aboveground storage tanks at the facility. The material safety data sheets must include the health hazard number
identified by the National Fire Protection Association. The plan
shall also include drawings of the aboveground storage tank
facility, including the locations of all drainage pipes and water
(2) Identify all facility-related individuals and their duties
and responsibilities for developing, implementing and maintaining
the facility’s plan. The plan shall describe in detail the chain
of command at the aboveground storage tank facility and list all
facility emergency coordinators and emergency response
(3) Provide a preventive maintenance program that includes
monitoring and inspection procedures, including identification of
stress points, employee training programs, and security systems. The plan shall include a description of potential sources and
areas where spills and leaks may occur by drawings and plot plans
and shall identify specific spill prevention measures for those
identified areas;
(4) Detail the specific response that the aboveground storage
tank facility and contract emergency personnel shall take upon the
occurrence of any release of fluids from an aboveground storage
tank at the facility;
(5) Pertinent information obtained by the owner or operator of
the aboveground storage tanks from the county and municipal
emergency management agencies and designate the person or persons
to be notified in the event of a release from an aboveground
storage tank; and
(6) The owner or operator shall provide the secretary with all
(b) Each owner of an aboveground storage tank with an approved
spill prevention response plan shall submit to the secretary, a
revised plan or addendum to the plan in accordance with the
requirements of this article if any of the following occur:
(1) There is a substantial modification in design,
construction, operation, or maintenance of any aboveground storage
tank or associated equipment, or there are other circumstances
that increase the potential for fires, explosions or releases of
(5) The removal or the addition of any aboveground storage
tank; or
(6) Other circumstances occur about which the secretary
requests an update.
(c) The secretary shall approve the spill prevention response plan or reject the plan and require modifications as may be necessary and reasonable to assure the protection of the source
water of a public water system from a release of fluids from an
aboveground storage tank. If rejected, the owner of the
aboveground storage tank shall submit a revised plan to the
secretary for approval within thirty days of receipt of
notification of the secretary’s decision. Failure to comply with
a plan approved by the secretary pursuant to this section is a
violation of this article. (d) Nothing contained in this section relieves the owner or
operator of an aboveground storage tank from his or her obligation to report any release immediately to the department of
environmental protection’s emergency notification telephone
number, 1-800-642-3074.
§22-30-11. Notice to local governments, water companies, and other
The owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank facility
shall annually provide public notice to public water systems located within a twenty-five mile radius of the aboveground
storage tank facility site and the local municipality, if any, and
county in which the facility is located. The notice shall
provide a detailed inventory of the type and quantity of fluid
stored in aboveground storage tanks at the facility and the
material safety data sheets associated with the fluid in storage. The owner or operator shall also annually provide a copy of the
spill prevention response plan and any updates thereto, which
have been approved by the secretary pursuant to this act, to the
applicable public water systems and county and municipal
emergency management agencies. §22-30-12. Required signage.
Every aboveground storage tank shall have prominently posted
signage disclosing the contents of the tank and the hazards, if
any, associated with the fluid stored therein. If the aboveground
storage tank is empty, the signage shall so state. For the
purposes of this section, the requirements for prominently posted
signage shall be specified in the rules proposed for promulgation
by the secretary pursuant to this article and article three,
(a) The secretary shall collect annual registration fees from owners or operators of each aboveground storage tank in an amount
sufficient to cover the regulatory oversight and services to be
provided by designated agencies, including necessary technical and administrative personnel, as set forth by rule. All registration and permit fees and the net proceeds of all fines,
penalties, and forfeitures collected under this article, including
accrued interest, shall be paid into the State Treasury into a
special revenue fund designated the “Aboveground Storage Tank Administrative Fund," and shall be used solely to defray the cost of administering this act.
(b) At the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended balance, including accrued interest, on deposit in the Aboveground Storage
Tank Administrative Fund shall not be transferred to the general
revenue fund, but shall remain in the Aboveground Storage Tank
Administrative Fund.
(a) Each owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank located in this state shall pay an annual fee to establish a fund
to assure adequate response to leaking aboveground storage tanks. The amount of fees assessed pursuant to this section shall be as
set forth by rule. The fees must be sufficient to cover the
regulatory oversight and services to be provided by designated
agencies, including necessary technical and administrative
personnel. The proceeds of the assessment shall be paid into the
State Treasury into a special fund designated the “Leaking
Aboveground Storage Tank Response Fund.”
(b) Each owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank
subject to a fee assessment under subsection (a) of this section shall pay a fee based on the number of aboveground storage tanks
he or she owns or operates, as applicable. The secretary shall
vary the fees annually to a level necessary to produce a
sufficient fund at the beginning of each calendar year. (c) At the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended balance, including accrued interest, on deposit in the Leaking Aboveground
Storage Tank Response Fund shall not be transferred to the general
revenue fund, but shall remain in the Leaking Aboveground Storage
Tank Response Fund.
(1) Responding to aboveground storage tank releases when,
based on readily available information, the secretary determines
that immediate action is necessary to prevent or mitigate
significant risk of harm to human health, water resources or the
environment from contamination caused by a release of fluid from
aboveground storage tanks in situations for which no federal funds
are immediately available for the response, cleanup or
containment: Provided, That the secretary shall apply for and
diligently pursue all available federal funds at the earliest
(2) Reimbursing any non-responsible parties for reasonable cleanup costs incurred with the authorization of the secretary in responding to an aboveground storage tank release.
(3) Reimbursing any non-responsible parties for reasonable costs incurred with the authorization of the secretary responding to perceived, potential or threatened releases from aboveground
(e) The secretary, through a cooperative agreement with
another state regulatory agency, in this or another state, may
use the fund to compensate the cooperating agency for expenses
the cooperating agency incurs in carrying out regulatory
responsibilities that agency may have pursuant to this article. §22-30-15. Public Access to Information.
(a) Subject to the exemptions listed in section four, article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code, the public shall have
access to all documents and information submitted to the agency in
accordance with this section pursuant to the state Freedom of
Information Act. Records, reports or information obtained from
any persons under this article may be disclosed to other officers, employees, or authorized representatives of this state or the
United States Environmental Protection Agency or of this state if
the officers, employees or authorized representatives are
implementing the provisions of this article or any other
applicable law related to releases of fluid from aboveground
storage tanks that impact the states water resources.
(c) In submitting data under this act, a person required to
provide the data may designate the data that he or she believes is
entitled to protection under this section and may submit the designated data separately from other data submitted under this article. A designation under this subsection shall be made in writing and in a manner as the secretary may prescribe.
(a) For the purposes of developing or assisting in the development of any rule, conducting any study, taking any
corrective action or enforcing any provision of this article, any
owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank shall, upon request of the secretary, furnish information relating to the aboveground storage tanks; their associated equipment and
contents; conduct reasonable monitoring or testing; permit the
secretary, at all reasonable times, to have access to and to copy
all records relating to the aboveground storage tanks; and permit
the secretary to have access to the aboveground storage tank for
(b) For the purposes of developing or assisting in the development of any rule, conducting any study, taking corrective action or enforcing any provision of this act, the secretary may: (1) Enter at any time any establishment or other place where an aboveground storage tank is located;
(2) Inspect and obtain samples of any fluid contained in an
aboveground storage tank from any person;
(3) Conduct monitoring or testing of the aboveground storage
tanks, associated equipment, contents or surrounding soils, surface, water or groundwater; and (4) Take corrective action as specified in this article.
(a) Whenever the secretary determines, on the basis of any information, that any person is in violation of any requirement of this article or the rules promulgated thereunder, the secretary
may issue an order stating with reasonable specificity the nature
of the violation and requiring compliance within a reasonable
specified time period, or the secretary may commence a civil
action in the circuit court of the county in which the violation
occurred or in the circuit court of Kanawha County for appropriate
relief, including a temporary or permanent injunction. The
secretary may, except as provided in subsection (b) of this
section, stay any order he or she issues upon application, until
the order is reviewed by the Environmental Quality Board.
(b) In addition to the powers and authority granted to the secretary by this chapter to enter into consent agreements, settlements, and otherwise enforce this chapter, the secretary
shall propose rules for legislative approval, in accordance with
article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish a
mechanism for the administrative resolution of violations set
forth in this article through consent order or agreement as an
alternative to instituting a civil action.
(a) Any person who fails to comply with an order of the
secretary issued under subsection (a), section twenty-two of this
article within the time specified in the order is liable for a
(b) Any owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank who knowingly fails to register or obtain a permit for an aboveground storage tank or submits false information pursuant to this article
is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each aboveground storage tank that is not registered or permitted or
for which false information is submitted.
(c) Any owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank who fails to comply with any requirement of this article or any
standard promulgated by the secretary pursuant to this article is
subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each day of
(d) Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in a regional jail for
a period of time not exceeding six months, and be fined an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Any person aggrieved or adversely affected by an order of the secretary made and entered in accordance with the provisions of
this article may appeal to the Environmental Quality Board,
this code. §22-30-20. Duplicative enforcement prohibited.
No enforcement proceeding brought pursuant to this article may be duplicated by an enforcement proceeding subsequently commenced under some other article of this code with respect to the same transaction or event, unless subsequent proceeding involves the
violation of a permit or permitting requirement of other article.
§22-30-21. Reporting and accountability. (a) Every three years, the secretary shall submit a report to
the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water
Resources and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance which assesses the effectiveness of this article and provides other
information as may be requested by the Commission to allow it to
assess the effectiveness of this article, including without
limitation the secretary’s observations concerning all aspects of
compliance with this article and any legislative rules promulgated
pursuant hereto, the regulatory process, and any pertinent changes
to federal rules or regulations.
(b) The secretary shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements related to the administration of the Aboveground
Storage Tank Administrative Fund and shall make a specific annual
report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State
Water Resources and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
addressing the administration of the fund.
(c) The secretary shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements related to the administration of the Leaking
Aboveground Storage Tank Response Fund and shall make a specific
annual report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on
State Water Resources and the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance addressing the administration of the fund. §22-30-22. Interagency cooperation. (a) In implementation of this article, the secretary shall coordinate with the state Department of Health and Human
Resources, the West Virginia Public Service Commission, and local
health departments to ensure the successful planning and implementation of this act, including consideration of the role of
those agencies in providing services to owners and operators of
aboveground storage tanks and public water systems.
(b) The secretary shall also coordinate with state and local emergency response agencies to prepare and issue appropriate emergency response plans to address facility emergency response
and incident command when the functions are provided by the owner
or operator of the aboveground storage tank and the public water
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, upon receipt of evidence that an aboveground storage tank may present an imminent and substantial danger to human health, water
resources or the environment, the secretary may bring suit on
behalf of the State of West Virginia in the Circuit Court of
Kanawha County against any owner or operator of an aboveground
storage tank who has contributed or who is contributing to
imminent and substantial danger to public health, water resources
or the environment to order the person to take action as may be
necessary to abate the situation and protect public health, water
resources and the environment from contamination caused by a
release of fluid from an aboveground storage tank.
(b) Upon receipt of information that there is any aboveground
storage tank that presents an imminent and substantial danger to
human health, water resources or the environment, the secretary
shall provide immediate notice to the appropriate state and local government agencies and any affected public water system. In
addition, the secretary shall require notice of any danger to be
promptly posted at the aboveground storage tank facility
containing the aboveground storage tank at issue.
§22-30-24. Source water protection. (a) In addition to all other powers and duties prescribed in this chapter or otherwise by law, and unless otherwise
specifically set forth in this article, the secretary has the sole
and exclusive authority to perform any and all acts necessary to
implement a aboveground storage tank regulatory program designed
to protect each public water system in the state from
contamination of its source water supply caused by the release of
fluid from an aboveground storage tank consistent with the
requirements of this article. (b) Within ninety days of the effective date of this article, each existing public water system shall remit an annual fee in an amount to be specified in emergency and legislative rules promulgated pursuant to this article and article three, chapter
29A, to be deposited into the Aboveground Storage Tank
Administrative Fund created pursuant to this article and submit a
source water protection plan to protect its system from
contamination of its source water supply caused by release of
fluid from an aboveground storage tank, which plan, at a minimum,
(1) A contingency plan that documents each public water system’s planned response to contamination of the source water
supply; (2) Alternative water source intakes, with particular emphasis
on single-source intake systems, focusing on source replacement
should the system be required to use a new or alternate source of
water due to contamination; (3) A management plan that identifies specific activities that will be pursued by the system to protect its source water supply from contamination, including coordination with government agencies and periodic surveys of the system; and (4) A communications plan that documents the manner in which the public shall be notified of information related to any contamination of the source water supply. (c) Any public water system that comes into existence on or after the effective date of this article shall submit prior to the commencement of its operations a source water protection plan satisfying the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) The secretary and the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Resources shall jointly approve any plan
submitted pursuant to this section or reject the plan and require
modifications as may be necessary and reasonable to satisfy the
purposes of this article. Failure by a public water system to
comply with a plan approved pursuant to this section is a
violation of this article. (e) The secretary may request a public water system to conduct one or more studies to determine the actual risk and consequences related to any potential contaminant sources identified by the secretary. (f) A public water system shall submit an updated source water protection plan not less frequently than every three years.
The secretary shall propose emergency and legislative rules as
necessary to implement the provisions of this article in
§22-30-26. Powers and duties of secretary. (a) In addition to the powers and duties prescribed in this
chapter or otherwise provided by law, the secretary has the
exclusive authority to perform all acts necessary to implement
(b) The secretary may receive and expend money from the
federal government or any other sources to implement this article.
(c) The secretary may revoke any registration, authorization
or permit for a violation of this article or the rules promulgated
(d) The secretary may issue orders, assess civil penalties,
institute enforcement proceedings, and prosecute violations of
this article as necessary.
(f) The secretary may recover the costs of taking corrective action, including costs associated with authorizing third parties
to perform corrective action, not including. Costs may not include
routine inspection and administrative activities not associated
with a release. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to amend the Water
Resources Protection and Management Act to incorporate
recommendations from the State Water Resources Management Plan
(Plan). Those recommendations include: Changing the definition of
a large quantity user to a person who uses at least 300,000
gallons of water in any thirty-day period; Requiring large
quantity users to report actual water withdrawals or usage for a
calendar year on an annual basis; Requiring any agency that
contributes to funding the stream gage network to notify the
Commission and the USGS if the agency cannot maintain its level of
funding; Requiring drilling contractors or well owners to report
the depth to groundwater of drilled wells; adopting the Plan; and
Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to report
annually to the Commission on the implementation of the Plan and
survey results. The bill also requires registration of existing
aboveground storage tanks and directs the secretary of the
department of environmental protection to develop a program to
regulate new and existing aboveground storage tanks.
the present law. Article 30 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underlining
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