Agenda - 11-23-2015 - Item E.1 - Abstract - Session Law Effects

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60 compounds, if the Commission makes a specific finding that testing for the additional parameters is necessary to protect public health. If the Commission finds that testing for certain volatile organic compounds is necessary to protect public health and initiates rule making to require testing for certain volatile organic compounds, the Commission shall consider all of the following factors in the development of the rule: (i) known current and historic land uses around well sites and associated contaminants; (ii) known contaminated sites within a given radius of a well and any known data regarding dates of contamination, geology, and other relevant factors; (iii) any GIS-based information on known contamination sources from databases available to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and (iv) visual on-site inspections of well sites. In addition, the rules shall require local health departments to educate citizens for whom new private drinking water wells are constructed and for citizens who contact local health departments regarding testing an existing well on all of the following: (1) The scope of the testing required pursuant to this Article. (2) Optional testing available pursuant to this Article. (3) The limitations of both the required and optional testing. (4) Minimum drinking water standards. (j) Test Results. — The local health department shall provide test results to the owner of the newly constructed private drinking water well and, to the extent practicable, to any leaseholder of a dwelling unit or other facility served by the well at the time the water is sampled. The local health department shall include with any test results provided to an owner of a private drinking water well, information regarding the scope of the required and optional testing as established by rules adopted pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. (k) Registry of Permits and Test Results. — Each local health department shall maintain a registry of all private drinking water wells for which a construction permit or repair permit is issued that is searchable by address or addresses served by the well. The registry shall specify the physical location of each private drinking water well and shall include the results of all tests of water from each well. The local health department shall retain a record of the results of all tests of water from a private drinking water well until the well is properly closed in accordance with the requirements of this Article and rules adopted pursuant to this Article. (1) Authority Not Limited. — This section shall not be construed to limit any authority of local boards of health, local health departments, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Commission for Public Health to protect public health." SECTION 3.5.(b) Article 7A of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 87-98.14. Reciprocity. To the extent that other states provide for the licensing or certification of well contractors, the Commission shall permit those individuals who present valid proof of licensure or certification in good standing in one or more of those states to sit for examination for a license of the same or equivalent classification in North Carolina without delay, upon satisfactory proof furnished to the Commission that the qualifications of the aplicant are equal to the qualifications of holders of similar licenses in North Carolina and upon payment of the required fee." SECTION 3.5.(c) Article 7 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 87-97.1. Issuance of permit for irrigation water well. (a) A property owner may aply for, and be issued, a permit for an irrigation water well, whether the property is connected to, or served by, a public water system. The aplication shall be in accordance with G.S. 87-97 and shall specifically state that the irrigation water well will not be interconnected to plumbing required that is connected to any public water system and will be used for irrigation or other nonpotable purposes only. This section shall not aply if the property is connected to, or may be served by, a public water system that the public authority or unit of government operating the public water system is being assisted by the Local Government Commission. (c) For purposes of this section, "irrigation water well" shall mean any water well that is not interconnected to any plumbing required to be connected to any public water system and that produces water that is used for irrigation or other nonpotable purposes only_" SECTION 3.5.(d) Article 7 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: "� 87-97.2. Issuance of permit for property within service area of a public water system. House Bill 44-Ratified Session Law 2015-246 Page 5