Commonwealth Groundwater Management and Protection Act of 1988 (P.L. 6-12)

of the Office of Capitol taipan, 96950 Honorable Benjamin T. President of the Senate Sixth Northern Marianas Legislature MP 96950 522-5091 822-5092 522-5098 522-5096 (MOUSE) and The Honorable Pedro R. Guerrero Speaker, House of Representatives Sixth Northern Marianas Saipan, MP 96950 Legislature President and Speaker Guerrero: is to inform you that I have signed into law Senate Bill No. 6-102, S.D.l, H.D.3, the Groundwater Management and Protection Act of 1988. is essential, as it asserts the rights of the people to groundwater resources and also establishes a system to regulate the of groundwater through an orderly well drilling program. I am approving this legislation because, for the first time, the rights of the people to water resources is established by law. While this l aw would, primarily, regulate water well drilling, my serious concern is the potential impact this law will impose on private lands underlain by Class I groundwater resources, especially in the construction of residences in areas where sewerage systems are This law might obligate the to provide sewer service to all areas within Class I groundwater zones. Environmental questions on the degree of pollution by leachates and septic tank effluent would generate challenges and long-term litigation by developers if they are prevented using their lands because of potential contamination Class I groundwater. I request that the Legislature refine this Act to clarify the if any, on landowners' rights to develop lands underlain by Class I groundwater. This bill Public No. 6-12. f for your ready reference . Copies bearing my signature are CC: Special Assistant for Programs and Legislative , 0 c? Commonwealth Northern naru,,na, islands ths aovsrnor ,uu, n1' ,, ~ I 3 NOV 1388 0 Prbe <> Caimnvealth ~csaipan, Camom,ealth Dear 'Ibis treasure exploitation Manglona Manglona land:nark governrr.ent serious frcm limitations, beccrres Law t8Bif-8e8 for your ready reference. Sincerely, Telex.: 783-622 Gov. Nni TeCefax: GOV. COMM; ~- {pQ :. rr:ost non-existent, of Review , PUBLIC LAW NO. 6-12 NO. 6-102, H.D.3 , 'SIXTH MARIANAS LEGISLATURE SECOND REGULAR SESSION, 1988 Report 6-72 House September 28, 1988 ACTION Referred to: on Natural Resources Standing Report No. 6-32 Reading: September 16, 1988 and Final Reading: September 23, 1988 . . . . . .. , , Manuel Senate , . . · ... · S,8, S,D.l, NOR'IHERN COMMONWEALTH · · :.,? .. ~1~:~ih~r . . · ·- .· , . "- ~:-; . . >]itt t:i\t::t/ ;r:h~i!;,;/;::. , •• }::-: 1lA\-· i.¥'l•~r]t~::''/: Offered by senator · JUan N. ;-·,,, ' ... {:,;~·µ.:~{;() ',· f<i' : ' ' ...;; ..;...;....;;;..; Fit.st J~t~t~~it;T? .. , .. ·•··'·-<:i:··\t:tf-1/ •;,. ..• :,J,-i~·,1tr::r:J~~11,·tf:~-~t1;11f,~t.;,f#tftP;f:~4t~}:f;f.,;·: ··•••••::.· '~ ;;¥'.rt\~~?~.::11:~• i•\';•·4~!1.i~',1'-}r1ibt&t.ii :;!;;•:•· ·+).!·.fs~t1Jf~~~)(A\¥:f\¼~1\t~J{f•,1W~,ti*rlt~Jii,%.'. , .. ;: il 26, 1988 ~:::-:•&•~tf{°?·~. :'(,·:-'Y,· · f,.: ·/·( Special senate COiranittee on water No. July 08, 1988 COITll1U.ttee COrnmittee . . · ,, , , .. · " . •, · ~~-.-,i .. ,l} , . . . , , . · . : , t:)£f:;;il¥ .; ' I NO. 6-12 SENATE BILL NO. NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH H.D.3 FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION, 1988 , I AN ACT provide for a Commonwealth Groundwater Management and Protection A c t of 1988 and for other . BE I T ENACTED BY TEE MARIANAS Section 1. Short T i t l e . This A c t may be cited as t he Groundwater Management and Protection A c t of 1988" . Section 2. Statement of Policy. In consideration that the exclusively t is hereby decla of the Northern Islands and the (a) assert the r ights of l e t o groundwater resources for benefit; . assert that the general welfare requires that 12 groundwater resources be put to the highest beneficial use for which they are capable; 13 create permitting systems which regulate the 14 15 Commonwealth; withdrawal and use of groundwater resources of the (d) designate Groundwater Management Zones; and I I 17 (e) promote the long-term abili ty of the 18 ! I . t o provide reliable and potable water to the public. ' i . , . . , ... . . . . . , . . , . . . , I ' I I' PUBLIC LAW SIXni LEGISLATURE S.D.1, I\ TO p.iq::oses. NORTHERN <XlMMONWEALTH LEGISLA'IURE: - .. .. ·'ii 2 •canmonwealth ';}~~;~j~~~~r]lH~H './~~wealth of ~ -~::;:;:-~~=.I~:.,::::: m,st ,, :-:'.i;t~t?{if {t ,t\t.rt{·: ;?,d;~~d~~t UP0n ~~~u~~·te/I~t:1~ water su~i;~· .. lC H 11 1 I! Ii ;! 16 ,, ! ,, I' ,, I ,, ·to be the public policy of the·cannonwealth (b) (c) · . ... --~ '.'.:?·:. : ,'·.·.:~ ·'.-.}~(·;,t~~-... ~ :·~ ~-··.·, .t~::/~:1~---·· purpose of this Act to: · the peo .................... , Ccmnpnwealth 6-102, . I ·: I '! PUBLIC NO. 6-12 . Senate B i l l No. 6-102, H.D.3 ! 1 Section 3 . Statement of Authority. The groundwater resources of 2 the Commonwealth belong to the public. No diversion, withdrawal, 3 storage, or use of such water shall occur except i n the compliance w i t h I I ' 4 this .. I i A c t and w i t h other laws of the commonwealth. Section 4. Definitions. As used i n t h i s A c t : I (a) shall include the use of water I reasonably required for domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational and other purposes on both public and private lands. The use of water for domestic is defined as the highest beneficial use of water. . e Chief of the Division of e Department of public Health Environmental and Services. an the introduction of any . or radiological substance . into water which has the potential t o pose a threat to human health or the or t o impede the beneficial use of the water. . shall mean any individual, firm, ship, association, corporation, both public and private; and any entity or agency of the Commonwealth Government and the 22 United States of America. 23 (e) shall be defined as ponds, springs, well, 24 25 I aquifers, streams and all other bodies of surface or under ground water whether natural, inland, coastal, fresh, salt , Page 2 'i 1: l! I. q ·-t~h~·:.(: -·. ~- ;~~,i~~/f[}!/f~~-'. II 21 i ,. i ·: • Beneficial use• ...... -··---~--- ... ~ .... ---~.. (b} •Chief• shall mean tl' .... ' '.:· ·;: . ·:--~:-\-:. ·,::: QUalitv within tl' Ehvironmental (c} •contamination• ihall me Phvsical. chemical. bioloq:cal, environment (d) "Person" •water" s.0.1, purp:,ses rrost partner I I ·.i· ! I ·! I PUBLIC NO. 6-12 , Senate B i l l No. 6-102, H . D . 3 I I 1 ' 2 19 I ' 20 21 22 23 24 ' I public, or private. "Well" shall be defined as any hole drilled, dug, I or bored a t any angle, either cased or uncased, for the purpose of obtaining water or knowledge of water bearing formations or for the disposal of surface water drainage or i waste materials. Qual .... , \ Section 5 Permitting Authority. The Division of Environmental is authorized to:. (a) permit the s i t ing , design, construction, and repairs or improvements of wells; manage the withdrawal and use through well operation permits; and promulgate rules and to implement Section Well D No person shall engage i n well d r i l l ing i n the w i t h o u t f i r s t obtaining a license from the Chief. An application for a license shall be made on a , I I ' form prescribed and furnished by the chief. The Chief shall establish fees for well drilling . licenses. I (d) The license shall be valid for a period not to exceed one (1) year I ' . I . Page 3 :iii:''< ~~.W,~J.,, . , .. .. ,.1. ,· . '1\tJ'il, -~ i ,: ·. ·'·t(Y:11 ~•.:\.:' \ . iiYiitit4\-r:-::'.: ~-,:': ·.-.Ji ,,\~1~, · · · "· · Ii I: II 1: ti I I I: I 11 Ii 4 5 6 7 8 9 j 10 I ' 11 ~", "-'•'- ~ · .. •;/~.:,. ,~1: '.~:" .. 1r \ •rf.,i•f. ··~ ,, . ' ,~~.:;:~ ··12 13 14 1s ·?~,~~- .. ,-,,;,, -i--1• ·,. " :\1#iiji;irt ... :; : ';•·' :I ' : (j 1; ., 25 S,D,l, (f) • ity testing, (b) of groundwater (c) regulations this Act. 6. riller's License. (a) Ccmrronwealth (b) ,. I . r (c) • ' .......... ·· .. J/','--;.•~~--:f-.. ~ . ..': .... : PUBLIC LAW NO. 6-12 Senate B i l l NO. 1 2 I, , The chief shall establish cri teria for issuance of a well license and evaluate the knowledge abili ty and reliability of the applicant based upon previous performance, so as to assure the protection of the ground water resource from damage caused by improper d r i l l ing i (a) No well may be dr i l led by any person without a d r i l l ing permit issued by the chief. (b) The Chief shall establish technical d r i l l ing permit requirements for the s i t i n g completion, and repair of a l l wells. requirements shall be w i t h generally accepted health and engineering standards and technology within the testing, the best available The chief s h a l l establish fees for drilling permits. schedule s h a l l be a s l id ing scale, taking into 21 22 23 24 25 techniques or practices. Section 7. Well Dri l l ing Permits. consideration the financial resources of t h e applicant and I the scope of the developnent project. a condition of continued use of the d r i l l i n g permit, the chief may require a t any reasonable time that the applicant furnish water samples for analysis by the Division of Quality Laboratory. The cost of the analysis shall be paid by t h e drilling permittee to the Treasurer. Page 4 3 ,. ., 4 j. ,, I I: 5 19 20 (e) driller's 6-102, S.D.l, H.D.3 \ design, ronstruction, 'lhe ronsistent p..1blic ' . shall reflect Canrronweal th. (c) 'lhe prop:>sed groon.dwater (d) Environmental CNMI ., ::~~) ~-: I 1 PUBLIC LAW NO. 6-12 Senate Bill No. 6-102, H.D.3 I i , !I 20 21 22 23 . 24 25 I ' I (e) shall receive priority in the issuance of all I I well drilling permits. Section 8. Well Operation Permits. (a) No person may operate a well or withdrawn ground- ! I water without an operation permit issued by the Chief. Each operation permit shall state the maximum quantity of water which may be withdraw per day (daily flow rate) . The Chief shall determine the maximum .allowable daily flow rate based on the beneficial use of the water, the results of well testing, and local hydrogeology to ensure the protection of public health environment, and the beneficial utilization and conservation of ground water resources. The Chief operation permits for ground water withdrawal only in designated areas as provided in this Chapter. The well operation permittee shall file an annual water consumption report with the Division of Quality by September 1. This report shall include the quantity of water extracted during each of the preceding year. (e) present users of wells prior to the effective ! date of this Act shall have sixty (60) days from the effective date to file an operation permit for existing wells. i I Page 5 2 11 4 ,! [15 li~ · I: i1 \ ;; •I .. 18 , n ., 1• 19 n CUC (b) pro1=0sed (c) shall issue ( d) All :-:t··· S,D,l, and I Environmental rronth . · . ....... ' '! I · .. ·•:JW1t i ' ·I ' ,t:•;)' ··r· I·"'· r , . . 2 . , . , . , Senate B i l l No. 6-102, H.D.3 1 ' 2 shall expire on September 30 of each year. Section. 9. of Inspection. The Division of Environmental Quality t o inspect each well a t reasonable hours t o . . 21 22 ensure proper and effective well construction, repair, maintenance operation. Section 10. Flow Meters and Water Sampling Valves to be Installed, to wells. i (a) Prior to withdrawing water, the d r i l l i n g permittee . s h a l l install (a t h i s expense) a water meter capable of I both flow rate and total production a t the well. (b) s h a l l maintained as provided by regulations of the Department of Environmental Quality . . o withdrawing water, the drilling permittee ' s t o obtain water samples. Division s h a l l periodically water is t o monitor the quality of t a well is abandoned for any reason, th permittee shall notify the Chief. I Section Designation of Groundwater Zones. (a) The Chief s h a l l designate selected regions of the i . . ... ! commonwealth as Groundwater Management Zones. Management zones s h a l l be rated as Class I, Class or Class based on available hydrogeologic information and I the following criteria: 1. Groundwater quality, ! Page 6 ,, 3 I• :1 !i ·4 I; 5 I 6 j: 23 I' j; 24 I'. ;\ 25 jl i: ;~~1~f ft;~i~\;::·'.=: i, ·' .... -... PUBLIC LAW NO. 6-1 '(f) Permits \ (DEQ},, is authorized ·, Access measuring . ·. : ;. water meters (c) Prior t ~{);:.::) shall install valve ' ., . ..... '\ -~ ·.: . \-~ .. . ' ).\\')\O~ Enviro?JD8lltal QUality : . . } ., .. ;, ;. '·.· . ·,.·.- "!, . ~ .. •.• '.·;.'' sampling and analys ... , ••• •. : 6 • ·- •• . ... .·; Section 11. 12. III In t;he even immediately be S.D.l, and (DEQ) • '!be OJnduct l8 Management Grou.ndwater II, . -;,;/ '.: ,.:: .< : , ;S.:;\):~~~f{~f :·.iiit .. , ·i> ;~\::j --- nd~ . PUBLIC L? NO. 6-12 . ,Senate B i l l No. 6-102, H.D.3 1 2. of recharge, 2 - t o degradation, 4. Present and future land use 3 a 9 . 11 12 13 14 . 16 18 19 20 4 Class I Groundwater Management Zones shall include 6 7 or degradation. Class I Groundwater Management Zones s h a l l be established as critical groundwater protection areas and shall be given the highest level of environmental sensitive recharge areas and aquifers which high quality water and which are subject to 21 22 , 23 protection. The Chief s h a l l establish requirements t o ensure the protection of I contamination or degradati Chief shall prepar map which define Groundwater Management Zones s h a l l be given the highest priority for use and protection. The Chief may establish additional requirements for Class I, 11, and Groundwater Management Zones. Section 13. Water Shortage Declaration. (a) The Chief, after consultation with Cmnwealth Utilities Corporation, may declare a water shortage and restrictions on permits to protect the public health, i safety and welfare; When a water shortage is declared, the Chief shall cause notice thereof t o be published i n a prominent place within a newspaper of general circulation or otherwise ' ~ ·,•' . t!/<':<>·.t. ·.:•·., ·•·· . . . . , .. · .. , 'f t'.2':'..·~•:<J,:·· .. ·.-:·~'4 : . .1. ii II 5 10 ls I 11 ,, 1' ,I II :i 11 Ii i. ,i twailabity ·, .,,' '3. ,-:susceptiblity .) (b) ,It.,, .... ,. groundwater o:mtain contamination S.D.l, and rrost Class groundwater resources from on. (c) '!he e a s (d) III irni:ose (b) Page 7 . ' ,, .. ,, I I I I I I ! I i · I .• ,.,~ .• 'l':.•; .. ,:•··.,, •. M. fl ,, ,.,,,, : ··;]::~~I: . ··{. ·1% \s;<fi\11 I NO. 6-12 Senate B i l l NO. ! I through the i n the Commonwealth. notice shall be for the f i r s t week of the shortage and 1 ' 2 I i 3 once. a ter u n t i l the declaration is rescinded . ! Publication notice s h a l l serve as notice to all permittees i 4 21 22 23 , 24 I 25 I i the area of a water shortage and any restriction on their I Section 14. Penalties. (a) The Chief may issue any order to enforce provisions of this Chapter. The order may require the person to do any i of the following: 1. to cease and desist from the violation; 2. t o take m g measures t o correct the violation; or 3. t o a c ivi l f ine of not than $1, 000 for each violation. The Chief may i n s t i t u t e a c i v i l action t o seek any lawful remedy, including exemplary damages and contempt for failing to abide by an order, t o enforce the provisions of this Chapter. t The Chief may modify, suspend, suspend, i or revoke any permit issued by the Division of Environmental Quality for violation of provisions of this Chapter. (d) Any person subject t o c i v i l penalties is entitled i t o notice and a hearing upon written request to t h e Chief. The Chief may any penalty. I I I i I Page 8 i' .. JI 6 .. •.·; ~, l ·, ~ •. -i ·.·• >{~ I .. · •! f ! .18 . I • !l.·ig ii !! 20 . me6ia ... ~ ...... p.1blish~q~ea~~day ) ··week thereaf in permits, (b) (c) , .,,. .. ,. pay PUBLIC LAW itigatin, comprcmise i 6-102, S.D.l, H.D.3 such l irore swranarily / 1 • i I ' I PUBLIC NO. 6-12 Senate Bill No. 6-102, H.D.3 \ 1 2 3 4 5 (e) A is guilty of a criminal offense if found by a jurisdiction to have' knowingly and addition. 'to the other penalties provided for in this Chapter, willingly any act prohibited by this Chapter. In ! shall be punishable by a fine of not 20 21 22 23 24 , 25 than $50,000.00 or by imprisonment for not than one year or both. i Each day of continued violation is a separate I offense. Section 15. Private Right of Action Created. A private right of action is created for any person to enforce provisions of this Chapter. Such action sh on behalf of the ealth. If such an act n shall be entitled to Section 16. Fees. A l l fees, charges, and collected under this chapter shall be Fees and charges shall established so the costs of administration and monitoring for the program as a whole. If any provision of this Act is held Section 17. Severability. invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this or any rules, regulations or orders promulgated pursuant thereto shall not be affected thereby. , I I I Page 9 S.D.l, pa..rson .... , " ..... ccqrc' 0~ EJO'l'IP9tent ·-. -coltted ii i ,, a-criminal violation l1 1, 6 .ij{,;., ,t· ii 1 ··i•'.'•"••., ;,·. ,, lit: ,, l! : ... . Ir .:,:~t·:;t;,. ·.·.. . . . . . l ; 1 0 : tt.I, •, :4.•, .. , ••. ... ,.! ' ' . rror:e ( f) rr.o r: e •' .. ,. ·, f COrranonw i:easonable .:~,;.,,:,,,,, .,,,;,, '! j,;,,, ' ' ; ?. jj~,,, it::: ' 18 '..' :- ;~'.~~(-}·'. ~ :~ ,' I • I I 19 !i ··o:•. PUBLIC NO. 6-12 ! Senate Bill No. 6-102, I , I Page 10 , S.D.l, H.D.3 l 2 section 18. Effective Date. This Act takes effect upon approval .. · ' . : -·:· .. ~~ the Governor·~ . o\-·~upon its becoming law without· such approval. t. • •• - - ·~ .. lj .) ' ll " slir::,)'. ':::·. \~~./::. ' . ,. 1 ;, . ' . .I \ -.:,.,, ... t.i:;·~-••: :··::. ' ...• ' /;1, .:,,. !; ,, .• ·/, <,;::· :(~~:'. ;i ;,, ·.··, . t -~ ,'. . . ,1:,·.~::~~,.-~.i, :, i,.~,r.: .... :: ·.· - i 'r . . ~- ' • . r~-,:,~~~•,}f',,i ;-!::: ~ .-- ,,w 'r : :::~,)~~!~::'.~/· \}: t .. ::ili\tiF'. .. \::..1tl~,r.,:ar+t.;1-1; . ·'f y· .. ,~}~{f ?f :\\:}\\ .. '. '. . : I ,I ,, ,, ,. •: o, ,·:,/i::.,::·j1· ,.1 ,::i'.i\1~I:vf·:: ii;~i>,~, · 11 ·........ !! ,: '1 11 i. ' !