Sec. 62509.

(1) A person shall not drill or begin the drilling of any brine, storage, or waste disposal well, or convert any well for these uses, and except as authorized by a permit issued by the supervisor of mineral wells pursuant to part 13 and rules promulgated by the supervisor of mineral wells, and unless the person files with the supervisor of mineral wells an approved surety or security bond. The application shall be accompanied by a survey of the well site. The department shall conduct an investigation and inspection before the supervisor of mineral wells issues a permit. A permit shall not be issued to any owner or his or her authorized representative who does not comply with the rules of the supervisor of mineral wells or who is in violation of this part or any rule of the supervisor of mineral wells. Upon completion of the drilling or converting of a well for storage or waste disposal and after necessary testing by the owner to determine that the well can be used for these purposes and in a manner that will not cause surface or underground waste, the supervisor of mineral wells, upon receipt of appropriate evidence, shall approve and regulate the use of the well for storage or waste disposal. These operations shall be pursuant to part 31. The supervisor of mineral wells may schedule a public hearing to consider the need or advisability of permitting the drilling or operating of a storage or waste disposal well, or converting a well for these uses, if the public safety or other interests are involved.

(2) A person shall not drill a test well 50 feet or greater in depth into the bedrock or below the deepest freshwater strata, except as provided in section 62508(c), except as authorized by a permit issued by the supervisor of mineral wells pursuant to part 13 and rules promulgated by the supervisor of mineral wells, and unless the person files with the supervisor of mineral wells an approved surety or security bond. The application shall be accompanied by the fee provided in subsection (6). The department shall conduct an investigation and inspection before the supervisor of mineral wells issues a permit. A permit shall not be issued to any owner or his or her authorized representative who does not comply with the rules of the supervisor of mineral wells or who is in violation of this part or any rule of the supervisor of mineral wells. A test well that penetrates below the deepest freshwater stratum or is greater than 250 feet in depth is subject to an individual test well permit. A test well that does not penetrate below the deepest freshwater stratum and is 250 feet or less in depth is subject to a blanket test well permit. This subsection does not apply to a test well regulated under part 111 or part 115, or a water well regulated under part 127 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12701 to 333.12771.

(3) A permit is not required to drill a test well in those areas of the state where rocks of Precambrian age directly underlie unconsolidated surface deposits or in those areas that have been designated pursuant to section 62508(c). However, within 2 years after completion of the drilling of the well, the owner shall advise the supervisor of mineral wells of the location of the well and file with the supervisor of mineral wells the log required under section 62508(d). The provisions of this part pertaining to the prevention and correction of surface and underground waste have the same application to these test wells as to other wells defined in this part.

(4) Upon request, the supervisor of mineral wells may issue to qualified persons a blanket permit to drill within a county test wells which will not penetrate below the deepest freshwater stratum and are 250 feet or less in depth.

(5) All information and records pertaining to the application for and issuance of permits for wells subject to this part shall be held confidential in the same manner as provided for logs and reports on these wells.

(6) A permit application submitted under this section shall be accompanied by the following permit application fee:

(7) The supervisor of mineral wells shall deposit all permit application fees collected under this section into the fund.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 467, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 1999 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 325, Imd. Eff. Sept. 10, 2004 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA