87-98.4. Well contractor certification required; exemptions.

(a) Certification Required. - No person shall perform, manage, or supervise any well contractor activity without being certified under this Article. A person who is not a certified well contractor or who is not employed by a certified well contractor shall not offer to perform any well contractor activity unless the person utilizes a certified well contractor to perform the well contractor activity and, prior to the performance of the well contractor activity, the person discloses to the landowner in writing the name of the certified well contractor who will perform the well contractor activity, the certification number of the well contractor, and the name of the company that employs the certified well contractor.

(b) Exempt persons and activities. - This Article does not apply to any of the following persons or activities:

(1) A person who is employed by, or performs labor or services for, a certified well contractor in connection with well contractor activity performed under the personal supervision of the certified well contractor.

(2) A person who constructs, repairs, or abandons a well that is located on land owned or leased by that person.

(3) A person who is employed by a government agency and who performs well contractor activity solely within the scope of the person's government employment.

(4) A person who is licensed as a professional engineer under Chapter 89C of the General Statutes, a geologist under Chapter 89E of the General Statutes, or a soil scientist under Chapter 89F of the General Statutes who uses a hand auger to collect soil or water samples or to measure water levels. This exemption does not include the construction of a monitoring well.

(5) Construction, repair, or abandonment of a well used for a temporary dewatering activity that is associated with, and necessary to complete construction of, a utility distribution or collection system, a building or other structure, or a transportation system, if all of the following conditions are met:

a. The dewatering well is constructed solely for the purpose of removing water from or lowering the water table in the immediate area of the construction activity.

b. The dewatering well is located within 25 feet of the excavation and is not greater than 25 feet deeper than the excavation.

c. The dewatering well is abandoned in accordance with rules governing the abandonment of wells adopted by the Environmental Management Commission pursuant to G.S. 87-87 within 30 days of installation of the well or within 10 days of completion of the project, whichever is later.

(6) Construction, repair, or abandonment of a well used for a temporary dewatering activity that is associated with the construction of a borrow pit if the dewatering activity is located within 15 feet of the proposed perimeter of the borrow pit.

(7) Exploratory drilling for mining-related investigations.

(8) Installation of a water level observation well on property for which a mining permit has been issued under the Mining Act of 1971, Article 7 of Chapter 74 of the General Statutes.

(9) Drilling of a blast hole.

(10) Installation of a cathodic protection anode.

(11) Installation of a wetland monitoring gauge at a depth of eight feet or less for the purpose of monitoring fluctuations in the water table.

(12) Installation of a caisson, piling, or structural pier.

(13) A person who is licensed as a plumbing contractor under Article 2 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes who installs pumps or pumping equipment; installs, breaks, or reinstalls a well seal in accordance with G.S. 87-85(6); or disinfects a well incident to the installation, alteration, or replacement of pumps or pumping equipment within or near a well. However, the plumbing contractor shall maintain documentation of having attended a continuing education course that covered well seal installation, protection, and sanitation within the last two years prior to the work being performed. The State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors shall ensure that continuing education courses covering well seal installation, protection, and sanitation are available to licensed plumbing contractors during each six-month continuing education course schedule. The licensed plumbing contractor shall remain on-site while the work is being performed until the well is disinfected and sealed.

(14) Construction, repair, or abandonment of a well used for the exploration or development of oil or gas.

(c) Additional Exemptions. - In addition to the exemptions set out in subsection (b) of this section, the Commission may exempt by rule a geophysical activity, construction activity, or other well contractor activity from the requirements of this Article if the Commission finds that the activity has a negligible impact on the environment; public health, safety, and welfare; and the groundwater resources of the State.