Abandoned Wells Required To Be Plugged

Since l991, Missouri requires by statute that abandoned wells be plugged.

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256.615. 1. Wells abandoned by the landowner after August 28, 1991, shall be plugged or caused to be plugged by the landowner according to the regulations developed pursuant to sections 256.600 to 256.640. If the department makes a finding that certain unusual conditions exist at a well, the department may require that the same be plugged by a permitted well driller.

2. Any test hole which is drilled for underground exploration shall be plugged in accordance with rules and regulations developed pursuant to sections 256.600 to 256.640.

3. Any information obtained by the department which identifies a test hole or a monitoring well which was drilled in the exploration for minerals shall remain confidential and shall not be released by the division for a period of ten years following the receipt of the information which initially identified the test hole or monitoring well. The person submitting the report or the person for whom the well was drilled may request that such information remain confidential for an additional five years and the division shall grant such request. Any employee of the division who discloses confidential information shall be subject to disciplinary action by the division and is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

(L. 1991 S.B. 221)

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256.628. 1. A public water supplier subject to the provisions of chapter 640, RSMo, which connects to any structure or location previously served by any well which is not that of another public water supplier shall notify the well owner of his obligation to plug any abandoned well pursuant to the requirements of sections 256.600 to 256.640. The public water supplier shall not connect any person to the public water system until the person submits information which identifies the location of wells and attests that:

(1) Known abandoned wells on the property have been plugged; or

(2) There are no known abandoned wells on the property; or

(3) Existing wells will remain in use and will be properly plugged when no longer used; or

(4) Any abandoned wells will be plugged within ninety days.

2. The public water supplier shall submit a copy of information so received to the division on forms provided by the division, along with sufficient information to enable the division to locate existing and abandoned wells. The division shall, within a reasonable time, inspect any well identified in subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of this section. If the division determines that an abandoned well has not been plugged, it shall order the owner to have it plugged by a permitted water well installation contractor within thirty days. The division shall immediately seek injunctive relief through the office of the prosecuting attorney of the county wherein the alleged violation occurred to enforce its order and shall notify the appropriate public water supplier who shall terminate water service to the property thirty days after receipt of notice if the well has not been plugged. Any person who fails to plug an abandoned well pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalties specified in section 256.637.

(L. 1991 S.B. 221)

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For the complete statutory provisions on wells, see Missouri Statutes, Chapter 256.600-.640