ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

Notice of Intention to Drill
Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)
3550 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
602-771-8500
www.azwater.gov
PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:
Notice of Intention to Drill and Abandon an Exploration/Specialty Well
Notice of Intention to Drill, Deepen, Replace, or Modify a Well Notice of Intent to Drill,
Deepen, or Modify a Monitor / Piezometer / Environmental Well, Notice of Intent to
Abandon a Well
LEGAL AUTHORITY:
A.R.S. § 45 Waters, Article 10 Wells
CONDITIONS REQUIRING PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:
A notice of intent is required for any manmade openings in the earth through which water
may be withdrawn or obtained from beneath the surface of the earth, including water wells,
monitor wells and piezometer wells. It shall also apply to geothermal wells to the extent
provided by A.R.S. § 45-591.01 and all exploration wells and grounding or cathodic
protection holes greater than 100 feet in depth. Also, please note that all well drillers must be
Arizona licensed. Licensing is done through ADWR.
EXEMPTIONS:
A Notice of Intent is not required for the following activities:
1. Manmade openings in the earth not commonly considered to be wells, such as
construction and mining blast holes, underground mines and mine shafts, open pit mines,
tunnels, septic tank systems, caissons, basements and natural gas storage cavities.
2. Injection wells and vadose zone wells which are subject to regulation by the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality.
3. Oil, gas and helium wells drilled pursuant to the provisions of Title 27, A.R.S..
4. Drilled bore holes in the earth less than 100 feet in depth which are made for purposes
other than withdrawing or encountering groundwater, such as exploration wells and
grounding or cathodic protection holes; except in the event that groundwater is
encountered in the drilling of the bore hole.
FEES:
The filing fee for a Notice of Intent to Drill is $150, except wells located outside Active
Management Areas to be used for domestic purposes only have a filing fee of $100. There is
no filing fee for a Notice of Intent to Abandon a Well.
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