(1) The state engineer in cooperation with the commission has power to regulate the drilling and construction of all wells in the state of Colorado to the extent necessary to prevent the waste of water and the injury to or destruction of other water resources and shall require well drillers and private drillers to file a log of each well drilled whether or not exempt by virtue of section 37-90-105. The state engineer shall adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
If the state engineer finds any well to have been drilled or maintained in a manner orcondition or to be withdrawing groundwater contrary to this article or the rules issued under this article, the state engineer shall immediately notify the user in writing of the violation and give the user time as may reasonably be necessary, not to exceed sixty days, to correct deficiencies. If the user fails or refuses to correct the deficiencies within the allowed time, the state engineer is authorized to enter upon the user's land and do whatever is necessary in order that the user comply with this article or rules issued under this article. Prior to August 1, 2010, this subsection (2) does not apply to oil and gas wells. For an oil and gas well in existence on March 22, 2010, for which a well permit is required by this section, a well permit application shall be submitted to the state engineer on or before April 30, 2010. For an oil and gas well to be constructed between March 22, 2010, and August 1, 2010, for which a well permit is required by this section, a well permit application shall be submitted to the state engineer on or before June 15, 2010. All oil and gas wells to be constructed after August 1, 2010, for which a well permit is required by this section shall have a well permit prior to producing groundwater.
No well construction contractor, pump installer, private pump installer, or privatedriller shall construct a new well or otherwise do work on any well requiring authority from the state engineer or commission until a permit with respect thereto has been secured for such work.
Source: L. 65: R&RE, p. 1266, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 148-18-37. L. 67: p. 697, § 14. L. 92: (3) amended, p. 2300, § 6, effective March 19. L. 2009: (2) amended, (HB 09-1303), ch. 390, p. 2110, § 4, effective June 2. L. 2010: (2) amended, (SB 10-165), ch. 31, p. 113, § 2, effective March 22.