OAR 690-240-0030: Other Holes: General Performance and Responsibility Requirements

(1)(a) Other holes are constructed for a variety of purposes which may or may not encounter ground water. Other holes are constructed using a wide variety of equipment and are not typically designed to access water in order to collect subsurface information. Other holes include but are not limited to: temporary (abandoned within 72 hours) wetland delineation holes, gravel pits, pits for removal of underground storage tanks (UST), pilings, tunnels, post holes, excavation and construction holes, elevator shafts, and trenches. (b) Although enforcement actions may be exercised against other parties, the landowner of the property where the other hole is constructed is ultimately responsible for the condition and use of the other hole. (2)(a) In order to protect ground water, all other holes shall be constructed, operated or used, maintained, and abandoned in such a manner as to prevent contamination or waste of ground water; (b) In order to protect ground water, all other holes, when abandoned, shall be abandoned in such a manner that water cannot move vertically in them with any greater facility than in the undisturbed condition prior to construction of the other hole; (c) Conversion of other holes to a water supply well, monitoring well, or geotechnical hole shall be considered by the Water Resources Department on a case-by-case basis; (d) If the other hole is an excavation for removal of an underground storage tank, water samples may be taken without adhering to the licensing, start card/fee, monitoring well report and monitor well conversion requirements.