10 CSR 23-1.050 Qualifications PURPOSE: This rule establishes the criteria and procedures used in permitting a well installation, heat pump installation, monitoring well installation, pump installation, employee and drilling supervisor in Missouri.

(1) All applicants for well installation, heat pump installation, monitoring well installation, monitoring-test hole installation and pump installation contractor permits shall meet the following requirements:

(A) A minimum of one thousand (1000) hours of experience is required in the type of well drilling the applicant requests to receive a permit for. A minimum of five hundred (500) hours of experience is required in pump installation for that type of permit. At least three (3) different people familiar with the experience must document that the applicant has the required amount of experience on experience vouchers supplied by the division. The experience must have been gained in Missouri except that an applicant may provide the division with information demonstrating that his/her experience was gained in an area with the same or similar geological and other well drilling conditions as in the applicant's proposed well drilling operations territory in Missouri. This experience may be considered as meeting the experience requirement of these rules.

(B) Submission to the division of properly completed experience vouchers, application and submission of appropriate fee.

(C) Knowledge of the rules promulgated by the law, knowledge of basic drilling, completion and plugging techniques as evidenced by a passing grade on an examination administered by the division. The following procedures must be followed when applying for and taking the appropriate proficiency tests:

1. Applicants for well installation contractor, heat pump installation contractor, monitoring well installation contractor, monitoring- test hole installation contractor or pump installation contractor must pass the appropriate examinations. There are six (6) tests that can be taken-

A. General test. Every prospective permittee must pass this test. The questions will be over the rules and will be an open book test. The purpose of this test is to ensure that all permitted persons are familiar with the rules and are able to locate information as needed;

B. Well driller contractor test. All applicants for a nonrestricted well installation permit must pass this test. The questions will be based on the skills necessary to operate as a well installation contractor;

C. Pump contractor test. All applicants for a nonrestricted pump installation permit must pass this test. The questions will be based on the skills necessary to operate as a pump installation contractor;

D. Heat pump contractor test. All applicants for a nonrestricted heat pump installation permit must pass this test. The questions will be based on the skills necessary to operate as a heat pump installation contractor;

E. Monitoring well contractor test. All applicants for a nonrestricted monitoring well installation permit must pass this test. The questions will be based on the skills necessary to operate as a monitoring well installation contractor; and

F. Monitoring-test hole contractor test. All applicants for a nonrestricted monitoring-test hole installation permit must pass this test. The questions will be based on the skills necessary to operate as a monitoring-test hole installation contractor;

2. Most drilling applications in Missouri require the drilling of some unconsolidated material before consolidated material is encountered. Therefore, the drilling examinations will cover, among other things, drilling in consolidated and unconsolidated material. There are some areas in Missouri, like the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri, where thick deposits of unconsolidated material are present. A special restricted permit and examination are available, upon request, for those persons who only drill unconsolidated material wells or set pumps in them. If a restricted permittee is found to be drilling in a type of material they are not permitted to drill in, they will be subject to appropriate enforcement action. If a restricted permittee is found to be installing pumps in a consolidated material well, they will be subject to appropriate enforcement action;

3. Information on where to obtain applicable study material will be available to each applicant prior to testing;

4. A testing schedule will be available upon the request of the applicant;

5. A completed application for testing must be received fifteen (15) days prior to the testing date for which the applicant wishes to be scheduled. The division will notify the applicant within ten (10) days from receiving the completed application for testing if the applicant has qualified to take the test applied for and the date of the next available test. The testing fee is due before the test is given;

6. A minimum score of seventy percent (70%) on the general test, and a minimum score of seventy percent (70%) on each required specific test must be achieved by the applicant prior to being permitted. The applicant will be sent the results of the test as soon as possible. If applicant has a passing score, the appropriate applications for permit will be included with the results;

7. Applicant may retake all tests on the same day if time allows. All retakes must be accompanied by the testing fee;

8. If a request is made and documented more than thirty (30) days in advance, the exam may be taken orally. The same exam will be given and the same results must be achieved on an oral exam as for a written exam. Due to the special nature of this type of exam, special scheduling dates will be necessary. People with disabilities requiring special services or accommodations can make arrangements by contacting the division;

9. Any applicant who does not agree with his/her test results, may appeal to the Well Installation Board;

10. If an applicant wishes to withdraw his/her application for testing, s/he may do so by requesting, in writing, ten (10) days in advance. If the applicant does not cancel as stated and is not present for the test, they may reschedule up to two (2) times. If after the second reschedule the applicant does not appear, the testing application will be cancelled and the fee will be forfeited. If the applicant wishes to take the test after the testing application has been cancelled, they must reapply and submit the appropriate fee;

11. All well installation contractors and pump installation contractors that were operating with a valid permit on the December 11, 1993, are not required to take any test to renew their permit, but must submit an affidavit supplied by the division stating that they have read and understand the new rules. Those people who wish to apply for a contractor's permit that have at least one thousand (1000) hours of documented experience do not have to take any test if they apply by March 30, 1994, but must submit an affidavit supplied by the division stating that they have read and understand the rules currently in effect;

12. Persons who contract the drilling of wells, installation of pumps, or both, but do not drill the wells or set the pumps must be permitted well installation, heat pump installation, monitoring well installation, monitoring-test hole installation, pump installation contractor, or any combination of these. The only test required is the general test and drilling or pump setting experience is not required but is highly recommended. A restriction must be placed on the permit which states that any well drilling or pump work contracted be done by a nonrestricted permitted installation contractor;

13. A nonrestricted permitted well installation, heat pump installation, monitoring well installation, monitoring-test hole installation, pump installation contractor, or any combination of these, must be present at all times while a well is being drilled and completed, a pump is being set, or any combination of these; and

14. Persons who wish to only drill the heat pump hole and grout the closed-loop into the heat pump hole must obtain a permit to do so. The permit will be restricted to the previously mentioned activities and a current nonrestricted water well installation contractor's permit is required as one (1) of the qualification criteria. Those people who wish to apply for this type of heat pump installation contractor's permit that have at least one thousand (1000) hours of documented water well experience must take only the general test covering heat pump construction. (2) Applicants for contractor permits who do not meet the requirements set out in this rule may petition the board. The board has the authority to rule upon the qualifications of the applicants and may require additional evidence of qualifications.

AUTHORITY: sections 256.606, 256.607, 256.611, 256.613 and 256.626, RSMo (1994).* Original rule filed April 2, 1987, effective July 27,1987. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 16, 1993, effective Dec. 11, 1993, expired April 9, 1994. Amended: Filed Aug. 17, 1993, effective March 10, 1994. Amended: Filed July 13, 1994, effective Jan. 29, 1995. Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 1995, effective June 30, 1996. *Original authority: 256.606, RSMo (1991); 256.607, RSMo (1985), amended 1991; 256.611, RSMo (1985), amended 1991; 256.613, RSMo (1991); and 256.626, RSMo (1985), amended 1991

MO Dept. of Natural Resources: CODE OF STATE REGULATIONS - Rebecca McDowell Cook (5/31/96) Secretary of State

Information on this page provided courtesy of Tom Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company - http://www.SchroederWaterWells.com