AB 21

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to administer a

program to provide grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, and American Indian

tribes and bands (local units of government) for the testing of privately owned wells.

The bill also makes changes to the well compensation grant program currently

administered by DNR.

The bill provides that local units of government may apply for grants once in

a fiscal biennium for testing privately owned wells, with an option for a second grant

if adequate funding is available. A local unit of government must provide matching

funds equal to the amount of the grant and must provide test results to DNR within

three months of conducting testing. DNR is required to award grants equitably

across the state, giving priority to regions where a significant number of private wells

contain nitrate contamination above specified levels and regions where a significant

number of wells contain coliform bacteria or other contaminants at a level that

exceeds applicable standards for public health.

Under current law, an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well

may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a portion of the costs to treat the water,

reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water supply, or fill and

seal the well. To be eligible for a grant, the well owner or renter's annual family

income may not exceed $65,000. In addition, if the well owner or renter's annual

family income exceeds $45,000, the amount of the award is reduced by 30 percent of

the amount by which the annual family income exceeds $45,000. The bill increases

the family income limit to $100,000 and increases the amount of annual family

income that triggers a reduction of an award to $65,000.

Under current law, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is eligible for

a grant only if the well is a water supply for livestock, is used at least three months

in each year, and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million. The bill

eliminates these requirements and requires DNR to prioritize grants for wells with

nitrate contamination above specified levels.