The Oklahoma Water Resources Board proposed to amend Okla. Admin. Code §§785:35-7-1 and 785:35-7-1.1, and adopt §785:35-7-3. The proposed amendments and adoption would prohibit construction of fresh groundwater wells in marginal-quality water zones to protect against contamination of fresh groundwater, add a provision identifying and referencing industry standards for the plugging of vertical closed loop heat exchange wells, and provide minimum construction standards for marginal water wells. A hearing will be held January 15, 2019, and comments are due that same date.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board proposed amendments to Okla. Admin. Code §§785:30-1-2, -3-1, and -3-6, and §785:30-7-4. The proposed amendments would, among other things, expand the definition of "groundwater" to include marginal water, allow the Board to implement well spacing rules for unstudied groundwater basins, and allow holders of groundwater permits to add additional wells to their existing permits on land owned or leased by the permit holder or with written permission from the landowner. A hearing will be held January 15, 2019, and comments are due that same date.