Jefferson: County drafting new rules for wells near shorelines

PORT TOWNSEND — People who want to drill water wells on property within 1,100 feet of marine coastlines or on islands in Jefferson County will have to meet requirements proposed in a plan put together by county officials.

The new plan was developed after the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board ordered the county to properly classify and develop standards for critical aquifer recharge areas after a Shine water-users group and the Olympic Environmental Council filed a complaint over the lack of county regulations.

The county has until Aug. 7 to implement the new plan, leaving officials hoping to set a quick pace for meetings to share new regulations with the public.

“I hope we don’t have to have a series of meetings because of the timelines,” said Dave Christensen, manager of the natural resources for the county.

The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

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