Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/668983
The law says groundwater basins and sub-basins throughout California must be in balance by 2040. Basins in the central San Joaquin Valley are among the most overdrafted in the state. Hydraulic Fracturing Concerns Reinforced by EPA Board A draft report on the impacts of hy- draulic fracturing on drinking water was further discussed by the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board (SAB) during a March 7 tele- conference. The SAB reiterated its concerns with the draft study on hydraulic fracturing's impacts, while recommending "follow- on" and longer-term activities to provide more clarity. Among issues cited, the SAB recom- mended EPA explain why case studies were not conducted and clarify why finding of impacts to groundwater and surface water systems were not wide- spread, nor systemic needs. The SAB also noted hydraulic frac- turing impacts on the local level are often significant, even though deter- mined to affect small space and time scales, and reiterated concerns over chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and existing data gaps—which under- scores the importance of establishing baseline water quality data. The SAB's recommendations could trigger action by the EPA to revise their earlier draft study. Entry-Level Driver Training Rule Proposed by FMCSA A proposed rule on entry-level driver training was released on March 4 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Class A commercial driver licenses would require 30 hours of behind-the- wheel training, while class B licenses would require only 15 hours. The pro- posed rule also outlines the knowledge and skills that must be learned, rather than just hours behind the wheel, before a license is given. The proposed rule was the result of a requirement in MAP-21 legislation (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) and the relatively favorable view of the rule by trucking industry groups. The public will be given 30 days to comment on the proposed rulemaking once it is published in the Federal Register. The proposed rule may impact the supply of qualified drivers with com- mercial driver licenses, given the in- creased requirements to obtain a license. At the same time, it would also likely result in more qualified applicants. Online Drinking Water Mapping Tool Released by EPA A Drinking Water Mapping Applica- tion to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS) has been launched by the Environmental Protection Agency. It will provide a range of tools to map sources of contamination, promote source water protection, and promote integration of drinking water protection activities. It does not display the actual locations of public water system facility intakes, but contains a wide variety of data useful to protection of drinking water sources. The DWMAPS is located at www.epa .gov/sourcewaterprotection/dwmaps. WWJ May 2016 11 Twitter @WaterWellJournl