Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/681918
The final rule stipulates that for vehi- cle-mounted drilling rigs no additional measures need to be taken when wet control methods are in use. The exemp- tion from additional respiratory controls is in line with the language suggested in NGWA's comments filed. The rule is being challenged by sev- eral industry groups who believe the law's new restrictions on silica exposure may not be technically feasible, and bat- tles within the court system will likely drag on for years. The final rule will save the water well drilling industry significant money that would have been necessary if addi- tional exposure control methods were required. Senate Passes Comprehensive Energy Bill T he Senate passed the Energy Policy Modernization Act by a bipartisan vote of 85-12 on April 20. Passage of the act will trigger a conference with the House, which passed comprehensive energy legislation in 2015. The Senate legislation contains four measures that are in line with NGWA priorities: • Amends the definition of renewable energy for federal purchase require- ments to include geothermal heat pumps, enabling federal agencies to consider GHPs when meeting renew- able energy goals. • Through inclusion of the SAVE Act, energy efficiency can be considered in calculating home values by mort- gage underwriters. • Includes Brownfields Program reau- thorization language, boosting tech- nical assistance grants to small and rural communities seeking brown- field site cleanup, and also incorpo- rates a new program to redevelop brownfield sites for clean energy projects. • A new Department of Energy pro- gram focused on research, develop- ment, demonstration, or commercial application of GHPs and direct-use geothermal; will include grants to promote development of GHPs. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who led passage of the energy bill, would like to produce a conferenced en- ergy bill for President Barack Obama's signature before the August congres- sional recess. Given the White House's veto threat of the House-passed legisla- tion, substantial changes will need to be made in conference for a bill to be signed by the President. Passage of legislation in the Senate sets up a conference that could lead to several key victories for NGWA priori- ties. If Senate provisions are upheld, geo- thermal heat pumps would see several incentives to promote their use signed into law. Infrastructure Week 2016 Stresses Importance of Groundwater and Well Systems "'Out of sight, out of mind' too often applies to groundwater and the subsur- face environment in which it exists, but maintaining this critical infrastructure is essential to providing comfort, security, goods, and services for the U.S. econ- omy." NGWA issued this important reminder on May 12 to mark the beginning of Infrastructure Week 2016 on May 16. Infrastructure Week tells the story of what infrastructure means to Americans. NEWS from page 10 waterwelljournal.com 12 June 2016 WWJ age ack ting P LED Ligh Servic inch e W c TH A DU e or , F 9 7 e 19 Sinc ed on the er deliv o t tinue on c y he T tivit oduc o the pr t a or F . orldwide w i l ' h T E ORIGINAL Y ARY TAR AL RO e v otary drills ha s Dual R ' t mos e ormanc er perf t t omise of be pr tribution on c t significan e mak o or t a y of oper ofitabilit y and pr t s or t ac tr on c of number wing o gr d ill t t t b e . e s s s, orth T800W w Hy 50 T Elec w en m K 25 X 5 ummins IS C T 3 / 900 omp Air C Oiler ARD FEAT ANDA TA S en ilt Out asing R v on C o RC T d T y e op Driv To C TURES tional/ or n e p Driv t ota R DR-24HD DR-12 OREMO F s simply no e' her T D DR-24 DR-40 T DR S O LINE-UP o drill. y t a er w t t be t Oiler clone Moun y C clone optiona y c ( g l) 4" 2 " DIA DR-24HD o learn mor To learn mor To learn mor 1.9190 .66 1.800 Canada/U ( D visit DR-40 e r f , visit e r ca/DR t. emos or f .S.A.) ada/U 5.5800 3.29 1.40 orldwide (Wo R e) e