69-3-6: Penetration of water stratum by mine discovery or drill hole; plugging; reports; exceptions.

Any person drilling a mine lode discovery or mine drill hole to a depth of ten feet or more who encounters or whose drill cuts into a water body or water-bearing stratum shall:

A. plug at a horizon and in the manner provided by the rules of the state engineer; and

B. within ninety days from the date of the discovery, report in writing the depth, location and manner of plugging the water body or water-bearing stratum to the state engineer at the state capitol and to the director of the bureau of geology and mineral resources at Socorro, New Mexico.