(a) The Advisory Council on Wells and Borings is established as an advisory council to the commissioner. The advisory council shall consist of 18 voting members. Of the 18 voting members:

1. (1) one member must be from the Department of Health, appointed by the commissioner of health;
2. (2) one member must be from the Department of Natural Resources, appointed by the commissioner of natural resources;
3. (3) one member must be a member of the Minnesota Geological Survey of the University of Minnesota, appointed by the director;
4. (4) one member must be a responsible individual for a licensed explorer;
5. (5) one member must be a certified representative of a licensed elevator boring contractor;
6. (6) two members must be members of the public who are not connected with the boring or well drilling industry;
7. (7) one member must be from the Pollution Control Agency, appointed by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency;
8. (8) one member must be from the Department of Transportation, appointed by the commissioner of transportation;
9. (9) one member must be from the Board of Water and Soil Resources appointed by its chair;
10. (10) one member must be a certified representative of an environmental well contractor;
11. (11) six members must be residents of this state appointed by the commissioner, who are certified representatives of licensed well contractors, with not more than two from the seven-county metropolitan area and at least four from other areas of the state who represent different geographical regions; and
12. (12) one member must be a certified representative of a licensed bored geothermal heat exchanger contractor.

(c) The appointees to the advisory council from the well drilling industry must:

1. (1) have been residents of this state for at least three years before appointment; and
2. (2) have at least five years' experience in the well drilling business.