SB 673

Abstract

Nonagricultural irrigation wells prohibited outside surficial aquifer. Prohibits any person from constructing a well in a ground water management area for nonagricultural irrigation purposes except in the surficial aquifer. The bill authorizes the State Water Control Board (the Board) to adopt regulations to develop a general permit for the regulation of irrigation withdrawals from the surficial aquifer greater than 300,000 gallons in any one month. The bill directs the Board to promulgate regulations establishing criteria for determining whether the quantity or quality of the ground water in a surficial aquifer is adequate to meet a proposed beneficial use and requires that such regulations specify the information required to be submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) by a golf course or any other person seeking a determination from the Department that either the quantity or quality of the ground water in a surficial aquifer is not adequate to meet a proposed beneficial use. The bill requires such regulations require the Department, within 30 days of receipt of a complete request, to make a determination as to the adequacy of the quantity or quality of the ground water in a surficial aquifer.

Nonagricultural irrigation wells prohibitedoutside surficial aquifer. Prohibits any person from constructinga well in a ground water management area for nonagricultural irrigationpurposes except in the surficial aquifer. The bill authorizes theState Water Control Board (the Board) to adopt regulations to developa general permit for the regulation of irrigation withdrawals fromthe surficial aquifer greater than 300,000 gallons in any one month.The bill directs the Board to promulgate regulations establishingcriteria for determining whether the quantity or quality of the groundwater in a surficial aquifer is adequate to meet a proposed beneficialuse.