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REFERENCE TITLE: Harquahala non-expansion area; groundwater transportation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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HB 2201 |
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Introduced by Representatives Dunn: Griffin
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An Act
amending section 45-554, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the groundwater code.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 45-554, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
45-554. Transportation of groundwater withdrawn in Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area to an initial active management area
A. A groundwater replenishment district established under title 48, chapter 27 may lease from an irrigation district located entirely within the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area the use of one or more of the wells in the irrigation district to withdraw the groundwater that can be withdrawn from a depth to one thousand feet, at a rate that, when added to the existing rates of withdrawal in the area, does not cause the groundwater table at the site or sites to decline more than ten feet per year, for transportation to an initial active management area. The lease payments shall be made to the members of the irrigation district on a pro rata basis, per acre of land that is eligible to be irrigated under section 45-437, subsection B, minus the irrigation district's administrative costs. Wells leased under this subsection are exempt from well spacing requirements under section 45-559.
B. This state or a political subdivision of this state that An entity described in subsection D of this section that owns land eligible to be irrigated under section 45-437, subsection B in the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area may withdraw groundwater from the land for transportation to an initial active management area for its own use or use by the Arizona water banking authority pursuant to section 45-2491 only a location and for the purposes prescribed in subsection F of this section:
1. If the groundwater is withdrawn:
(a) From a depth to one thousand feet at the site or sites of the proposed withdrawals.
(b) At a rate that, when added to the existing rate of withdrawals in the area, does not cause the groundwater table at the site or sites of the withdrawals to decline more than an average of ten feet per year during the one hundred year evaluation period.
2. In an amount either:
(a) Per acre of the eligible land, not to exceed:
(i) Six acre-feet in any year.
(ii) Thirty acre-feet for any period of ten consecutive years computed in continuing progressive series beginning in the year transportation of groundwater from the land begins.
(b) Established by the director, but only if the director determines that withdrawals in an amount greater than that permitted allowed by subdivision (a) of this paragraph will not unreasonably increase damage to residents of surrounding land and other water users in the irrigation non-expansion area, or that one or more of the entities withdrawing the groundwater will mitigate the damage to the residents and other water users.
3. If the groundwater transported is used by customers of an entity that is eligible to transport groundwater pursuant to subsection D of this section within five years after the groundwater is transported and is not sold or otherwise conveyed for use other than by the eligible entity.
4. By a public service corporation, if all costs associated with withdrawing, transporting and delivering groundwater away from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area are collected from the customers of the public service corporation's water distribution system where the transported groundwater is used.
C. If this state or one or more political subdivisions of this state own eighty per cent percent or more of the land that is eligible to be irrigated under section 45-437, subsection B in the irrigation non-expansion area, each of the entities may withdraw groundwater from the eligible land it owns for transportation to an initial active management area:
1. From a depth to one thousand feet at the site or sites of withdrawals.
2. From a depth between one thousand and one thousand two hundred feet at the site or sites of the withdrawals only if the director determines either that the withdrawals will not unreasonably increase damage to residents of surrounding land or that one or more of the entities withdrawing the groundwater will mitigate the damage to the residents.
D. The following entities are eligible to transport groundwater away from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area pursuant to subsection B of this section:
1. This state.
2. A political subdivision of this state.
3. A public service corporation that is regulated by the corporation commission and that holds a certificate of convenience and necessity for water service in an initial active management area.
E. The director shall adopt rules to implement this section, including for the reporting of groundwater transported from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area.
F. The FOLLOWING locations and purposes are eligible to receive groundwater transported away from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area pursuant to subsection B of this section:
1. An initial active management area for use by an eligible entity or the Arizona water baking authority pursuant to section 45-2491.
2. Any location in La Paz county for use by an eligible entity.
Sec. 2. Exemption from rulemaking
Notwithstanding any other law, for the purposes of this act, the department of water resources is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of title 41, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, for one year after the effective date of this act.