ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
ownership of seized
livestock; hearing
(NOW: groundwater
replacement; use permit extensions)
Requires
the Arizona Department of Water Resources to extend a general industrial use
permit for up to seven years under specific conditions.
The
1980 Groundwater Code was adopted as a comprehensive effort to manage the
State’s groundwater resources. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)
administers and enforces the Groundwater Code. The Code limits the pumping of groundwater
within an active management area (AMA) to persons with a groundwater right, an
exempt well or a groundwater withdrawal permit. There are seven types of groundwater withdrawal permits,
including general industrial use (GIU) permits (A.R.S. 45-512 and 45-515). GIU permits may be issued by ADWR for
groundwater withdrawals and uses located outside the exterior boundaries of a
city, town or private water company. This permit may be issued for a period of
up to 50 years and may be renewed based on the same criteria used to grant the
original permit.
H.B. 2064 requires ADWR to
extend a GIU permit issued in the Phoenix AMA for up to seven years to allow
more time to complete infrastructure to use Central Arizona Project (CAP) water
on the permit holder’s golf course.
There is no anticipated
fiscal impact to the state general fund relating to the provisions of this
bill.
1. States that the legislative intent of the act is to facilitate the replacement of groundwater use by golf courses by allowing more time for a GIU permit holder to complete infrastructure to use CAP water on the permit holder’s golf course.
2. Requires ADWR to extend the term of a GIU permit in the Phoenix AMA for up to seven years if:
a)
the
original permit expires before January 1, 2006 and cannot be renewed because
the use is now within the boundaries of a private water company.
b)
all
groundwater wells are located within the service area of the private water
company and the private water company agrees in writing to the permit
extension.
c)
the
permit is the subject of a water exchange contract.
3. Provides that the water exchange contract must have been entered into before January 1, 2002 between the GIU permit holder and the holder of a municipal and industrial CAP subcontract. The total amount of GIU permit groundwater exchanged cannot exceed 1,400 acre feet and the CAP water received by the GIU permit holder must be used on one or more golf courses owned by the permit holder.
4. Extends the GIU permit for seven years, except that the extension is terminated if progress is not made towards building a pipeline to deliver the CAP water. Provides timelines and specific measurements of progress towards building the pipeline.
5. Repeals permit extension and intent provisions on July 12, 2012.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
NRA 3/20/02 DPA/SE 9-0-0-1-0
3rd Read 4/2/02 46-6-8-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 8, 2002