Authorize Water Use Incidental Sand And Gravel Mines

Water Resources Review Committee. Current law requires operators of sand and gravel open mines that expose groundwater to the atmosphere to obtain a well permit and either: A replacement plan approved by the ground water commission for designated groundwater; or a plan for augmentation approved by the water court or a plan of substitute supply approved by the state engineer for tributary groundwater. The bill specifies that the replacement plan (in section 1 of the bill) or the plan of substitute supply (in section 2 ) and the permit may authorize uses of water incidental to open mining for sand and gravel, including specifically (among other things) the mitigation of impacts from mining and dewatering.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)