Authorize Water Use Incidental Sand And Gravel Mines

Plans for replacement or substitute supply - sand and gravel mines - incidental uses. 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 act specifies that the replacement plan (in section 1 of the act) or the plan for augmentation or 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 this bill as enacted.)