H.B. 18

1

WATER RIGHT APPLICATIONS AND
2 RECORDS
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Patrick Painter
6 Senate Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 Committee Note:
10 The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee
11 recommended this bill.
12 General Description:
13 This bill amends provisions relating to a water right application and segregation of
14 certain water right records.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This bill:
17 . defines terms;
18 . requires the state engineer to extend the time in which to complete an application if
19 the applicant meets certain requirements;
20 . clarifies the calculation of time for extension of an application;
21 . deletes redundant provisions relating to an extension of certain applications;
22 . deletes provisions relating to when a state engineer shall deny or approve an
23 application;
24 . authorizes, and in some cases requires, the extension of time on a water right
25 application held by a public water supplier or a wholesale electrical cooperative;
26 . authorizes the segregation of a water right or an application;
27 . deletes the requirement to deny segregation for certain reasons;

28 . authorizes the consolidation of a water right or application; and
29 . makes technical changes.
30 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
31 None
32 Other Special Clauses:
33 None
34 Utah Code Sections Affected:
35 AMENDS:
36 73-3-12, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 52 and 311
37 73-3-27, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 136
38
39 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
40 Section 1. Section 73-3-12 is amended to read:
41 73-3-12. Time limit on construction and application to beneficial use --
42 Extensions -- Procedures and criteria.
43 (1) As used in this section:
44 (a) ["Public agency" means:] "Public water supplier" is as defined in Section 73-1-4 .
45 [(i) a public water supply agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state; or]
46 [(ii) the Bureau of Reclamation.]
47 (b) "Wholesale electrical cooperative" is as defined in Section 54-2-1 .
48 (2) (a) [An] Within the time set by the state engineer under Subsection 73-3-10 (5), an
49 applicant shall:
50 (i) construct works, if necessary[, and];
51 (ii) apply the water to beneficial use [within the time fixed by the state engineer.]; and
52 (iii) file proof with the state engineer in accordance with Section 73-3-16 .
53 (b) Except as provided by Subsection [(2)(c)] (4), the state engineer [may grant an
54 extension of time, not exceeding 50 years from the application's approval date, if] shall extend
55 the time in which an applicant shall comply with Subsection (2)(a) if:
56 (i) the date set by the state engineer is not after 50 years from the day on which the
57 application is approved; and
58 (ii) the applicant shows [diligence or]:

59 (A) reasonable and due diligence in completing the appropriation; or
60 (B) a reasonable cause for delay in completing the appropriation.
61 [(c) The state engineer may grant an extension of time, beyond 50 years, on an
62 application held by a public agency or a wholesale electrical cooperative if the public agency or
63 wholesale electrical cooperative shows that the water will be needed to meet the reasonable
64 future water or electricity requirements of the public.]
65 [(d)] (c) An applicant shall file a request for an extension of time with the [office of
66 the] state engineer on or before the date [fixed] set for filing proof [of appropriation].
67 [(e)] (d) The state engineer may grant an extension of time authorized by Subsection
68 (2)(b) if the state engineer sets a date:
69 [(i) not exceeding 14 years after the approval date upon a sufficient showing; and]
70 [(ii) beyond 14 years after application and publication of notice.]
71 (i) no later than 14 years from the day on which the application is approved if the
72 applicant meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b); and
73 (ii) after 14 years from the day on which the application is approved if:
74 (A) the applicant meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b); and
75 (B) the state engineer publishes notice as provided in Subsection (2)(e).
76 [(f)] (e) (i) The state engineer shall publish a notice of the [application] request for an
77 extension of time once a week for two successive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation,
78 in the county:
79 (A) in which the water [supply] source is located; and
80 (B) where the water [is to] will be used.
81 (ii) The notice shall:
82 (A) state that [an application] a request for an extension of time has been made; and
83 (B) specify where [the] an interested party may obtain additional information relating
84 to the [application] request.
85 [(g) Any] (f) A person who owns a water right or holds an application from the water
86 source [of supply] referred to in Subsection (2)[(f)](e) may file a protest with the state
87 engineer:
88 (i) within 20 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
89 informal; and

90 (ii) within 30 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
91 formal.
92 [(h) In considering an application to extend the time in which to place water to
93 beneficial use under an approved application, the state engineer shall deny the extension of
94 time and declare the application lapsed, unless the applicant affirmatively shows that the
95 applicant has exercised or is exercising reasonable and due diligence in working toward
96 completion of the appropriation.]
97 [(i) (i) The state engineer shall approve the extension of time if the applicant shows
98 reasonable and due diligence.]
99 [(ii)] (g) The approved extension of time is effective so long as the applicant continues
100 to exercise reasonable and due diligence in completing the appropriation.
101 [(j) (i)] (h) The state engineer shall consider the holding of an approved application by
102 a public [agency] water supplier or a wholesale electrical cooperative to meet the reasonable
103 future water or electricity requirements of the public to be reasonable and due diligence [within
104 the meaning] in completing the appropriation for the purposes of this section for [the first] 50
105 years from the date on which the application is approved.
106 [(ii) The state engineer may approve an extension of time beyond 50 years for a public
107 agency or a wholesale electrical cooperative, if the public agency or wholesale electrical
108 cooperative provides information that shows the water will be needed to meet the reasonable
109 future water or electricity requirements of the public.]
110 [(k)] (i) If the state engineer finds [unjustified] unreasonable delay or lack of
111 reasonable and due diligence in [prosecuting the works to completion] completing the
112 appropriation, the state engineer may:
113 (i) deny the extension of time; or
114 (ii) grant the request in part or upon conditions, including a reduction of the priority of
115 all or part of the application.
116 (3) [(a)] Except as provided by [Subsections (3)(b) and (c)] Subsection (4), an
117 application upon which proof has not been [submitted] filed shall lapse and have no further
118 force or effect after [the expiration of] 50 years from the date [of its approval] on which the
119 application is approved.
120 [(b)] (4) (a) If the works are constructed with which to make beneficial use of the water

121 applied for, the state engineer may, upon showing of that fact, [grant additional] extend the
122 time [beyond the 50-year period] in which to [make] file proof[.] by setting a date after 50
123 years from the day on which the application is approved.
124 [(c) An application held by a public agency or a wholesale electrical cooperative to
125 meet the reasonable future water or electricity requirements of the public, for which proof of
126 appropriation has not been submitted, shall lapse, unless extended as provided in Subsection
127 (2)(j).]
128 (b) (i) The state engineer may extend the time in which the applicant shall comply with
129 Subsection (2)(a) by setting a date after 50 years from the day on which the application is
130 approved if the applicant:
131 (A) is:
132 (I) a public water supplier; or
133 (II) a wholesale electrical cooperative; and
134 (B) provides information that shows the water applied for in the application is needed
135 to meet the reasonable future requirements of the public.
136 (ii) The information provided by a public water supplier shall be in accordance with the
137 criteria listed in Subsection 73-1-4 (2)(f).
138 (c) The state engineer shall extend the time in which to file proof by setting a
139 reasonable date after 50 years from the day on which the application is approved if the
140 applicant:
141 (i) meets the requirements in Subsection (4)(b); and
142 (ii) has:
143 (A) constructed works to apply the water to beneficial use; or
144 (B) made substantial expenditures to construct the works.
145 Section 2. Section 73-3-27 is amended to read:
146 73-3-27. Requests for segregation.
147 (1) (a) Upon written request [in writing and approval by], the state engineer[,
148 applications to appropriate or to permanently change] shall segregate into two or more parts the
149 following in the state engineer's records:
150 (i) an application to:
151 (A) under Section 73-3-2 , appropriate water;

152 (B) under Section 73-3-3 , permanently change:
153 (I) the point of diversion[,];
154 (II) the place of water use; or
155 (III) the purpose of water use [of water may be divided or segregated into two or more
156 separate parts; provided such request shall be made upon forms]; and
157 (ii) a water right for which:
158 (A) the state engineer has issued a certificate according to Section 73-3-17 ;
159 (B) a court has entered a judgment according to Section 73-4-15 ; and
160 (C) a person has filed a claim according to Section 73-5-13 .
161 (b) A person shall:
162 (i) submit the request authorized by Subsection (1)(a) on a form furnished by the state
163 engineer; and [shall]
164 (ii) include:
165 (A) the [serial] water right number [of the application] to be segregated[,];
166 (B) the name[,] and post-office address of the owner of the application[,] or water
167 right;
168 (C) a statement of the nature of the proposed [division or] segregation[,];
169 (D) the reasons [therefor, and such other information as the state engineer may require.
170 Action] for the proposed segregation; and
171 (E) other information the state engineer may require to accomplish the segregation.
172 (2) (a) An action taken by the state engineer on [applications for appropriation or
173 permanent change prior to] an application or water right before segregation [shall be] is
174 applicable in all respects to the segregated parts [thereof. Upon segregation the original and] of
175 the application or water right.
176 (b) After the state engineer segregates the application or water right, each segregated
177 part [shall be treated as separate applications. The approval of a request for segregation shall
178 not] is a separate application or water right in the state engineer's records.
179 (c) The segregation of an application or a water right in the state engineer's records
180 does not:
181 (i) confirm the validity or good standing of the segregated parts of the application or
182 water right; or

183 (ii) extend the time for the construction of works[. Action of the state engineer upon
184 requests for segregation taken prior to the effective date of this act is approved and confirmed]
185 for an application.
186 [Requests for segregation shall be rejected if the approval thereof would impair rights
187 or would prove detrimental to the public welfare.]
188 (3) Upon written request, the state engineer may consolidate two or more applications
189 or water rights if the applications or water rights:
190 (a) are from the same source;
191 (b) have the same priority date; and
192 (c) are sufficiently consistent in definition that the consolidated application or water
193 right may be described without referring to the characteristics of the individual application or
194 water right that existed before consolidation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-19-08 4:44 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel