H.B. 370

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 11:34 AM by jeyring. --> This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Mon, Mar 10, 2014 at 8:50 PM by jeyring. --> This document includes Senate 2nd and 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 9:44 AM by cmillar. -->              1     

CANAL SAFETY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Johnny Anderson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Gene Davis

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Water and Irrigation code.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    modifies the definition of "water conveyance facility";
             13          .    requires the state engineer, by July 1, 2017, to inventory and maintain a list of all
             14      open, human-made water conveyance systems in the state;
             15          .    requires the state engineer to contract with H. [ the Utah Association of Conservation
             16      Districts
] a local conservation district .H
to provide technical support for a canal owner who
             16a      is adopting a
             17      management plan; and
             18          .    makes technical changes.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25           73-5-7 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26           73-10-33 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 113
             27     


             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 73-5-7 is amended to read:
             30           73-5-7. Inspection of ditches and diverting works by engineer.
             31          (1) (a) The state engineer shall have authority to examine and inspect any ditch or other
             32      diverting works, and at the time of such inspection [he], the state engineer may order the
             33      owners thereof to make any addition or alteration [which he] that the state engineer considers
             34      necessary for the security of such works, the safety of persons, or the protection of property.
             35          (b) If any person, firm, copartnership, association, or corporation refuses or neglects to
             36      comply with [such] the requirements of the state engineer[, he] as described in Subsection
             37      (1)(a), the state engineer may bring action in the name of the state in the district court to
             38      enforce [his] the order.
             39          (2) The state engineer shall, by July 1, 2017, inventory and maintain a list of all open,
             40      human-made water conveyance systems H. that carry 5 cubic feet per second or more .H in
             40a      the state, including the following information on
             41      each conveyance system:
             42          (a) H. [ location ] alignment .H ;
             43          (b) H. contact information of the .H owner;
             44          (c) maximum flow capacity in cubic feet per second;
             45          (d) whether the conveyance system is used for flood H. or storm water .H management;
             45a      and
             46          (e) H. [ the ] notice of the adoption of a .H management plan for the conveyance
             46a      system H. [ , once it has been adopted, ] .H as
             47      reported to the Division of Water Resources under Section 73-10-33 .
             47a      H. (3) The owner of an open, human-made water conveyance system that carries 5 cubic
             47b1      feet per second or more shall inform the state
             47b      engineer if the information described in Subsection (2) changes.
             48           [ (3) ] (4) .H The state engineer:
             49          (a) may contract with H. [ an organization that represents all 38 ] a local .H conservation
             49a      H. [ districts ] district .H
             50      created in Title 17D, Chapter 3, Conservation District Act, to fulfill the duties described in
             51      Subsection (2); and
             52          (b) S. [ shall ] may .S contract H. [ with an organization that represents all 38 ] a local
             52a1      .H conservation
             52a      H. [ districts ] district .H
             53      created in Title 17D, Chapter 3, Conservation District Act, to provide technical support for a
             54      canal owner who is adopting a management plan, as described in Section 73-10-33 .
             55          Section 2. Section 73-10-33 is amended to read:
             56           73-10-33. Management plan for water conveyance facilities.
             57          (1) As used in this section:
             58          (a) "Board" means the Board of Water Resources created by Section 73-10-1.5 .


             59          (b) "Conservation district" means a conservation district created under Title 17D,
             60      Chapter 3, Conservation District Act.
             61          (c) "Division" means the Division of Water Resources created by Section 73-10-18 .
             62          (d) "Facility owner or operator" means:
             63          (i) a water company as defined in Subsection 73-3-3.5 (1)(b); or
             64          (ii) an owner or operator of a water conveyance facility.
             65          (e) "Management plan" means a written document meeting the requirements of
             66      Subsection (3).
             67          (f) "Potential risk" means a condition where, if a water conveyance facility fails, the
             68      failure would create a high probability of:
             69          (i) causing loss of human life; or
             70          (ii) causing extensive economic loss, including damage to critical transportation
             71      facilities, utility facilities, or public buildings.
             72          (g) "Potential risk location" means a segment of a water conveyance facility that
             73      constitutes a potential risk due to:
             74          (i) location;
             75          (ii) elevation;
             76          (iii) soil conditions;
             77          (iv) structural instability;
             78          (v) water volume or pressure; or
             79          (vi) other conditions.
             80          (h) (i) "Water conveyance facility" means a water conveyance defined in Section
             81      57-13a-101 .
             82          (ii) "Water conveyance facility" does not include:
             83          (A) a pipeline conveying water for industrial use, or municipal use, within a public
             84      water system as defined in Section 19-4-102 ;
             85          (B) a natural channel used to convey water for use within a water conveyance facility;
             86      or
             87          (C) a fully piped[, pressurized] irrigation system.
             88          (2) (a) For a water conveyance facility that has a potential risk location, the board or
             89      division may issue a grant or loan to the facility owner or operator, and the facility owner or


             90      operator may receive state money for water development or water conveyance facility repair or
             91      improvements, only if the facility owner or operator promptly adopts a management plan in
             92      accordance with this section.
             93          (b) For a management plan to be considered to be promptly adopted for purposes of
             94      this Subsection (2), the facility owner or operator shall:
             95          (i) adopt the management plan by an affirmative vote of the facility owner or operator's
             96      board of directors, or persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions before
             97      receiving money under Subsection (2)(a);
             98          (ii) (A) adopt the management plan as described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) by no later
             99      than:
             100          (I) May 1, 2013, for a water conveyance facility in operation on May 11, 2011; or
             101          (II) for a water conveyance facility that begins operation after May 11, 2011, one year
             102      after the day on which the water conveyance facility begins operation; or
             103          (B) (I) adopt the management plan as described in Subsection (2)(b)(i); and
             104          (II) provide written justification satisfactory to the board as to why the facility owner or
             105      operator was unable to adopt a management plan during the time period provided in Subsection
             106      (2)(b)(ii)(A); and
             107          (iii) update the management plan adopted under Subsection (2)(b)(i) no less frequently
             108      than every 10 years.
             109          (3) A management plan described in Subsection (2) shall include at least the following:
             110          (a) a GIS coverage or drawing of each potential risk location of a water conveyance
             111      facility identifying any:
             112          (i) existing canal and lateral alignment of the canal facility;
             113          (ii) point of diversion;
             114          (iii) bridge;
             115          (iv) culvert;
             116          (v) screen or trash rack; and
             117          (vi) spill point;
             118          (b) an evaluation of any potential slope instability that may cause a potential risk,
             119      including:
             120          (i) failure of the facility;


             121          (ii) land movement that might result in failure of the facility; or
             122          (iii) land movement that might result from failure of the facility;
             123          (c) proof of insurance coverage or other means of financial responsibility against
             124      liability resulting from failure of the water conveyance facility;
             125          (d) a maintenance and improvement plan;
             126          (e) a schedule for implementation of a maintenance and improvement plan;
             127          (f) an emergency response plan that:
             128          (i) is developed after consultation with local emergency response officials;
             129          (ii) is updated annually; and
             130          (iii) includes, in the case of an emergency, how a first responder can:
             131          (A) contact the facility owner or operator; and
             132          (B) obtain information described in Subsection (3)(a);
             133          (g) any potential source of financing for maintenance and improvements under a
             134      maintenance and improvement plan;
             135          (h) identification of each municipality or county through which water is conveyed or
             136      delivered by the water conveyance facility;
             137          (i) a statement concerning whether storm water enters the water conveyance facility;
             138      and
             139          (j) if storm water enters the water conveyance facility:
             140          (i) an estimate of the maximum volume and flow of all water present in the water
             141      conveyance facility as a result of a six-hour, 25-year storm event;
             142          (ii) on the basis of information provided in accordance with Subsection (4),
             143      identification of the points at which any storm structures introduce water into the water
             144      conveyance facility and the anticipated flow that may occur at each structure; and
             145          (iii) the name of each governmental agency that has responsibility for storm water
             146      management within the area from which storm water drains into the water conveyance facility.
             147          (4) A private or public entity that introduces storm water into a water conveyance
             148      facility shall provide the facility owner or operator with an estimate of the maximum volume
             149      and flow of water that may occur at each structure that introduces storm water into the water
             150      conveyance facility.
             151          (5) (a) A facility owner or operator of a water conveyance facility shall provide a


             152      municipality or county in which is located a potential risk location of the water conveyance
             153      facility an outline of the information provided in Subsection (3)(f).
             154          (b) A facility owner or operator shall give notice to the planning and zoning
             155      department of each municipality and county identified in Subsection (3)(h) outlining the
             156      information provided in Subsections (3)(f), (i), and (j).
             157          (c) An outline of information provided under this Subsection (5) is a protected record
             158      under Section 63G-2-305 .
             159          (6) (a) The division may provide information and technical resources to a facility
             160      owner or operator of a water conveyance facility, regardless of whether the water conveyance
             161      facility has a potential risk location.
             162          (b) In providing the information and resources described in Subsection
             162a      H. [ (5)(a) ] (6)(a) .H , the
             163      division may coordinate with efforts of any association of conservation districts that may
             164      provide similar information and technical resources.
             165          (c) The information and technical resources described in Subsection
             165a      H. [ (5)(a) ] (6)(a) .H include:
             166          (i) engaging state and local water users in voluntary completion of a management plan;
             167          (ii) developing standard guidelines, checklists, or templates that may be used by a
             168      facility owner or operator;
             169          (iii) using conservation districts as points of contact with a facility owner or operator;
             170          (iv) providing training to help a facility owner or operator to adopt a management plan;
             171      and
             172          (v) assisting, at the request and under the direction of, a facility owner or operator with
             173      efforts to adopt or implement a management plan.
             174          (7) (a) A facility owner or operator of a water conveyance facility that has a potential
             175      risk location shall provide the board or division upon request:
             176          (i) written certification signed under oath by a person authorized to act for the board of
             177      directors or persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, certifying that
             178      the management plan complies with this section; and
             179          (ii) an opportunity to review a management plan.
             180          (b) A management plan received by the board or division under this section is a
             181      protected record under Section 63G-2-305 .
             182          (8) The board shall report concerning compliance with this section to the Natural


             183      Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee of the Legislature before
             184      November 30, 2013.
             185          (9) The division and board may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
             186      Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, concerning the requirements of this section.
             187          (10) This section does not:
             188          (a) create a private right of action for a violation of this section; or
             189          (b) limit, impair, or enlarge a person's right to sue and recover damages from a facility
             190      owner or operator in a civil action for a cause of action that is not based on a violation of this
             191      section.
             192          (11) The following may not be introduced as evidence in any civil litigation on the
             193      issue of negligence, injury, or the calculation of damages:
             194          (a) a management plan prepared in accordance with this section;
             195          (b) the failure to prepare or adopt a management plan in accordance with this section;
             196      or
             197          (c) the failure to update a management plan in accordance with this section.




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