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H.B. 486

             1     

WATER AND IRRIGATION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Neal B. Hendrickson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends Title 73, Water and Irrigation, relating to rulemaking authority of the
             10      state engineer, application for an extension of time to prove beneficial use, and how an
             11      engineer or land surveyor provides information for certain claims.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    changes some of the state engineer's mandatory rulemaking authority to permissive
             15      rulemaking authority;
             16          .    requires a wholesale electrical cooperative to provide certain information upon
             17      applying for an extension of time to prove beneficial use;
             18          .    removes the requirement that an engineer or land surveyor verify by oath certain
             19      information in a claim to surface or underground water not otherwise appropriated;
             20      and
             21          .    makes technical changes.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:


             28          73-2-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 360 and 382
             29          73-2-22, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1984, Chapter 33
             30          73-3-12, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapters 247 and 388
             31          73-3-16, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 108
             32          73-5-13, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 136
             33     
             34      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             35          Section 1. Section 73-2-1 is amended to read:
             36           73-2-1. State engineer -- Term -- Powers and duties -- Qualification for duties.
             37          (1) There shall be a state engineer.
             38          (2) The state engineer shall:
             39          (a) be appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate;
             40          (b) hold office for the term of four years and until a successor is appointed; and
             41          (c) have five years experience as a practical engineer or the theoretical knowledge,
             42      practical experience, and skill necessary for the position.
             43          (3) (a) The state engineer shall be responsible for the general administrative
             44      supervision of the waters of the state and the measurement, appropriation, apportionment, and
             45      distribution of those waters.
             46          (b) The state engineer may secure the equitable apportionment and distribution of the
             47      water according to the respective rights of appropriators.
             48          (4) The state engineer shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             49      Administrative Rulemaking Act, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this title,
             50      regarding:
             51          (a) reports of water right conveyances;
             52          (b) the construction of water wells and the licensing of water well drillers;
             53          (c) dam construction and safety;
             54          (d) the alteration of natural streams;
             55          [(e) sewage effluent reuse;]
             56          [(f)] (e) geothermal resource conservation; and
             57          [(g)] (f) enforcement orders and the imposition of fines and penalties.
             58          (5) The state engineer may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah


             59      Administrative Rulemaking Act, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this title,
             60      governing:
             61          (a) water distribution systems and water commissioners;
             62          (b) water measurement and reporting;
             63          (c) ground-water recharge and recovery;
             64          (d) wastewater reuse;
             65          (e) the form, content, and processing procedure for a claim under Section 73-5-13 to
             66      surface or underground water that is not represented by a certificate of appropriation;
             67          (f) the form and content of a proof submitted to the state engineer under Section
             68      73-3-16 ;
             69          [(d)] (g) the determination of water rights; [and] or
             70          [(e)] (h) the form and content of applications and related documents, maps, and reports.
             71          (6) The state engineer may bring suit in courts of competent jurisdiction to:
             72          (a) enjoin the unlawful appropriation, diversion, and use of surface and underground
             73      water without first seeking redress through the administrative process;
             74          (b) prevent theft, waste, loss, or pollution of those waters;
             75          (c) enable him to carry out the duties of the state engineer's office; and
             76          (d) enforce administrative orders and collect fines and penalties.
             77          (7) The state engineer may:
             78          (a) upon request from the board of trustees of an irrigation district under Title 17B,
             79      Chapter 2a, Part 5, Irrigation District Act, or another local district under Title 17B, Limited
             80      Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, or a special service district under Title
             81      17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, that operates an irrigation water system, cause a
             82      water survey to be made of all lands proposed to be annexed to the district in order to
             83      determine and allot the maximum amount of water that could be beneficially used on the land,
             84      with a separate survey and allotment being made for each 40-acre or smaller tract in separate
             85      ownership; and
             86          (b) upon completion of the survey and allotment under Subsection (7)(a), file with the
             87      district board a return of the survey and report of the allotment.
             88          (8) (a) The state engineer may establish water distribution systems and define their
             89      boundaries.


             90          (b) The water distribution systems shall be formed in a manner that:
             91          (i) secures the best protection to the water claimants; and
             92          (ii) is the most economical for the state to supervise.
             93          Section 2. Section 73-2-22 is amended to read:
             94           73-2-22. Emergency flood powers -- Action to enforce orders -- Access rights to
             95      private and public property -- Injunctive relief against state engineer's decisions --
             96      Judicial review provisions not applicable.
             97          Whenever the state engineer, with approval of the [chairman] chair of the [Disaster
             98      Emergency Advisory Council,] Emergency Management Administration Council described in
             99      Section 63K-3-201 , makes a written finding that any reservoir or stream has reached or will
             100      reach during the current water year a level far enough above average and in excess of capacity
             101      that public safety is or is likely to be endangered or that substantial property damage is
             102      occurring or is likely to occur, he shall have emergency powers until the danger to the public
             103      and property is abated. Emergency powers shall consist of the authority to control stream flow
             104      and reservoir storage or release. The state engineer must protect existing water rights to the
             105      maximum extent possible when exercising emergency powers. Any action taken by the state
             106      engineer under this section shall be by written order.
             107          If any person refuses or neglects to comply with any order of the state engineer issued
             108      pursuant to his emergency powers, the state engineer may bring action in the name of the state
             109      in the district court to enforce them. In carrying out his emergency powers, the state engineer
             110      shall have rights of access to private and public property.
             111          Any person affected by a decision of the state engineer made under his emergency
             112      powers shall have the right to seek injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders and
             113      temporary injunctions in any district court of the county where that person resides. No order of
             114      the state engineer shall be enjoined or set aside unless shown by clear and convincing evidence
             115      that an emergency does not in fact exist or that the order of the state engineer is arbitrary or
             116      capricious. The provisions of Sections 73-3-14 and 73-3-15 shall not be applicable to any order
             117      of the state engineer issued pursuant to this section.
             118          Section 3. Section 73-3-12 is amended to read:
             119           73-3-12. Time limit on construction and application to beneficial use --
             120      Extensions -- Procedures and criteria.


             121          (1) As used in this section:
             122          (a) "Public water supplier" is as defined in Section 73-1-4 .
             123          (b) "Wholesale electrical cooperative" is as defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             124          (2) (a) Within the time set by the state engineer under Subsection 73-3-10 (5), an
             125      applicant shall:
             126          (i) construct works, if necessary;
             127          (ii) apply the water to beneficial use; and
             128          (iii) file proof with the state engineer in accordance with Section 73-3-16 .
             129          (b) Except as provided by Subsection (4), the state engineer shall extend the time in
             130      which an applicant shall comply with Subsection (2)(a) if:
             131          (i) the date set by the state engineer is not after 50 years from the day on which the
             132      application is approved; and
             133          (ii) the applicant shows:
             134          (A) reasonable and due diligence in completing the appropriation; or
             135          (B) a reasonable cause for delay in completing the appropriation.
             136          (c) An applicant shall file a request for an extension of time with the state engineer on
             137      or before the date set for filing proof.
             138          (d) The state engineer may grant an extension of time authorized by Subsection (2)(b)
             139      if the state engineer sets a date:
             140          (i) no later than 14 years from the day on which the application is approved if the
             141      applicant meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b); and
             142          (ii) after 14 years from the day on which the application is approved if:
             143          (A) the applicant meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b); and
             144          (B) the state engineer publishes notice as provided in Subsection (2)(e).
             145          (e) (i) The state engineer shall publish a notice of the request for an extension of time:
             146          (A) once a week for two successive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation, in the
             147      county:
             148          (I) in which the water source is located; and
             149          (II) where the water will be used; and
             150          (B) in accordance with Section 45-1-101 for two weeks.
             151          (ii) The notice shall:


             152          (A) state that a request for an extension of time has been made; and
             153          (B) specify where an interested party may obtain additional information relating to the
             154      request.
             155          (f) A person who owns a water right or holds an application from the water source
             156      referred to in Subsection (2)(e) may file a protest with the state engineer:
             157          (i) within 20 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             158      informal; and
             159          (ii) within 30 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             160      formal.
             161          (g) The approved extension of time is effective so long as the applicant continues to
             162      exercise reasonable and due diligence in completing the appropriation.
             163          (h) The state engineer shall consider the holding of an approved application by a public
             164      water supplier or a wholesale electrical cooperative to meet the reasonable future water or
             165      electricity requirements of the public to be reasonable and due diligence in completing the
             166      appropriation for the purposes of this section for 50 years from the date on which the
             167      application is approved.
             168          (i) If the state engineer finds unreasonable delay or lack of reasonable and due
             169      diligence in completing the appropriation, the state engineer may:
             170          (i) deny the extension of time; or
             171          (ii) grant the request in part or upon conditions, including a reduction of the priority of
             172      all or part of the application.
             173          (3) Except as provided by Subsection (4), an application upon which proof has not
             174      been filed shall lapse and have no further force or effect after 50 years from the date on which
             175      the application is approved.
             176          (4) (a) If the works are constructed with which to make beneficial use of the water
             177      applied for, the state engineer may, upon showing of that fact, extend the time in which to file
             178      proof by setting a date after 50 years from the day on which the application is approved.
             179          (b) (i) The state engineer may extend the time in which the applicant shall comply with
             180      Subsection (2)(a) by setting a date after 50 years from the day on which the application is
             181      approved if the applicant:
             182          (A) is[: (I)] a public water supplier[;] or [(II)] a wholesale electrical cooperative; and


             183          (B) provides information that shows the water applied for in the application is needed
             184      to meet the reasonable future requirements of the public.
             185          (ii) The information provided by a public water supplier shall be in accordance with the
             186      criteria listed in Subsection 73-1-4 (2)(f).
             187          (iii) A wholesale electrical cooperative shall provide the information described in
             188      Subsection (4)(b)(i)(B) in a report that forecasts:
             189          (A) the need for the water to produce power; and
             190          (B) the economic viability of the project for the wholesale electrical cooperative within
             191      the next 40 years.
             192          (c) The state engineer shall extend the time in which to file proof by setting a
             193      reasonable date after 50 years from the day on which the application is approved if the
             194      applicant:
             195          (i) meets the requirements in Subsection (4)(b); and
             196          (ii) has:
             197          (A) constructed works to apply the water to beneficial use; or
             198          (B) made substantial expenditures to construct the works.
             199          Section 4. Section 73-3-16 is amended to read:
             200           73-3-16. Proof of appropriation or permanent change -- Notice -- Manner of
             201      proof -- Statements -- Maps, profiles, and drawings -- Verification -- Waiver of filing --
             202      Statement in lieu of proof of appropriation or change.
             203          (1) Sixty days before the date set for the proof of appropriation or proof of change to be
             204      made, the state engineer shall notify the applicant by mail when proof of completion of the
             205      works and application of the water to a beneficial use is due.
             206          (2) On or before the date set for completing the proof in accordance with the
             207      application, the applicant shall file proof with the state engineer on forms furnished by the state
             208      engineer.
             209          (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), the applicant shall submit the following
             210      information:
             211          (a) a description of the works constructed;
             212          (b) the quantity of water in acre-feet or the flow in second-feet diverted, or both;
             213          (c) the method of applying the water to beneficial use; and


             214          (d) (i) detailed measurements of water put to beneficial use;
             215          (ii) the date the measurements were made; and
             216          (iii) the name of the person making the measurements.
             217          (4) (a) (i) On applications filed for appropriation or permanent change of use of water
             218      to provide a water supply for state projects constructed pursuant to Title 73, Chapter 10, Board
             219      of Water Resources - Division of Water Resources, or for federal projects constructed by the
             220      United States Bureau of Reclamation for the use and benefit of the state, any of its agencies, its
             221      political subdivisions, public and quasi-municipal corporations, or water users' associations of
             222      which the state, its agencies, political subdivisions, or public and quasi-municipal corporations
             223      are stockholders, the proof shall include:
             224          (A) a statement indicating construction of the project works has been completed;
             225          (B) a description of the major features with appropriate maps, profiles, drawings, and
             226      reservoir area-capacity curves;
             227          (C) a description of the point or points of diversion and rediversion;
             228          (D) project operation data;
             229          (E) a map showing the place of use of water and a statement of the purpose and method
             230      of use;
             231          (F) the project plan for beneficial use of water under the applications and the quantity
             232      of water required; and
             233          (G) a statement indicating what type of measuring devices have been installed.
             234          (ii) The director of the Division of Water Resources shall sign proofs for the state
             235      projects and an authorized official of the Bureau of Reclamation shall sign proofs for the
             236      federal projects specified in Subsection (4)(a).
             237          (b) Proof on an application for appropriation or permanent change for a surface storage
             238      facility in excess of 1,000 acre-feet constructed by a public water supplier to provide a water
             239      supply for the reasonable requirements of the public shall include:
             240          (i) a description of the completed water storage facility;
             241          (ii) a description of the major project features and appropriate maps, profiles, drawings,
             242      and reservoir area-capacity curves as required by the state engineer;
             243          (iii) the quantity of water stored in acre-feet;
             244          (iv) a description of the water distribution facility for the delivery of the water; and


             245          (v) the project plan for beneficial use of water including any existing contracts for
             246      water delivery.
             247          [(c) The completed proof shall conform to rules established by the state engineer.]
             248          (5) The proof on all applications shall be sworn to by the applicant or the applicant's
             249      appointed representative [and proof engineer].
             250          (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), when filing proof, the applicant shall
             251      submit maps, profiles, and drawings made by a Utah licensed land surveyor or Utah licensed
             252      professional engineer that show:
             253          (i) the location of the completed works;
             254          (ii) the nature and extent of the completed works;
             255          (iii) the natural stream or source from which and the point where the water is diverted
             256      and, in the case of a nonconsumptive use, the point where the water is returned; and
             257          (iv) the place of use.
             258          (b) The state engineer may waive the filing of maps, profiles, and drawings if in the
             259      state engineer's opinion the written proof adequately describes the works and the nature and
             260      extent of beneficial use.
             261          (7) The completed proof shall conform to rules and standards established by the state
             262      engineer.
             263          (8) In those areas in which general determination proceedings are pending, or have
             264      been concluded, under Title 73, Chapter 4, Determination of Water Rights, the state engineer
             265      may petition the district court for permission to:
             266          (a) waive the requirements of this section and Section 73-3-17 ; and
             267          (b) permit each owner of an application to file a verified statement to the effect that the
             268      applicant has completed the appropriation or change and elects to file a statement of water
             269      users claim in the proposed determination of water rights or any supplement to it in accordance
             270      with Title 73, Chapter 4, Determination of Water Rights, in lieu of proof of appropriation or
             271      proof of change.
             272          (9) This section does not apply to an instream flow water right authorized by Section
             273      73-3-30 .
             274          Section 5. Section 73-5-13 is amended to read:
             275           73-5-13. Claim to surface or underground water not otherwise represented --


             276      Information required -- Corrections -- Filing -- Investigation -- Publication -- Judicial
             277      action to determine validity -- Rules.
             278          (1) (a) All claimants to the right to the use of water, including both surface and
             279      underground, whose rights are not represented by certificates of appropriation issued by the
             280      state engineer, by applications filed with the state engineer, by court decrees, or by notice of
             281      claim filed pursuant to law, shall submit the claim to the state engineer.
             282          (b) Subsections (2) through (7) shall only apply to claims submitted to the state
             283      engineer pursuant to this section after May 4, 1997.
             284          (2) (a) Each claim submitted under this section shall be verified under oath by the
             285      claimant or the claimant's duly appointed representative and submitted on forms furnished by
             286      the state engineer setting forth any information the state engineer requires, including:
             287          (i) the name and post office address of the person making the claim;
             288          (ii) the quantity of water claimed in acre-feet or rate of flow in second-feet, or both,
             289      where appropriate;
             290          (iii) the source of supply;
             291          (iv) the priority date of the right;
             292          (v) the location of the point of diversion with reference to a United States land survey
             293      corner;
             294          (vi) the place of use;
             295          (vii) the nature and extent of use;
             296          (viii) the time during which the water has been used each year; and
             297          (ix) the date when the water was first used.
             298          (b) The claim shall also include the following information [verified under oath by a
             299      registered engineer or land surveyor], prepared by a Utah licensed engineer or a Utah licensed
             300      land surveyor:
             301          (i) measurements of the amount of water diverted;
             302          (ii) a statement that the quantity of water claimed either in acre-feet or cubic feet per
             303      second is consistent with the beneficial use claimed and the supply which the source is capable
             304      of producing; and
             305          (iii) a map showing the original diversion and conveyance works and where the water
             306      was placed to beneficial use, including irrigated lands, if irrigation is the claimed beneficial


             307      use.
             308          (c) The state engineer may require additional information as necessary to evaluate any
             309      claim including:
             310          (i) affidavits setting forth facts of which the affiant has personal knowledge;
             311          (ii) authenticated or historic photographs, plat or survey maps, or surveyors' notes;
             312          (iii) authenticated copies of original diaries, personal histories, or other historical
             313      documents which document the claimed use of water; and
             314          (iv) other relevant records on file with any county recorder's, surveyor's, or assessor's
             315      office.
             316          (3) (a) A claim may be corrected by submitting to the state engineer a verified
             317      corrected claim designated as such and bearing the same number as the original claim.
             318          (b) No fee shall be charged for submitting a corrected claim.
             319          (4) (a) Upon submission by a claimant of a claim that is acceptably complete under
             320      Subsection (2) and the deposit of money by a claimant with the state engineer sufficient to pay
             321      the expenses of conducting a field investigation and publishing a notice of the claim, the state
             322      engineer shall:
             323          (i) file the claim;
             324          (ii) endorse the date of its receipt;
             325          (iii) assign the claim a water right number; and
             326          (iv) publish a notice of the claim following the same procedures as provided in Section
             327      73-3-6 .
             328          (b) Any claim not acceptably complete under Subsection (2) shall be returned to the
             329      claimant.
             330          (c) The acceptance of any claim filed under this section by the state engineer may not
             331      be considered to be an adjudication by the state engineer of the validity of the claimed water
             332      right.
             333          (5) (a) The state engineer shall:
             334          (i) conduct a field investigation of each claim filed; and
             335          (ii) prepare a report of the investigation.
             336          (b) The report of the investigation shall:
             337          (i) become part of the file on the claim; and


             338          (ii) be admissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding on the validity of the
             339      claim.
             340          (6) (a) Any person who may be damaged by a diversion and use of water as described
             341      in a claim submitted pursuant to this section may file an action in district court to determine the
             342      validity of the claim, whether or not the claim has been accepted for filing by the state
             343      engineer.
             344          (b) Venue for the action shall be in the county in which the point of diversion listed in
             345      the claim is located, or in a county where the place of use, or some part of it, is located.
             346          (c) The action shall be brought against the claimant to the use of water or the claimant's
             347      successor in interest.
             348          (d) In any action brought to determine the validity of a claim to the use of water under
             349      this section, the claimant shall have the initial burden of proof as to the validity of the claimed
             350      right.
             351          (e) Any person filing an action challenging the validity of a claim to the use of water
             352      under this section shall notify the state engineer of the pendency of the action in a manner
             353      prescribed by the state engineer. Upon receipt of the notice, the state engineer may take no
             354      action on any change or exchange applications founded on the claim that is the subject of the
             355      pending litigation, until the court adjudicates the matter.
             356          (f) Upon the entering of any final order or decree in any judicial action to determine the
             357      validity of a claim under this section, the prevailing party shall file a certified copy of the order
             358      or decree with the state engineer, which shall become part of the state engineer's file on the
             359      claim.
             360          [(7) The state engineer may make rules consistent with this section specifying
             361      information required to be included in a claim and claim procedures.]




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-13-12 5:44 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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