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Third Substitute H.B. 67

Representative Fred C. Cox proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
STORM WATER CAPTURE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Fred C. Cox

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Benjamin M. McAdams

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill prohibits the state engineer from commencing an enforcement action under
             10      certain circumstances and provides for the collection and use of precipitation without
             11      obtaining a water right in certain circumstances.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    prohibits the state engineer from commencing an enforcement action under certain
             15      circumstances;
             16          .    provides for the collection and use of precipitation without obtaining a water right
             17      in certain circumstances; 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          73-2-25, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 282 and 382


             26          73-3-1.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 14
             27     
             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 73-2-25 is amended to read:
             30           73-2-25. State engineer enforcement powers.
             31          (1) For purposes of this section, "initial order" means one of the following issued by
             32      the state engineer:
             33          (a) a notice of violation; or
             34          (b) a cease and desist order.
             35          (2) (a) [The] Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the state engineer may
             36      commence an enforcement action under this section if the state engineer finds that a person:
             37          (i) is diverting, impounding, or using water for which no water right has been
             38      established;
             39          (ii) is diverting, impounding, or using water in violation of an existing water right;
             40          (iii) violates Section 73-5-4 ;
             41          (iv) violates Section 73-5-9 ;
             42          (v) violates a written distribution order from the state engineer;
             43          (vi) violates an order issued under Section 73-3-29 regarding the alteration of the bed
             44      or bank of a natural stream channel;
             45          (vii) violates a notice or order regarding dam safety issued under Chapter 5a, Dam
             46      Safety;
             47          (viii) fails to submit a report required by Section 73-3-25 ; or
             48          (ix) engages in well drilling without a license required by Section 73-3-25 .
             49          (b) The state engineer may not commence an enforcement action against a person
             50      under Subsection (2)(a)(i), if the person directly captures, or stores, precipitation on the surface
             51      of, or under, a parcel owned or leased by the person, including in a catch basin, storm drain
             52      pipe, swell, or pond, if the collection or storage:
             53          (i) is consistent with local laws and ordinances;
             54          (ii) does not interfere with an existing water right; and
             55          (iii) is designed to slow, detain, or retain storm water or protect watersheds from
             56      pollution with the intention that the precipitation:


             57          (A) absorbs into the ground or is released for discharge; and
             58          (B) is not put to beneficial use.
             59          [(b)] (c) To commence an enforcement action under this section, the state engineer
             60      shall issue an initial order, which shall include:
             61          (i) a description of the violation;
             62          (ii) notice of any penalties to which a person may be subject under Section 73-2-26 ;
             63      and
             64          (iii) notice that the state engineer may treat each day's violation of the provisions listed
             65      in Subsection (2)(a) as a separate violation under Subsection 73-2-26 (1)(d).
             66          [(c)] (d) The state engineer's issuance and enforcement of an initial order is exempt
             67      from Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act.
             68          (3) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             69      state engineer shall make rules necessary to enforce an initial order, which shall include:
             70          (a) provisions consistent with this section and Section 73-2-26 for enforcement of the
             71      initial order if a person to whom an initial order is issued fails to respond to the order or abate
             72      the violation;
             73          (b) the right to a hearing, upon request by a person against whom an initial order is
             74      issued; and
             75          (c) provisions for timely issuance of a final order after:
             76          (i) the person to whom the initial order is issued fails to respond to the order or abate
             77      the violation; or
             78          (ii) a hearing held under Subsection (3)(b).
             79          (4) A person may not intervene in an enforcement action commenced under this
             80      section.
             81          (5) After issuance of a final order under rules made pursuant to Subsection (3)(c), the
             82      state engineer shall serve a copy of the final order on the person against whom the order is
             83      issued by:
             84          (a) personal service under Utah Rules of Civil Procedure 5; or
             85          (b) certified mail.
             86          (6) (a) The state engineer's final order may be reviewed by trial de novo by the district
             87      court in:


             88          (i) Salt Lake County; or
             89          (ii) the county where the violation occurred.
             90          (b) A person shall file a petition for judicial review of the state engineer's final order
             91      issued under this section within 20 days from the day on which the final order was served on
             92      that person.
             93          (7) The state engineer may bring suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce a
             94      final order issued under this section.
             95          (8) If the state engineer prevails in an action brought under Subsection (6)(b) or (7), the
             96      state may recover all court costs and a reasonable attorney fee.
             97          Section 2. Section 73-3-1.5 is amended to read:
             98           73-3-1.5. Capture and storage of precipitation.
             99          (1) As used in this section, "parcel" means an identifiable contiguous unit of property
             100      that is treated as separate for valuation or zoning purposes and includes an improvement on
             101      that unit of property.
             102          (2) Notwithstanding Section 73-3-2 , a person may:
             103          (a) directly capture and store precipitation on a parcel owned or leased by the person in
             104      accordance with Subsection (3) or (4); and
             105          (b) place the water captured and stored as provided in Subsection (2)(a) to beneficial
             106      use on the parcel on which the water is captured and stored.
             107          [(3) If a person collects or stores precipitation in an underground storage container, the
             108      person may collect and store precipitation:]
             109          [(a) in only one underground storage container for a parcel if the underground storage
             110      container:]
             111          [(i) has a maximum capacity of no more than 2,500 gallons; and]
             112          [(ii) is installed in accordance with relevant provisions of the State Construction Code
             113      or an approved code under Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act; and]
             114          [(b) after registering for the capture and storage of precipitation in accordance with
             115      Subsection (5).]
             116          [(4) If a person collects or stores precipitation in a covered storage container, the]
             117          (3) After registering for the capture and storage of precipitation in accordance with
             118      Subsection (5), a person may collect and store precipitation in a container installed in


             119      accordance with the State Construction Code or an approved code under Title 15A, State
             120      Construction and Fire Codes Act, if:
             121          (a) for a person who uses only one container on a parcel, the total capacity of the
             122      container is no more than 2,500 gallons; or
             123          (b) for a person who uses more than one container on a parcel, the aggregate capacity
             124      of the containers is no more than 2,500 gallons.
             125          (4) A person may collect and store precipitation, without registering under Subsection
             126      (5), in no more than two covered storage containers[,] if the maximum storage capacity of any
             127      one covered storage container is not greater than 100 gallons.
             128          (5) (a) The state engineer shall provide a website on which a person may register as
             129      required by Subsection (3).
             130          (b) To register, a person shall complete information required by the state engineer
             131      including the:
             132          (i) name and address of the person capturing or storing precipitation;
             133          (ii) total capacity of all containers storing precipitation; and
             134          (iii) street address or other suitable description of the location where precipitation is to
             135      be captured and stored.


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