House Bill 3405.pdf

The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District's territory, jurisdiction, and powers are modified, including its authority to regulate certain wells for groundwater production. The district's territory now includes areas within the Edwards Aquifer Authority and Hays County, but not within the Plum Creek Conservation District. The Edwards Aquifer Authority has jurisdiction over wells producing water from the Edwards Aquifer in the shared territory, while the district has jurisdiction over groundwater and wells producing water from other aquifers. The district is prohibited from charging annual production fees exceeding 17 cents per thousand gallons of water for non-agricultural uses in the shared territory. The district must revise its single-member districts to reflect the changes in territory. Existing well operators in the shared territory must file permit applications with the district within three months of the effective date. Temporary permits may be issued without a hearing, providing retroactive and prospective authorization for well activities. The district must process permit applications and issue regular permits unless groundwater production would cause unreasonable impacts. Permit holders may contest reductions in groundwater production through contested case hearings.