Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 177 (2022GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Ferry, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2022

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• restricts the state engineer's rulemaking authority related to water production wells; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

WATER WELL AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Joel Ferry
Senate Sponsor: 
Michael K. McKell
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses requirements related to water production wells.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ restricts the state engineer's rulemaking authority related to water production wells;
and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
73-2-1
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapters 60 and 352
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
73-2-1
 is amended to read:
73-2-1.
State engineer -- Term -- Powers and duties -- Qualification for duties --
Limitation on rulemaking.
(1) There shall be a state engineer.
(2) The state engineer shall:
(a) be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate;
(b) hold office for the term of four years and until a successor is appointed; and
(c) have five years experience as a practical engineer or the theoretical knowledge,
practical experience, and skill necessary for the position.
(3) (a) The state engineer shall be responsible for the general administrative
supervision of the waters of the state and the measurement, appropriation, apportionment, and
distribution of those waters.
(b) The state engineer may secure the equitable apportionment and distribution of the
water according to the respective rights of appropriators.
(4) The state engineer shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this title,
regarding:
(a) reports of water right conveyances;
(b) the construction of water wells and the licensing of water well drillers;
(c) dam construction and safety;
(d) the alteration of natural streams;
(e) geothermal resource conservation;
(f) enforcement orders and the imposition of fines and penalties;
(g) the duty of water; and
(h) standards for written plans of a public water supplier that may be presented as
evidence of reasonable future water requirements under Subsection 
73-1-4
(2)(f).
(5) The state engineer may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this title,
governing:
(a) water distribution systems and water commissioners;
(b) water measurement and reporting;
(c) groundwater recharge and recovery;
(d) wastewater reuse;
(e) the form, content, and processing procedure for a claim under Section 
73-5-13
 to
surface or underground water that is not represented by a certificate of appropriation;
(f) the form and content of a proof submitted to the state engineer under Section
73-3-16
;
(g) the determination of water rights; or
(h) the form and content of applications and related documents, maps, and reports.
(6) The state engineer may bring suit in courts of competent jurisdiction to:
(a) enjoin the unlawful appropriation, diversion, and use of surface and underground
water without first seeking redress through the administrative process;
(b) prevent theft, waste, loss, or pollution of surface and underground waters;
(c) enable the state engineer to carry out the duties of the state engineer's office; and
(d) enforce administrative orders and collect fines and penalties.
(7) The state engineer may:
(a) upon request from the board of trustees of an irrigation district under Title 17B,
Chapter 2a, Part 5, Irrigation District Act, or another local district under Title 17B, Limited
Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, or a special service district under Title
17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, that operates an irrigation water system, cause a
water survey to be made of the lands proposed to be annexed to the district in order to
determine and allot the maximum amount of water that could be beneficially used on the land,
with a separate survey and allotment being made for each 40-acre or smaller tract in separate
ownership; and
(b) upon completion of the survey and allotment under Subsection (7)(a), file with the
district board a return of the survey and report of the allotment.
(8) (a) The state engineer may establish water distribution systems and define the water
distribution systems' boundaries.
(b) The water distribution systems shall be formed in a manner that:
(i) secures the best protection to the water claimants; and
(ii) is the most economical for the state to supervise.
(9) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(b), the state engineer may not on the basis of the
depth of a water production well exempt the water production well from regulation under this
title or rules made under this title related to the:
(a) drilling, constructing, deepening, repairing, renovating, cleaning, developing,
testing, disinfecting, or abandonment of a water production well; or
(b) installation or repair of a pump for a water production well.