The Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District received public input on March 9, 2016 and after deliberation amended the district rules per the proposed amendments with the intention to implement changes to statutory law enacted in 2015 by the 84th Texas Legislature. These amendments address matters including:

• permit renewal procedures
• procedures for permit hearings, including preliminary hearings, hearings referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, and uncontested hearings
• board review and consideration of a Proposal for Decision on a permit hearing
• language describing the export of groundwater outside of the District
• procedure and considerations for appealing desired future conditions of the aquifers underlying the District
• the regulation of aquifer storage and recovery
• cost recovery in lawsuits
• definitions of terms used in the rules or commonly used during District business

 

In addition, the Board addressed well completion standards and associated water quality sampling, testing, and reporting.  The Board also repealed certain requirements that are covered in the District’s bylaws and or policies.  Permit exemptions and drilling permit terms were examined and temporary permitting authorization under emergency circumstances were added.  A copy of the updated District rules with the prescribed amendments is now available here. These adopted rule changes will be effective April 1, 2016.