82R8414 SGA-D

By: Hegar, Duncan S.B. No. 1306

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the procedures for and appeals of desired future conditions adopted by groundwater management areas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 36.001, Water Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (30) to read as follows:

(30) "Desired future condition" means a quantitative description, adopted in accordance with Section 36.108, of the desired condition of the groundwater resources in a management area at one or more specified future times.

SECTION 2. Section 36.063, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 36.063. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), notice [Notice] of meetings of the board shall be given as set forth in the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code. Neither failure to provide notice of a regular meeting nor an insubstantial defect in notice of any meeting shall affect the validity of any action taken at the meeting.

(b) At least 10 days before any meeting or hearing at which the board will consider or take public comments on the desired future condition for an aquifer, including a joint planning meeting under Section 36.108 attended by a district representative, the board must post notice that includes:

(1) the proposed desired future condition or conditions and a list of any other agenda items;

(2) the date, time, and location of the meeting or hearing;

(3) the name, telephone number, and address of the person to whom questions or requests for additional information may be submitted;

(4) the names of the other districts in the district's management area; and

(5) information on how the public may submit comments.

(c) Notice of a meeting or hearing described by Subsection (b) must be posted:

(1) in the district office;

(2) in the county courthouse of each county located wholly or partly in the district;

(3) with the secretary of state; and

(4) on the district's Internet website, if the district has an Internet website.

(d) The Texas Water Development Board by rule may adopt additional notice provisions for a meeting described by Subsection (b) to ensure reasonable notice to and comment from affected stakeholders such as landowners, permit holders, local officials, and other members of the public.

SECTION 3. Sections 36.1071(a) and (e), Water Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Following notice and hearing, the district shall, in coordination with surface water management entities on a regional basis, develop a comprehensive management plan which addresses the following management goals, as applicable:

(1) providing the most efficient use of groundwater;

(2) controlling and preventing waste of groundwater;

(3) controlling and preventing subsidence;

(4) addressing conjunctive surface water management issues;

(5) addressing natural resource issues;

(6) addressing drought conditions;

(7) addressing conservation, recharge enhancement, rainwater harvesting, precipitation enhancement, or brush control, where appropriate and cost-effective; and

(8) addressing [in a quantitative manner] the desired future conditions adopted by the district under Section 36.108 [of the groundwater resources].

(e) In the management plan described under Subsection (a), the district shall:

(1) identify the performance standards and management objectives under which the district will operate to achieve the management goals identified under Subsection (a);

(2) specify, in as much detail as possible, the actions, procedures, performance, and avoidance that are or may be necessary to effect the plan, including specifications and proposed rules;

(3) include estimates of the following:

(A) managed available groundwater in the district based on the desired future condition adopted by rule [established] under Section 36.108;

(B) the amount of groundwater being used within the district on an annual basis;

(C) the annual amount of recharge from precipitation, if any, to the groundwater resources within the district;

(D) for each aquifer, the annual volume of water that discharges from the aquifer to springs and any surface water bodies, including lakes, streams, and rivers;

(E) the annual volume of flow into and out of the district within each aquifer and between aquifers in the district, if a groundwater availability model is available;

(F) the projected surface water supply in the district according to the most recently adopted state water plan; and

(G) the projected total demand for water in the district according to the most recently adopted state water plan; and

(4) consider the water supply needs and water management strategies included in the adopted state water plan.

SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is amended by amending Section 36.108 and adding Sections 36.1081, 36.1082, 36.1083, 36.1084, and 36.1085 to read as follows:

Sec. 36.108. JOINT PLANNING IN MANAGEMENT AREA. (a) In this section:

(1) "Development [, "development] board" means the Texas Water Development Board.

(2) "District representative" means the presiding officer or the presiding officer's designee for any district located wholly or partly in the management area.

(b) If two or more districts are located within the boundaries of the same management area, each district shall prepare a comprehensive management plan as required by Section 36.1071 covering that district's respective territory. On completion and approval of the plan as required by Section 36.1072, each district shall forward a copy of the new or revised management plan to the other districts in the management area. The boards of the districts shall consider the plans individually and shall compare them to other management plans then in force in the management area.

(c) The district representatives [The presiding officer, or the presiding officer's designee, of each district located in whole or in part in the management area] shall meet at least annually to conduct joint planning with the other districts in the management area and to review the management plans, the [and] accomplishments of [for] the management area, and proposals to adopt new or amend existing desired future conditions. In reviewing the management plans, the districts shall consider:

(1) the goals of each management plan and its impact on planning throughout the management area;

(2) the effectiveness of the measures established by each management plan for conserving and protecting groundwater and preventing waste, and the effectiveness of these measures in the management area generally;

(3) any other matters that the boards consider relevant to the protection and conservation of groundwater and the prevention of waste in the management area; and

(4) the degree to which each management plan achieves the desired future conditions established during the joint planning process.

(d) Not later than September 1, 2010, and every five years thereafter, the districts shall consider groundwater availability models and other data or information for the management area and shall propose for adoption [establish] desired future conditions for the relevant aquifers within the management area. Before voting on the proposed [In establishing the] desired future conditions of the aquifers under Subsection (d-2) [this section], the districts shall consider:

(1) aquifer uses or conditions within the management area, including conditions that differ substantially from one geographic area to another;

(2) the water supply needs and water management strategies included in the state water plan;

(3) hydrological conditions, including for each aquifer in the management area the total estimated recoverable storage as provided by the executive administrator, and the average annual recharge, inflows, and discharge;

(4) other environmental impacts, including impacts on spring flow and other interactions between groundwater and surface water;

(5) the impact on subsidence;

(6) socioeconomic impacts reasonably expected to occur;

(7) the impact on the interests and rights in private property, including ownership and the rights of management area landowners and their lessees and assigns in groundwater as recognized under Section 36.002;

(8) whether the desired future conditions are physically possible; and

(9) any other information relevant to the specific desired future conditions [uses or conditions of an aquifer within the management area that differ substantially from one geographic area to another].

(d-1) The districts may establish different desired future conditions for:

(1) each aquifer, subdivision of an aquifer, or geologic strata located in whole or in part within the boundaries of the management area; or

(2) each geographic area overlying an aquifer in whole or in part or subdivision of an aquifer within the boundaries of the management area.

(d-2) [(d-1)] The desired future conditions proposed [established] under Subsection (d) must be approved [adopted] by a two-thirds vote of all the district representatives for distribution to the districts in the management area. A 30-day period for public comments begins on the day the proposed desired future conditions are mailed to the districts. During the public comment period and after posting notice as required by Section 36.063, each district shall hold a public hearing on the proposed desired future conditions relevant to that district. During the public comment period, the district shall make available in its office a copy of the proposed desired future conditions and any supporting materials, such as the documentation of factors considered under Subsection (d) and groundwater availability model run results. After the public hearing, the district shall prepare for consideration at the next joint planning meeting a district report that includes comments received, suggested revisions to the proposed desired future conditions, and the basis for the revisions [present at a meeting:

[(1) at which at least two-thirds of the districts located in whole or in part in the management area have a voting representative in attendance; and

[(2) for which all districts located in whole or in part in the management area provide public notice in accordance with Chapter 551, Government Code.

[(d-2) Each district in the management area shall ensure that its management plan contains goals and objectives consistent with achieving the desired future conditions of the relevant aquifers as adopted during the joint planning process].

(d-3) After the districts have submitted their district reports under Subsection (d-2), the district representatives shall reconvene to review the reports, consider any district's suggested revisions to the proposed desired future conditions, and finally adopt the desired future conditions for the management area. The desired future conditions must be adopted as a resolution by a two-thirds vote of all the district representatives. The district representatives shall produce a desired future conditions explanatory report for the management area and submit to the development board and each district in the management area proof that notice was posted for the adoption meeting, a copy of the resolution, and a copy of the explanatory report. The report must:

(1) identify each desired future condition;

(2) provide the policy and technical justifications for each desired future condition;

(3) include documentation that the factors under Subsection (d) were considered by the districts and a discussion of how the adopted desired future conditions impact each factor;

(4) list other desired future condition options considered and the reasons why those options were not adopted; and

(5) discuss reasons why recommendations made by advisory committees and public comments received by the districts were or were not incorporated into the desired future conditions.

(d-4) As soon as possible after a district receives the desired future conditions resolution and explanatory report under Subsection (d-3), the district by rule shall adopt the desired future conditions in the resolution and report that apply to the district.

(d-5) A district's adoption of a desired future condition may be appealed in district court in the manner provided under Subchapter H for a challenge to a district rule.

(e) Except as provided by this section, a [A] joint meeting under this section must be held in accordance with Chapter 551, Government Code. Each district shall comply with Chapter 552, Government Code. Each district in the management area shall post uniform notice [Notice] of the meeting [shall be given] in accordance with Section 36.063 [the requirements for notice of district board of directors meetings under that Act].

Sec. 36.1081. TECHNICAL STAFF AND SUBCOMMITTEES FOR JOINT PLANNING. (a) On request, the commission and the Texas Water Development Board shall make technical staff available to serve in a nonvoting advisory capacity to assist with the development of desired future conditions during the joint planning process under Section 36.108.

(b) During the joint planning process under Section 36.108, the district representatives may appoint and convene nonvoting advisory subcommittees who represent social, governmental, environmental, or economic interests to assist in the development of desired future conditions.

Sec. 36.1082. PETITION FOR INQUIRY. (a) In this section, "affected person" means, with respect to a management area:

(1) an owner of land in the management area;

(2) a district in or adjacent to the management area;

(3) a regional water planning group with a water management strategy in the management area;

(4) a person who holds or is applying for a permit from a district in the management area;

(5) a person who has groundwater rights in the management area; or

(6) any other person defined as affected by commission rule.

(b) An affected person [(f) A district or person with a legally defined interest in the groundwater within the management area] may file a petition with the commission requesting an inquiry for any of the following reasons:

(1) a district fails to submit its management plan to the executive administrator;

(2) [if] a district fails [or districts refused] to participate [join] in the joint planning process under Section 36.108;

(3) a district fails to adopt rules;

(4) a district fails to adopt the applicable desired future conditions adopted by the management area at a joint meeting;

(5) a district fails to update its management plan before the second anniversary of the adoption of desired future conditions by the management area;

(6) a district fails to update its rules to implement the applicable desired future conditions before the first anniversary of the date it updated its management plan with the adopted desired future conditions;

(7) [or the process failed to result in adequate planning, including the establishment of reasonable future desired conditions of the aquifers, and the petition provides evidence that:

[(1) a district in the groundwater management area has failed to adopt rules;

[(2)] the rules adopted by a district are not designed to achieve the desired future conditions adopted by [condition of the groundwater resources in] the [groundwater] management area [established] during the joint planning process;

(8) [(3)] the groundwater in the management area is not adequately protected by the rules adopted by a district; or

(9) [(4)] the groundwater in the [groundwater] management area is not adequately protected due to the failure of a district to enforce substantial compliance with its rules.

(c) [(g)] Not later than the 90th day after the date the petition is filed, the commission shall review the petition and either:

(1) dismiss the petition if the commission finds that the evidence is not adequate to show that any of the conditions alleged in the petition exist; or

(2) select a review panel as provided in Subsection (d) [(h)].

(d) [(h)] If the petition is not dismissed under Subsection (c) [(g)], the commission shall appoint a review panel consisting of a chairman and four other members. A director or general manager of a district located outside the [groundwater] management area that is the subject of the petition may be appointed to the review panel. The commission may not appoint more than two members of the review panel from any one district. The commission also shall appoint a disinterested person to serve as a nonvoting recording secretary for the review panel. The recording secretary may be an employee of the commission. The recording secretary shall record and document the proceedings of the panel.

(e) [(i)] Not later than the 120th day after appointment, the review panel shall review the petition and any evidence relevant to the petition and, in a public meeting, consider and adopt a report to be submitted to the commission. The commission may direct the review panel to conduct public hearings at a location in the [groundwater] management area to take evidence on the petition. The review panel may attempt to negotiate a settlement or resolve the dispute by any lawful means.

(f) [(j)] In its report, the review panel shall include:

(1) a summary of all evidence taken in any hearing on the petition;

(2) a list of findings and recommended actions appropriate for the commission to take and the reasons it finds those actions appropriate; and

(3) any other information the panel considers appropriate.

(g) [(k)] The review panel shall submit its report to the commission. The commission may take action under Section 36.3011.

Sec. 36.1083. MANAGED AVAILABLE GROUNDWATER. The Texas Water Development Board shall require the [(l) A person with a legally defined interest in the groundwater in the groundwater management area, a district in or adjacent to the groundwater management area, or a regional water planning group for a region in the groundwater management area may file a petition with the development board appealing the approval of the desired future conditions of the groundwater resources established under this section. The petition must provide evidence that the districts did not establish a reasonable desired future condition of the groundwater resources in the groundwater management area.

[(m) The development board shall review the petition and any evidence relevant to the petition. The development board shall hold at least one hearing at a central location in the management area to take testimony on the petition. The development board may delegate responsibility for a hearing to the executive administrator or to a person designated by the executive administrator. If the development board finds that the conditions require revision, the development board shall submit a report to the districts that includes a list of findings and recommended revisions to the desired future conditions of the groundwater resources.

[(n) The districts shall prepare a revised plan in accordance with development board recommendations and hold, after notice, at least one public hearing at a central location in the groundwater management area. After consideration of all public and development board comments, the districts shall revise the conditions and submit the conditions to the development board for review.

[(o) The] districts in a management area to [shall] submit the desired future conditions resolution adopted [established] under Section 36.108, proof that notice was posted for the adoption meeting, and the desired future conditions explanatory report [this section] to the executive administrator. The executive administrator shall provide each district and regional water planning group located wholly or partly in the management area with the managed available groundwater in the management area based upon those [the] desired future conditions [condition of the groundwater resources established under this section].

Sec. 36.1084. MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. Each district in the management area shall ensure that its management plan contains goals and objectives consistent with achieving the desired future conditions of the relevant aquifers as adopted during the joint planning process.

Sec. 36.1085. JOINT EFFORTS BY DISTRICTS IN A MANAGEMENT AREA. [(p)] Districts located within the same [groundwater] management areas or in adjacent management areas may contract to jointly conduct studies or research, or to construct projects, under terms and conditions that the districts consider beneficial. These joint efforts may include studies of groundwater availability and quality, aquifer modeling, and the interaction of groundwater and surface water; educational programs; the purchase and sharing of equipment; and the implementation of projects to make groundwater available, including aquifer recharge, brush control, weather modification, desalination, regionalization, and treatment or conveyance facilities. The districts may contract under their existing authorizations including those of Chapter 791, Government Code, if their contracting authority is not limited by Sections 791.011(c)(2) and (d)(3) and Section 791.014, Government Code.

SECTION 5. Section 36.3011, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 36.3011. COMMISSION ACTION REGARDING [FAILURE OF] DISTRICT DUTIES [TO CONDUCT JOINT PLANNING]. Not later than the 45th day after receiving the review panel's report under Section 36.1082 [36.108], the executive director or the commission shall take action to implement any or all of the panel's recommendations. The commission may take any action against a district it considers necessary in accordance with Section 36.303 if the commission finds that:

(1) the [a] district has failed to submit its management plan to the executive administrator;

(2) the district has failed to participate in the joint planning process under Section 36.108;

(3) the [(2) a] district has failed to adopt rules;

(4) the district has failed to adopt the applicable desired future conditions adopted by the management area at a joint meeting;

(5) the district has failed to update its management plan before the second anniversary of the adoption of desired future conditions by the management area;

(6) the district has failed to update its rules to implement the applicable desired future conditions before the first anniversary of the date it updated its management plan with the adopted desired future conditions;

(7) [(3)] the rules adopted by the district are not designed to achieve the desired future conditions adopted by [condition of the groundwater resources in] the [groundwater] management area during the joint planning process; [or]

(8) [(4)] the groundwater in the management area is not adequately protected by the rules adopted by the district; [,] or

(9) the groundwater in the management area is not adequately protected because of the district's failure to enforce substantial compliance with its rules.

SECTION 6. The notice provisions of Sections 36.063(b) and (c), Water Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a meeting or hearing of a groundwater conservation district or a joint planning meeting of groundwater conservation districts held on or after the effective date of this Act. A meeting or hearing held before the effective date of this Act is subject to the notice provisions in effect at the time of the meeting or hearing, and those provisions are continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7. The requirement that a groundwater conservation district's management plan under Section 36.1071(e), Water Code, as amended by this Act, include the desired future conditions adopted under Section 36.108, Water Code, as amended by this Act, for submission to the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board before the plan is considered administratively complete applies only to a district management plan submitted to the executive administrator on or after the effective date of this Act. A management plan submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the plan was submitted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 8. The procedures for the adoption and reporting of desired future conditions of groundwater resources in a management area under Section 36.108, Water Code, as amended by this Act, and 36.1083, Water Code, as added by this Act, apply only to the adoption of desired future conditions that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Desired future conditions adopted before the effective date of this Act are governed by the law in effect on the date the desired future conditions were adopted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. A petition filed and pending on the effective date of this Act before the Texas Water Development Board to appeal the adoption of desired future conditions by a groundwater management area under former Section 36.108(l), Water Code, shall be handled by the Texas Water Development Board in compliance with Sections 36.108(l), (m), and (n), Water Code, as those sections existed before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.