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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T



SPONSOR: Griego DATE TYPED: 02/10/00 HB
SHORT TITLE: Report Domestic Wells Information SB SJM60
ANALYST: Pickering


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates HJM 74.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Office of the State Engineer / Interstate Stream Commission (OSE/ISC)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



SJM60 requests the state engineer to report the number, general location, and impact to streams and interstate compacts of domestic wells to the interim Water and Natural Resources Committee.

Also, the memorial requires the engineer to provide examples of domestic wells used for fisheries, aesthetic or other purposes inconsistent with the intent of Section 72-12-1 NMSA 1978. Additionally, the engineer is charged with providing proposed regulations related to capping and/or plugging of abandoned wells.

Significant Issues



SJM60 calls for the state engineer to evaluate domestic wells as they currently exist, including accumulated impacts to stream systems.



FISCAL/ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

OSE reported minimal impact in the form of some additional study and research. However, most of the data should be obtainable from existing agency files.



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



SJM60 duplicates HJM74.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



According to the agency, HJM74 makes the assumption that the engineer is aware of all illegal uses of domestic wells, which is not the case. Consequently, OSE contends that it could prepare a high level report as mandated by the memorial; however, it would show a generalized, rather than specified, representation of the impact of domestic wells in certain critical basins.



SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



OSE proposed amending HJM74 by deleting language that pertained to "areas of the state that domestic wells do not now impact other appropriators," and inserting language for "critical areas of the state where domestic wells may impact other appropriators."



RP/sb