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