The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the transportation of groundwater from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area (INA) to an initial active management area (AMA). Specifically, it would require individuals transporting groundwater from any part of the Harquahala INA to pay a groundwater transportation fee to the county that contains a portion of the Harquahala INA but does not contain any part of an initial AMA. This new requirement is a significant addition to the existing law, which currently outlines the transportation fee for groundwater withdrawn from various basins but does not specifically address the Harquahala INA.

Additionally, the bill would make technical changes to the language of the statute, including the replacement of the term "sub-basin" with "subbasin." It would also clarify the conditions under which the transportation fee applies, ensuring that it aligns with the provisions of section 45-554. The bill maintains the existing exemptions for stored water withdrawn under recovery well permits and retains the current structure of the fee calculation, while introducing these new stipulations specifically for the Harquahala INA.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-556