Ground water conservation incentive program; State Water Control Bd. to establish voluntary program. (HB1065)

Introduced By

Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Conservation of ground water. Directs the State Water Control Board to establish a voluntary ground water conservation incentive program. The program is designed to provide incentives to those ground water permittees who agree to adopt measures that would (i) substantially reduce their reliance on ground water, (ii) transition to alternative water sources, or (iii) develop necessary infrastructure. The permittee would have to agree to either a 50 percent reduction in the amount authorized by its permit or certificate that is in effect on January 1, 2015, or achieve a comparable level of conservation by any combination of authorized withdrawal amount reduction and alternative options approved by the Board. These conditions are referred to as "qualification criteria" and will be used to determine the permittee's eligibility for the program. If a permittee is accepted into the program he will have a transition period, not to exceed 15 years, to meet the criteria. Each permittee that agrees to the qualification will have the benefit of a "regulatory certainty" period of 20 years during which the amount of withdrawal cannot be reduced, except in limited circumstances. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/13/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102026D
01/13/2016Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
01/25/2016Assigned ACNR sub: Chesapeake
02/04/2016Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2017
02/10/2016Continued to 2017 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
12/01/2016Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources