AZ SB1656

Amends Arizona Revised Statutes sections 45-453 and 45-598 to establish spacing rules for groundwater wells in areas outside active management areas and in declining groundwater basins.

Expands the director's authority to adopt rules governing well locations to include groundwater basins experiencing declining groundwater levels, in addition to active management areas.

Applies new spacing rules to wells in declining basins with a pump capacity exceeding 35 gallons per minute, or allows the director to apply active management area criteria instead.

Requires persons withdrawing groundwater in declining groundwater basins to obtain a permit from the director before constructing new wells, consistent with existing requirements in active management areas.

References section 45-599 for permit application procedures and section 45-598 for spacing rule compliance in areas outside active management areas.