HB 5373 Summary

• Requires the Department of Natural Resources to update the water withdrawal assessment tool to include consideration of cumulative water withdrawals, high-volume short-duration withdrawals, and impacts on lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and wetlands associated with hydraulic fracturing.

• Mandates the assessment tool evaluate whether proposed withdrawals are likely to cause adverse resource impacts based on river system type (cold, cold-transitional, cool, or warm) and distinguish impacts by water body size (stream, small river, or large river).

• Requires users to input specific withdrawal data into the assessment tool including equipment capacity, withdrawal location, source type (surface or groundwater), depth, withdrawal rate, and whether withdrawal will be intermittent.

• Directs the Department to annually report to the legislature on assessment tool implementation, including number of zone C review requests, determinations resulting in zone changes, and registrations submitted.

• Removes part 615 from the list of department-authorized activities exempt from water withdrawal requirements.