HF2616 Summary

• Expands the commissioner's authority to investigate and monitor activities affecting state waters, whether or not a permit is held, and issue orders with or without public hearings.

• Removes the December 31, 1990 deadline and the 5,000,000 gallon annual threshold for prohibiting new groundwater appropriation permits for once-through cooling systems; requires existing systems to convert to water-efficient alternatives within equipment design life.

• Requires tamper-proof flow meters on all piped water appropriation installations by January 1, 2017, and establishes penalties of $300 or two percent of annual permit fees (whichever is greater) for noncompliant reporting; permits are terminated after three noncompliant incidents within five years.

• Creates a new administrative penalty system allowing the commissioner to assess penalties up to $20,000 for violations, with reduced penalties if violations are corrected; includes expedited hearing procedures and interest accrual at statutory rates.

• Authorizes the commissioner to waive water use permit processing fees for storm water runoff installations and assesses a $300 penalty per calendar year (up to seven years maximum) for unauthorized water appropriations.