SB2359 Summary

• Establishes the western area water supply authority to treat, store, and distribute water to western North Dakota for domestic, municipal, industrial, oil and gas development, and other purposes.

• Limits authority industrial water sales to twelve state water commission-approved water depots and restricts the authority from selling more than thirty percent of industrial water sales in the same area year-over-year unless sales are within ten miles of the approved depots.

• Prohibits independent water producers from selling water for industrial purposes within a ten-mile radius of the twelve approved water depots unless they had existing facilities and permits in place before July 1, 2013.

• Requires the authority to present project plans and specifications to the state water commission for approval and restricts property disposition if the $25 million zero-interest state loan remains unpaid.

• Exempts the western area water supply authority from sections 6-09.4-22 and 61-02-68.18 of North Dakota Century Code.