OK SB597

Amends Oklahoma groundwater law (82 O.S. 2001, Section 1020.2) to exempt water trapped in producing mines from state groundwater regulations under specific conditions.

Exempts mines outside sensitive sole source groundwater basins entirely, and exempts mines within sensitive basins if they were permitted by the Oklahoma Department of Mines before August 1, 2011, had applications filed by that date, or receive permit revisions.

Requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to promulgate rules for non-exempt mines that establish water management plans, monitoring requirements, and augmentation provisions to offset groundwater consumption exceeding the mine's equal proportionate share of basin yield.

Mandates exempt mine operators to adopt monitoring plans and file quarterly and annual pit water reports with the Board by specified deadlines; failure to report results in loss of exemption status.

Allows augmentation of stream flow or groundwater through site-specific conservation plans to be considered beneficial use without counting against water permits, provided consumption does not exceed allocated rights or is offset through augmentation or additional rights acquisition within 90 days.