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Minutes for HB2459 - Committee on Water
Short Title
Prohibiting the change of the point of diversion of a water right if such change causes the safe yield of the source of water supply to be exceeded.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 1, 2024
Chairperson Minnix open the hearing for HB2459.
Chris Waggoner, Revisor of Statutes, provided the bill brief for HB2459, (Attachment 1a ).
There were no proponents.
Neutral testimony
Lane P. Letourneau, Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture, provided testimony as a neutral (Attachment 1). Mr. Letourneau discussed the impact of water drilling permits and drilling sites permit. Mr. Letourneau shared the need to avoid chasing water, however the regulatory approach might be more effective.
David Barfield, Civil Engineer, KWR Consulting, (Attachment 2). Mr. Barfield discussed how the bill would impact the Chief Engineer ability to respond to existing regulator requirements. Mr. Barfield responded to the issues of "chasing water ."
Josh Svaty, Legislative Liaison, Kansas Municipal Utilities (Attachment 3). Mr. Svaty indicated cities need the flexibility to re-drill wells under emergency circumstances.
Opponent testimony
Kirk Heger, Board Member, Southwest Kansas Irrigation Association, (Attachment 4).
Tom Taylor, Board Member, Groundwater Management District 5, (Attachment 5). Mr. Taylor stated that the Groundwater Management District 5 would be unnecessarily hindered by this legislation and re-drilling wells and the permit process is best left to regulatory agencies.
Miles Franz, landowner, (Attachment 6).
Jarvis Garetson, farmer, (Attachment 7).
Kent Askren, Policy Director, Kansas Farm Bureau, (Attachment 8).
Mark Rude, Manager, Groundwater Management District 3, (Attachment 9).
Tim Boese, Manager, Groundwater Management District 2, (Attachment 10).
Aaron Popelka, VP Governmental Affairs, Kansas Livestock Association, (Attachment 11).
Lance Nelson, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, (Attachment 12).
Neutral Written only
Wendy Stark, Kansas League of Municipalities, (Attachment 13).
Opponents Written only
Titus Jaeger, Landowner, (Attachment 14).
Patrick Janssen, President, Water Pack Association, (Attachment 15).
Shannon Keynon, Manager, Groundwater Management District 4, (Attachment 16).
Shahria Stafford, Kansas Cooperative Council, (Attachment 17).
Katie Durham, Manager, Groundwater Management District 1, (Attachment 18).
Taylor Williamson, Kansas Corn, (Attachment 19).
Tyler Hands, Managing Partner, Triangle H Farms, (Attachment 20).
Alex Orel, Kansas Bankers Association, (Attachment 21).
Representative Minnix, closed the hearing on HB2459.
Representative Minnix adjourned meeting at 10:14 am.
