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A05318 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         5318--A
 
                               2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 15, 2011
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SWEENEY, PEOPLES-STOKES, ZEBROWSKI, GUNTHER,
          TITONE, REILLY, SPANO, JACOBS, PAULIN, SCHIMEL, ENGLEBRIGHT,  HOYT  --
          Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M. of A. BRENNAN, GABRYSZAK, MARKEY, McENENY,
          M. MILLER, PHEFFER, ROBINSON -- (at request of the Department of Envi-
          ronmental Conservation) -- read once and referred to the Committee  on

          Environmental  Conservation  --  committee  discharged,  bill amended,
          ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to regu-
          lating the use of the state's water resources; and to repeal titles 16
          and 33 of article 15 of such law relating to Great Lakes water conser-
          vation and management and water withdrawal reporting
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Section 15-1501 of the environmental conservation law, as
     2  amended by chapter 233 of the laws  of  1979,  is  amended  to  read  as
     3  follows:
     4  § 15-1501. [New   or   additional   sources   of   water  supply]  Water
     5               withdrawals; permit.

     6    1. Except as otherwise provided in this title, no  person  [or  public
     7  corporation]  who is [authorized and] engaged in, or proposing to engage
     8  in, the [acquisition, conservation, development, use and distribution of
     9  water for potable purposes, for the irrigation  of  agricultural  lands,
    10  for  projects  taken  pursuant  to Article 5-D of the County Law, or for
    11  multi-purpose projects authorized by a general plan adopted and approved
    12  pursuant to title 11 of this article,] operation of a  water  withdrawal
    13  system with a capacity of greater than or equal to the threshold volume,
    14  shall  have  any  power to do the following until such person [or public
    15  corporation] has first obtained a permit or permit modification from the

    16  department pursuant to this title:
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08389-03-1

        A. 5318--A                          2
 
     1    a. To [acquire or take] make  a  water  [supply]  withdrawal  from  an
     2  existing or new source or an [additional] increased water [supply] with-
     3  drawal from an existing [approved] permitted source; [or]
     4    b. To take or condemn lands for the protection of any existing sources
     5  of  public water supply; or for the development or protection of any new

     6  or additional sources of public water supply [or for the utilization  of
     7  such supplies]; [or]
     8    c.  To commence or undertake the construction of any works or projects
     9  in connection with the proposed [plans] withdrawal; or
    10    d. [To exercise any franchise hereafter granted to supply water to any
    11  inhabitants of the state; or
    12    e.] To extend its supply or distribution mains into  [a  municipality,
    13  water  district,  water  supply district, or other civil division of the
    14  state wherein it] any new water service area or extension that  has  not
    15  [heretofore legally supplied water] been approved by the department or a
    16  predecessor commission; or

    17    [f.  To  construct  any  extension of its supply mains except within a
    18  service area approved by the department after public hearing; or
    19    g. To extend the boundaries of a water district; or
    20    h. To supply water in or for use in any other  municipality  or  civil
    21  division  of  the  state  which  owns and operates a water supply system
    22  therein, or in any duly organized water supply or fire district supplied
    23  with water by another person or public corporation]
    24    e.  To make a significant change in the principal  use  of  the  water
    25  withdrawal  system from that specified in the permit, or permit applica-
    26  tion.
    27    2. [A permit shall not be necessary for the  extension  of  supply  or

    28  distributing  mains  or pipes of a municipal water supply plant into and
    29  for the purpose of supplying water in any territory within the limits of
    30  the municipality owning such plant, including territory  which  has  not
    31  been  heretofore  supplied  with water by such plant, nor for the recon-
    32  struction or replacement of existing facilities in  connection  with  an
    33  existing plant wherein the capacity of the plant is in no way increased,
    34  nor  for  the  construction  of filtration or other treatment facilities
    35  which will not in any way increase the amount of water which can be made
    36  available from the present sources of supply.  A  permit  shall  not  be
    37  necessary  for the extension of supply or distributing mains or pipes of

    38  a county water authority into and for the purpose of supplying water  in
    39  any  territory assigned to such county water authority within the limits
    40  of the county but excluding territory specifically assigned  to  private
    41  or  other municipal water companies by the department which has not been
    42  heretofore supplied with water by such county water authority,  nor  for
    43  the  reconstruction  or replacement of existing facilities in connection
    44  with an existing plant wherein the capacity of the plant is  in  no  way
    45  increased,  nor  for  the  construction of filtration or other treatment
    46  facilities which will not in any way increase the amount of water  which
    47  can  be  made  available  from  the present sources of supply, provided,

    48  however, that nothing herein contained shall be held to  authorize  such
    49  county  water  authority to enter into competition with, for the purpose
    50  of service in the area served by the mains, the transmission or distrib-
    51  ution mains of any other water works system, either publicly or private-
    52  ly owned, already legally established in said county  for  the  sale  of
    53  water  at  wholesale or retail, or which hereafter may legally be estab-
    54  lished for said purpose; or to sell  water  to  any  other  water  works
    55  system,  either  publicly or privately owned, and not now served by said
    56  county authority] All valid public water supply  permits  and  approvals

        A. 5318--A                          3
 

     1  issued  by the department or its predecessors shall remain in full force
     2  and effect for the purpose of  satisfying  the  permit  requirements  of
     3  subdivision  one  of  this section for existing water withdrawals from a
     4  source  and  in  an amount authorized by such permit or approval.  Until
     5  the department promulgates regulations pursuant to subdivision  four  of
     6  this  section,  nothing  contained  in  subdivision  one of this section
     7  concerning permits from the department  shall  be  applicable  to  water
     8  withdrawals other than for a public water supply system.
     9    3.    Nothing  contained  in  this [section provided] title concerning
    10  permits from the department for water withdrawals  shall  be  deemed  to

    11  nullify the requirements [of Regulation 2, Chapter V] of the State Sani-
    12  tary  Code[, as] applicable to drinking water supplies, including public
    13  water systems and bottled water facilities, in  effect  on  [January  1,
    14  1960, that plans for a new water treatment plant for the treatment of an
    15  existing  public  water supply or for any addition to or modification of
    16  an existing water treatment plant, or for any addition to  or  modifica-
    17  tion of a public water supply system which will or may affect the quali-
    18  ty of the public water supply, shall be submitted to and approved by the
    19  Commissioner  of Health, which regulation has no application to a new or
    20  additional source or sources of public water supply of a permanent char-

    21  acter which require  a  permit  from  the  Department  of  Environmental
    22  Conservation under the provisions of this article] February 15, 2012, as
    23  may  be  amended  from  time  to  time. No supplier of water shall make,
    24  install or construct, or allow to be made, installed or  constructed,  a
    25  public  water  supply system or any addition or deletion to or modifica-
    26  tion of a public water supply system until the plans and  specifications
    27  therefor  have  been  submitted  to  and approved by the commissioner of
    28  health or his or her designee as may be required by the  state  sanitary
    29  code.
    30    4.  The department shall promulgate regulations to implement a permit-
    31  ting program for water withdrawals equal to or greater than the  thresh-

    32  old  volume consistent with the requirements of this section which shall
    33  establish:  (a) minimum standards for operation and new construction  of
    34  water  withdrawal  systems;  (b) monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping
    35  requirements; and (c) protections  for  present  and  future  needs  for
    36  sources of potable water supply.  Such regulations may establish quanti-
    37  tative  standards that maintain stream flows protective of aquatic life,
    38  consistent with the policy objectives of  this  article  and  any  other
    39  conditions, limitations and restrictions that the department, in consul-
    40  tation  with  the  department  of  health,  determines  are necessary to
    41  protect the environment and the public health, safety and welfare and to

    42  ensure the proper management of the waters of  the  state.    The  regu-
    43  lations  may  establish exemptions from permitting requirements in addi-
    44  tion to those exemptions specified in this section.
    45    5. The department is authorized to consolidate existing  water  supply
    46  permits  for  a  public  water  supply  system  into one permit, and may
    47  require submission of an application for such permit where  the  depart-
    48  ment  determines that such actions are necessary to protect the environ-
    49  ment and the public health, safety and welfare and to ensure the  proper
    50  management of the waters of the state.
    51    6.  Each  person who is required under this section to obtain a permit
    52  shall annually, on a form  prescribed  by  the  department,  report  all

    53  information  requested  by  the department, including but not limited to
    54  water usage  and  water  conservation  measures  undertaken  during  the
    55  reporting  period.  Information  on  water  usage and water conservation
    56  measures shall be posted on the department's website.

        A. 5318--A                          4
 
     1    7. The following water withdrawals are exempt from the permit require-
     2  ments established  by  this  section:  (a)  withdrawals  used  for  fire
     3  suppression  or  public  emergency  purposes;  (b) withdrawals that have
     4  received an approval from a compact basin commission which administers a
     5  program  governing  water withdrawals; (c) closed loop, standing column,

     6  or similar non-extractive geothermal heat  pumps;  (d)  withdrawals  for
     7  which  a  permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of section
     8  15-1527  of  this  title;  (e)  existing  withdrawals  for  agricultural
     9  purposes provided the withdrawal has been registered with the department
    10  pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  title  sixteen  of  this article or
    11  reported to the department pursuant to the requirements of  title  thir-
    12  ty-three  of  this article on or before February fifteenth, two thousand
    13  twelve; and (f) withdrawals at remediation sites conducted pursuant to a
    14  federal or state court order  or  federal  or  state  government  agency
    15  agreement or order.
    16    8.  The department shall establish a water conservation and efficiency

    17  program with the goals of (a) ensuring improvement  of  the  waters  and
    18  water  dependent  natural  resources,  (b)  protecting and restoring the
    19  hydrologic and ecosystem integrity of watersheds throughout  the  state,
    20  (c)  retaining  the  quantity  of  surface  water and groundwater in the
    21  state, (d) ensuring sustainable use of state waters, and  (e)  promoting
    22  the efficiency of use and reducing losses and waste of water.
    23    9.  The department shall issue an initial permit, subject to appropri-
    24  ate terms and conditions as required under this article, to  any  person
    25  not  exempt  from  the  permitting requirements of this section, for the
    26  maximum water withdrawal capacity reported to the department pursuant to

    27  the requirements of title sixteen or title thirty-three of this  article
    28  on or before February fifteenth, two thousand twelve.
    29    §  2. Section 15-1502 of the environmental conservation law is amended
    30  by adding ten new subdivisions 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to
    31  read as follows:
    32    7. "Agricultural purpose" shall  mean  the  practice  of  farming  for
    33  crops,  plants, vines and trees, and the keeping, grazing, or feeding of
    34  livestock for sale of livestock or livestock products, and  the  on-farm
    35  processing of crops, livestock and livestock products.
    36    8.    "Compact  basin  commission" shall mean an interstate commission
    37  having jurisdiction with respect to the regulation  of  water  resources

    38  within  a  basin in the state, created by interstate compact or federal-
    39  interstate compact, including but not limited to, the Susquehanna  river
    40  basin commission and the Delaware river basin commission.
    41    9. "Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation
    42  measures"  shall mean those measures, methods, technologies or practices
    43  for efficient water use and for reduction of water loss and waste or for
    44  reducing a withdrawal, consumptive use or diversion that: (i) are  envi-
    45  ronmentally  sound;  (ii) reflect best practices applicable to the water
    46  use sector; (iii) are  technically  feasible  and  available;  (iv)  are
    47  economically  feasible  and  cost  effective  based  on an analysis that

    48  considers direct and avoided economic and environmental costs;  and  (v)
    49  consider  the  particular facilities and processes involved, taking into
    50  account the  environmental  impact,  age  of  equipment  and  facilities
    51  involved,  the  processes employed, energy impacts and other appropriate
    52  factors.
    53    10. "Interbasin diversion" shall mean the transfer of water or  waste-
    54  water from one New York major drainage basin to another drainage basin.
    55    11. "Person" shall mean any individual, public or private corporation,
    56  political  subdivision,  government  agency, department or bureau of the

        A. 5318--A                          5
 
     1  state, municipality, industry, co-partnership, association, firm, trust,

     2  estate or any other legal entity whatsoever.
     3    12.  "Potable  water"  shall mean water intended for human consumption
     4  that meets the requirements for a public water system as  set  forth  in
     5  the state sanitary code.
     6    13.  "Public  water  supply system" shall mean a permanently installed
     7  water withdrawal  system  including  its  source,  collection,  pumping,
     8  treatment,  transmission,  storage  and  distribution facilities used in
     9  connection with such system, which provides piped potable water  to  the
    10  public  for  potable  purposes, if such system has at least five service
    11  connections used by year-round residents.
    12    14. "Threshold volume" shall mean the withdrawal of water of a  volume

    13  of  one  hundred  thousand  gallons  or  more per day, determined by the
    14  limiting maximum capacity of the water withdrawal, treatment, or convey-
    15  ance system; provided  that  for  agricultural  purposes  the  threshold
    16  volume  shall  mean  a  withdrawal  of water of a volume in excess of an
    17  average of one hundred thousand gallons per day in any consecutive thir-
    18  ty-day period.
    19    15. "Water withdrawal system" shall mean any equipment or  infrastruc-
    20  ture  operated  or  maintained  for the provision or withdrawal of water
    21  including, but not limited to, collection, pumping, treatment, transpor-
    22  tation, transmission, storage, and distribution.
    23    16. "Withdrawal" or "withdrawal of water" shall mean  the  removal  or

    24  taking of water for any purpose from the waters of the state.
    25    § 3. Section 15-1503 of the environmental conservation law, as amended
    26  by chapter 364 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
    27  § 15-1503. Permits.
    28    1.  A  permit application or request for a permit renewal or modifica-
    29  tion shall be made on forms [provided] prescribed by the department  and
    30  shall  [be  accompanied  by]  contain  all  information requested by the
    31  department relative to the  withdrawal,  use  and  discharge  of  water,
    32  including:
    33    a.  with  respect  to  a public water supply system, proof of adequate
    34  authorization for the proposed project[,];
    35    b. such exhibits as may be necessary clearly to indicate the scope  of

    36  the proposed project[,];
    37    c. a map of any lands to be acquired [and];
    38    d. project plans[.  The application shall also indicate];
    39    e. a statement of the need for and the reasons why the proposed source
    40  or  sources  of supply were selected among the alternative sources which
    41  are or may become available[,] and the adequacy of the  supply  selected
    42  [and the method proposed to determine and provide for the proper compen-
    43  sation  for any direct and indirect legal damages to persons or property
    44  that will result from the acquisition of any lands  in  connection  with
    45  the  proposed project or from the execution of the proposed project. The

    46  application shall also contain, in accordance with local water  resource
    47  needs and conditions,]; and
    48    f.  a description of the applicant's proposed near term and long range
    49  water conservation program that incorporates environmentally  sound  and
    50  economically feasible water conservation measures, including implementa-
    51  tion  and  enforcement procedures, effectiveness to date and any planned
    52  modifications for the future. [Such] For a public water  supply  system,
    53  the  water  conservation  program  may  include  but [shall] need not be
    54  limited to:
    55    [a.] i. the identification of and cost effectiveness  of  distribution
    56  system rehabilitation to correct sources of lost water;

        A. 5318--A                          6
 
     1    [b.] ii. measures which encourage proper maintenance and water conser-
     2  vation;
     3    [c.]  iii. a public information program to promote water conservation,
     4  including industrial and commercial recycling and reuse;
     5    [d.] iv. household conservation measures; and
     6    [e.] v. contingency measures for limiting water use during seasonal or
     7  drought shortages. [If the proposed project  provides  for  the  use  of
     8  water  for potable purposes, the application shall also include adequate
     9  proof of the character and purity of the water supply to be acquired  or
    10  used and the proposed method of treatment.]

    11    2.  In  making  its  decision  to grant or deny a permit or to grant a
    12  permit with conditions, the department shall determine whether:
    13    a. the proposed [project is justified by the public necessity, whether
    14  it] water withdrawal takes proper  consideration  of  other  sources  of
    15  supply  that  are  or  may become available[, whether all work connected
    16  with the project will be proper and construction safe, whether];
    17    b. the quantity of supply will be adequate[,  whether  there  will  be
    18  proper  protection  of the supply and watershed or whether there will be
    19  proper treatment of any additional supply, whether]   for  the  proposed
    20  use;

    21    c.  the  project  is just and equitable to all affected municipalities
    22  and their inhabitants [and in particular] with regard to  their  present
    23  and  future needs for sources of potable water supply[, whether there is
    24  provision for fair and equitable determinations of and payments  of  any
    25  direct  and  indirect  legal  damages  to  persons or property that will
    26  result from the acquisition of any lands in connection with the proposed
    27  project or from the execution of the proposed project, and  whether  the
    28  applicant  has developed and implemented a water conservation program in
    29  accordance with local water resource  needs  and  conditions.    If  the
    30  proposed project is a multi-purpose project, in whole or in part author-

    31  ized by a general plan adopted and approved pursuant to title 11 of this
    32  article,  the  department  in  addition  shall determine if the proposed
    33  project is in conformity with the general plan];
    34    d. the need for all or part of the proposed water withdrawal cannot be
    35  reasonably avoided through the efficient use and conservation of  exist-
    36  ing water supplies;
    37    e.  the  proposed  water  withdrawal is limited to quantities that are
    38  considered reasonable for the  purposes  for  which  the  water  use  is
    39  proposed;
    40    f.  the  proposed  water withdrawal will be implemented in a manner to
    41  ensure it will result in no significant individual or cumulative adverse

    42  impacts on the quantity or quality of the water source and water depend-
    43  ent natural resources;
    44    g. the proposed water withdrawal will be implemented in a manner  that
    45  incorporates  environmentally  sound  and  economically  feasible  water
    46  conservation measures; and
    47    h. the proposed water withdrawal will be implemented in a manner  that
    48  is  consistent with applicable municipal, state and federal laws as well
    49  as regional interstate and international agreements.
    50    3. In order to assist the  development  of  local  water  conservation
    51  [plans] programs for public water supply systems, the department shall[,
    52  by  the  effective  date  of  this subdivision,] continue to publish and

    53  distribute a [model local water conservation  plan]  water  conservation
    54  manual that includes beneficial near term and long range water conserva-
    55  tion procedures which reflect local water resource needs and conditions.
    56  Such [plan] manual shall include examples of:

        A. 5318--A                          7
 
     1    a.  methods  of  identifying and determining the cost effectiveness of
     2  distribution system rehabilitation to correct sources of lost water;
     3    b. measures which encourage proper maintenance and water conservation;
     4    c. a public information program to promote water conservation, includ-
     5  ing industrial and commercial recycling and reuse;
     6    d. household conservation measures; and
     7    e.  contingency  measures  for  limiting  water use during seasonal or
     8  drought shortages.

     9    4. The department may grant or deny a permit or grant  a  permit  with
    10  such  conditions  as may be necessary to provide satisfactory compliance
    11  by the applicant with the matters subject  to  department  determination
    12  pursuant  to subdivision 2 of this section, or to bring into cooperation
    13  all persons [or  public  corporations]  that  may  be  affected  by  the
    14  project,  but it shall make a reasonable effort to meet the needs of the
    15  applicant, with due regard to the actual or prospective needs, interests
    16  and rights of others that may be affected by the project.
    17    5. The rules and regulations adopted by the  department  to  implement
    18  this  title  and  the provisions of article 70 of this chapter and rules
    19  and regulations adopted thereunder  shall  govern  permit  applications,
    20  renewals, modifications, suspensions and revocations under this title.

    21    6.  A  new  permit  for  a  water withdrawal system and any subsequent
    22  renewal thereof shall be valid for a period of time not  to  exceed  ten
    23  years  from  the  date of issuance.  A new permit or permit modification
    24  must be obtained from the department prior to any transfer or change  of
    25  ownership of a water withdrawal system.
    26    §  4.  The  environmental  conservation law is amended by adding a new
    27  section 15-1504 to read as follows:
    28  § 15-1504. Water withdrawals for agricultural purposes.
    29    1. Applicability.
    30    a. This section applies  to  withdrawals  of  water  for  agricultural
    31  purposes  that  have been registered with the department pursuant to the
    32  requirements of title sixteen of this article or reported to the depart-

    33  ment pursuant to the requirements of title thirty-three of this  article
    34  on or before February fifteenth, two thousand twelve.
    35    b.  All persons making a withdrawal of water for agricultural purposes
    36  shall annually register or report the withdrawal to the department under
    37  the provisions of this section by March thirty-first of each year.
    38    2. When used in this section:
    39    a. "Great Lakes basin" shall mean the watershed of the Great Lakes and
    40  the St. Lawrence River, upstream from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, consisting
    41  in New York state of the Lake Erie-Niagara  River,  Lake  Ontario  minor
    42  tributaries, Genesee River, Seneca-Oneida-Oswego River, Black River, St.
    43  Lawrence River and Lake Champlain drainage basins.

    44    b.  "Great  Lakes  water"  shall  mean  the  water  contained  in  the
    45  watershed, including the lakes and rivers, of the Great Lakes basin.
    46    3. Registration of water withdrawals in the Great Lakes basin.
    47    a. All persons withdrawing Great Lakes water for agricultural purposes
    48  in excess of an average of one hundred thousand gallons per day  in  any
    49  consecutive  thirty-day  period  shall annually register such withdrawal
    50  with the department.
    51    b. Each registration shall be on a form and contain  such  information
    52  as may be prescribed by the department and consist of a statement of and
    53  supporting  documentation  which shall include but not be limited to the
    54  following:

    55    (1) The place and source of the proposed or existing withdrawal;
    56    (2) The location of any discharge or return flow;

        A. 5318--A                          8
 
     1    (3) The location and nature of the proposed or existing water use;
     2    (4)  The  actual  or  estimated average annual and monthly volumes and
     3  rates of withdrawal; and
     4    (5) The actual or estimated average annual  and  monthly  volumes  and
     5  rates of water loss from the withdrawal.
     6    c.  In  calculating  the total amount of an existing or proposed with-
     7  drawal for the purpose of determining the applicability of this subdivi-
     8  sion, a person shall combine all separate withdrawals which  the  person

     9  makes  or  proposes  to  make, whether or not such withdrawals are for a
    10  single agricultural purpose or are for related but separate agricultural
    11  purposes.
    12    d. Registrations shall be valid for a period of one year.
    13    e. A registration may be transferred by submitting a notice of  trans-
    14  fer  to  the  department  prior  to  the date of a transfer or change of
    15  ownership of a water withdrawal  system  associated  with  a  registered
    16  withdrawal.
    17    f. The department may cooperate with state soil and water conservation
    18  districts  for the preparation and distribution of informational materi-
    19  als to persons who withdraw water for agricultural  purposes,  regarding

    20  the  purposes,  benefits and requirements of this section, and which may
    21  also provide information on complying with the registration program  and
    22  on any general or applicable methods for calculating or estimating water
    23  withdrawals or water loss.
    24    4. Water withdrawal reporting.
    25    a.  Any person who withdraws water for agricultural purposes in excess
    26  of an average of one hundred thousand gallons per day in any consecutive
    27  thirty-day period shall annually report to the  department.  The  report
    28  shall  be  made  on  a  form  and  contain  such  information  as may be
    29  prescribed by the department and shall be based on the water withdrawals
    30  for the previous calendar year, and shall include but not be limited to:

    31    (1) the water source, the location of the water source and the  source
    32  capacity if known;
    33    (2)  the amount of water withdrawn for the reporting period, including
    34  the average or peak withdrawals for intervals specified by  the  depart-
    35  ment;
    36    (3) a description of the use of the water withdrawn; and
    37    (4)  estimated  amounts of water to be returned, if any, the locations
    38  of such returns and the method of such returns.
    39    b. The following water  withdrawals  are  exempt  from  the  reporting
    40  requirements of this subdivision:
    41    (1)  a  withdrawal  registered  with  the department under subdivision
    42  three of this section;
    43    (2) a withdrawal permitted pursuant to section 15-1501 of this title;

    44    (3) a withdrawal reported to the department  under  any  program  that
    45  requires  the  reporting  of substantially similar data, including with-
    46  drawals regulated by the Susquehanna  River  Basin  Commission  and  the
    47  Delaware River Basin Commission;
    48    (4) a withdrawal permitted under section 15-1527 of this title;
    49    (5) closed loop, standing column, or similar non-extractive geothermal
    50  heat pumps; and
    51    (6) reclaimed wastewater withdrawn for reuse.
    52    5.  Withdrawals  of  water  for  agricultural  purposes  registered or
    53  reported to the department under the requirements of this section  shall
    54  be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of title sixteen and
    55  title thirty-three of this article, as applicable.

        A. 5318--A                          9
 
     1    § 5. Section 15-1505 of the environmental conservation law, as amended
     2  by chapter 233 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
     3  § 15-1505. [Water]  Interbasin  diversions  and  water  supply  to other
     4               states.
     5    1. No person [or public corporation] shall transport or carry  through
     6  pipes,  conduits,  ditches or canals the waters of any fresh water lake,
     7  pond, brook, river, stream, or creek in this state or any well,  subsur-
     8  face  or  percolating  waters of this state into any other state for use
     9  therein without first obtaining a permit from the department pursuant to
    10  this title.
    11    2. No person shall make a new or increased interbasin diversion  which

    12  results  in  a  diversion  in  excess of one million gallons per day, as
    13  determined by the limiting maximum capacity of the treatment or  convey-
    14  ance  system,  or construct facilities or equipment therefor, until such
    15  person has registered the diversion with the department. No  later  than
    16  February  fifteenth,  two  thousand  thirteen,  all  existing interbasin
    17  diversions in excess of one million gallons per day,  as  determined  by
    18  the  limiting  maximum  capacity  of the treatment or conveyance system,
    19  shall be registered with the department.
    20    3. Registration is not required for an interbasin diversion  which  is
    21  part  of a water withdrawal system for which the department has issued a

    22  permit under this title, or  which  is  operating  pursuant  to  a  duly
    23  authorized permit issued by the department or its predecessors.
    24    4.  Registration  shall be renewed every year or whenever ownership of
    25  the facilities which create  an  interbasin  diversion  is  transferred,
    26  whichever  occurs  first. Registration shall be made on forms prescribed
    27  by the department and shall contain all  information  requested  by  the
    28  department  relative  to  the  water withdrawal, use and discharge. Each
    29  person who is required under this section to register shall annually, on
    30  a form prescribed by the department, report all information requested by
    31  the department, including the amount of water diverted.  Information  on

    32  interbasin diversions shall be posted on the department's website.
    33    5.  No person shall make a new or increased interbasin diversion which
    34  results in a significant adverse impact on the  water  quantity  of  the
    35  source New York major drainage basin.
    36    6.  Diversions  from  the  Great  Lakes-St.  Lawrence  river basin are
    37  prohibited by the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin  Water  Resources
    38  Compact,  as enacted in title ten of article twenty-one of this chapter.
    39  Limited exceptions for public water supply systems will only be  consid-
    40  ered when in compliance with that Compact.
    41    § 6. Section 15-1521 of the environmental conservation law, as amended
    42  by chapter 233 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:

    43  § 15-1521. Supply of water to other public water supply systems.
    44    On  any  application for a new or [additional] increased withdrawal of
    45  water for a public water supply [or source of water supply] system,  the
    46  department  may  require  or  authorize  [any]  the  applicant  to  make
    47  provisions for the supply and to supply water to any area of  the  state
    48  which  as  determined by the department in its decision on that applica-
    49  tion properly should be supplied with water from the source  or  sources
    50  of  water  supply  sought by the applicant. The owner or operator of any
    51  existing or proposed [water works] public  water  supply  system  within
    52  such  area  may  apply to the department for a permit to take water from

    53  that source of water supply or from any part of the public water  supply
    54  system  of  the applicant supplied in whole or in part from that source.
    55  If the department so requires, or if it grants a permit, it shall be the
    56  duty of the applicant so to supply water, subject to  such  requirements

        A. 5318--A                         10
 
     1  as  the  department  may  impose. The price to be paid for the amount of
     2  water so to be taken [and the price to be paid therefor] may  be  agreed
     3  upon between the applicant and the taker of the water, or if they cannot
     4  agree,  fair  and reasonable amounts and rates shall be, after due hear-
     5  ings thereon, fixed by the  [department,  provided  however,  that  such
     6  department shall have no power to fix rates in any case where the Public

     7  Service Commission has such power, and provided further, that nothing in
     8  this  section  contained shall be construed as diminishing the powers of
     9  said Public Service Commission in respect to rates of water works compa-
    10  nies subject to its jurisdiction] public service commission.   Any  such
    11  agreement or determination of the [department] public service commission
    12  may  from  time  to  time  be  modified by further agreement between the
    13  parties affected thereby or by the further  order  of  the  [department]
    14  commission.
    15    §  7. Section 15-1529 of the environmental conservation law is amended
    16  to read as follows:
    17  § 15-1529. [Final approval of work] Approval of  completed  water  with-
    18               drawal systems.

    19    [Before  any  project  authorized to be developed or carried out under
    20  this title 15 shall be  operated,  it  must,  as  completed,  have  been
    21  approved  by  the  department]  The  construction of any new or modified
    22  water withdrawal system authorized under this title shall be  under  the
    23  general  supervision  of  a  person or firm licensed to practice profes-
    24  sional engineering in the state. Upon completion of  construction,  such
    25  person or firm shall certify to the department that the water withdrawal
    26  system  has  been  fully completed in accordance with the approved engi-
    27  neering report, plans and specifications, and the permit issued  by  the
    28  department  pursuant  to this title. The owner shall not commence opera-

    29  tion of the new or modified water withdrawal system prior to the depart-
    30  ment receiving such certificate and prior to approval of the  system  by
    31  the department of health or its designee as may be required by the state
    32  sanitary code.
    33    §  8.  Title 16 of article 15 of the environmental conservation law is
    34  REPEALED.
    35    § 9. Title 33 of article 15 of the environmental conservation  law  is
    36  REPEALED.
    37    §  10. Subdivision 1 of section 71-1127 of the environmental conserva-
    38  tion law, as amended by chapter 640 of the laws of 1977, is  amended  to
    39  read as follows:
    40    1.  Any  person who violates any of the provisions of, or who fails to
    41  perform any duty imposed by article 15 except section  15-1713,  or  who
    42  violates or who fails to comply with any rule, regulation, determination

    43  or  order of the department heretofore or hereafter promulgated pursuant
    44  to article 15 except section 15-1713,  or  any  condition  of  a  permit
    45  issued  pursuant  to article 15 of this chapter, or any determination or
    46  order of the former water resources commission  or  the  [Department  of
    47  Environmental  Conservation]  department heretofore promulgated pursuant
    48  to former article 5 of the Conservation Law, shall be liable for a civil
    49  penalty of not more than two thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  such
    50  violation  and  an  additional civil penalty of not more than [one] five
    51  hundred dollars for each day during which such violation continues, and,
    52  in addition thereto, such person may be enjoined  from  continuing  such
    53  violation as otherwise provided in article 15 except section 15-1713.

    54    §  11. This act shall take effect February 15, 2012; provided, however
    55  that section four  of  this  act  shall  take  effect  immediately;  and
    56  provided,  further  that  sections eight and nine of this act shall take

        A. 5318--A                         11
 
     1  effect December 31, 2013, and provided further that any application  for
     2  an  adjudication of water rates pursuant to section 15-1521 of the envi-
     3  ronmental conservation law that is filed with the department of environ-
     4  mental  conservation and for which the department has issued a notice of
     5  hearing prior to February 15, 2012 shall remain under  the  jurisdiction
     6  of the department of environmental conservation.
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