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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR: Vigil DATE TYPED: 02/16/00 HB HM 23
SHORT TITLE: Problems with Domestic Wells SB
ANALYST: Pickering

APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
Minimal

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates HJM74 Relates to SJM60

_______________________________________________________________________________________



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Office of the State Engineer / Interstate Stream Commission (OSE/ISC)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



HM 23 requests the state engineer to report the number, general location, and impact to streams and interstate compacts of domestic wells to the interim Water and Natural Resources Committee.

Also, the memorial requires the engineer to provide examples of domestic wells used for fisheries, aesthetic or other purposes inconsistent with the intent of Section 72-12-1 NMSA 1978. Additionally, the engineer is charged with providing proposed regulations related to capping and/or plugging of abandoned wells.

Significant Issues



HM 23 calls for the state engineer to evaluate domestic wells as they currently exist, including accumulated impacts to stream systems.



FISCAL/ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

OSE reported minimal impact in the form of some additional study and research. However, most of the data should be obtainable from existing agency files.



DUPLICATION



HM 23 duplicates HJM 74/aHAGC and relates to SJM60.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



According to the agency, HM23 makes the assumption that the engineer is aware of all illegal uses of domestic wells, which is not the case. Consequently, OSE contends that it could prepare a high level report as mandated by the memorial; however, it would show a generalized, rather than specified, representation of the impact of domestic wells in certain critical basins.



SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



OSE proposed amending HM23 by deleting language that pertained to "areas of the state that domestic wells do not now impact other appropriators," and inserting language for "critical areas of the state where domestic wells may impact other appropriators."



RWP/gm