45-403. Designation of groundwater basins and
sub-basins; hearing
A. Within eighteen months of the effective date of this section, the director shall
propose boundaries for all groundwater basins and sub-basins of groundwater basins in
this state not included within initial active management areas established pursuant to
section 45-411.
B. Within twenty-four months of the effective date of this section, the director
shall hold public hearings to consider the final boundaries of groundwater basins and
sub-basins in this state not included within initial active management areas established
pursuant to section 45-411. The director shall give reasonable notice of the hearing
appropriate to the circumstances which shall include the publication once each week for
two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the
proposed groundwater basin is located. Any notice shall contain the time and place of
the hearing, the legal description and a map clearly identifying and describing all lands
to be included in the proposed groundwater basin and any sub-basin and any other
information the director deems necessary.
C. The hearings shall be held at the county seat of the county in which the major
portion of the land in the proposed groundwater basin is located as soon as practicable
but no less than thirty days and no more than sixty days after the first publication of
the notice of the hearing. At the hearing, the director shall present the factual data in
his possession in support of the proposed action. Any person may appear at the hearing,
either in person or by representative, and submit oral or documentary evidence for or
against the proposed action. In making his determination, the director shall give full
consideration to public comment and to recommendations made by local political
subdivisions.
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