Rule 600-7-1-.04 - Priorities for Inclusion in Ag Measurement Program(1) Timetable. (a)i. As provided in House Bill 579, new O.C.G.A. § 12-5-31(m.1) and new O.C.G.A. § 12-5-105(b.1) contemplate that the Commission shall develop a priority system for installation of water-measuring devices for farm uses that have permits as of July 1, 2003. ii. Provided adequate funding is received, the Commission is directed to install and commence operation and maintenance of such water measuring devices for all such farm uses by July 1, 2009, provided, however, that the Commission shall not install a water measuring device on any irrigation system for such a farm use if such irrigation system is equipped with a meter as of July 1, 2003, if such meter is determined by the Commission to be properly installed and operable, but any subsequent replacement or maintenance of such an irrigation system that necessitates replacement of such meter shall necessitate installation of a water measuring device by the Commission.iii. The Commission may charge any permittee the Commission's reasonable costs for purchase and installation of a water measuring device for any farm use permit issued by EPD after July 1, 2003 unless such permittee submitted its permit application prior to December 31, 2002.(b) The Commission acknowledges in these Rules that among the various hydrological units there are approximately 21,000 permitted surface and ground water agricultural irrigation systems in the state. Because funding for the Ag Measurement Program is anticipated to be determined on an annual basis, the Commission will begin implementation of a six (6) year plan with the goal towards installation operation and maintenance of water measurement devices for all farm uses by July 1, 2009, subject to adequate funding being received. The Commission anticipates that this multi-year process will involve refinement, bench marking, milestones and ongoing evaluation.(2) Criteria for Determining Priorities for Meter Installations - First Year. (a) The Commission, in consultation with DNR-EPD, has determined that the criteria for the decision of where to install meters among the various hydrological units and permitted surface and ground water agricultural irrigation systems in the State should focus in the first year on key criteria that relate to the importance of data gathering on water-use in the heavily irrigated areas of the ACF Basin. The criteria are: i. The number of backlogged farm water withdrawal permit applications;ii. The efficient and effective implementation of the Flint River Drought Protection Act;iii. The need to further understand the effect of irrigation pumping on flows in the Flint River, including tributary stream segments that support rare, threatened, or endangered species; andiv. The existence of both surface and ground water irrigation systems.v. Such other criteria determined by the Commission to be appropriate.(b) The Director shall periodically determine and recommend to the Commission the specific hydrologic unit(s) and irrigation systems which shall have water measuring devices installed based on available funding and in consideration of an appropriate sampling of surface and ground water sources, geographic location, and other appropriate factors.(3) Criteria for Determining Priorities for Meter Installations-Years 2-6. The Director, in consultation with DNR/EPD, shall consider the criteria identified in Rule 600-7-1-.04(2)(a) above, as well as other appropriate factors, on an annual basis beginning after the first year of the Ag Measurement Program and provide a recommendation to the Commission each year as to specific agricultural irrigation systems which should be given priority for installation of water measuring devices for the next following year. A determination of priorities for meter installations for the next following year shall be made by the Commission in consideration of such recommendation and such determination shall be used by the Commission in seeking the necessary funding to accomplish the same and for other purposes deemed appropriate by the Commission.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 600-7-1-.04
O.C.G.A. Sec. 2-6-20.
Original Rule entitled "Priorities for Inclusion in Ag Measurement Program" adopted. F. Jan. 29, 2004; eff. Feb. 18, 2004.