EXHIBIT 16-A
DRAFT
ORDINANCE NO. 160
An Ordinance of the
Board of Directors of the
Monterey Peninsula
Water Management District
Comprehensively Amending
its Regulation of the
Water Distribution
System Permit Process
(Rules 11, 20, 21, 22
and 173)
FINDINGS
1. The Water Peninsula Water Management
District (MPWMD or District) is charged under the Monterey Peninsula Water
Management District Law with the integrated management of the ground and
surface water resources in the Monterey Peninsula area.
2. The
Water Management District has enacted, by ordinance, a set of Rules and
Regulations to implement its statutory authority. District Rule 11 defines the terms used in
the regulation of Water Distribution Systems (WDS). District Rules 20, 20.4, 21, 22, 40, 54-56
and 173 further define procedural and substantive rules that regulate these
systems. Although these rules have been
amended from time to time, the fundamental scope of these regulations was first
enacted in the early 1980s. Significant
refinements, changes and additions to the rules and regulations governing water
distribution systems were adopted as part of Ordinance No. 96 in March 2001,
Ordinance No. 105 in December, 2005, Ordinance No. 122 in August 2005,
Ordinance No. 124 in July 2006, Ordinance No. 128 in June 2007, Ordinance No.
145 in September 2010, and Ordinance No. 150 in May 2012.
3. This
ordinance would revise, amend and clarify the WDS regulatory process based on
policy direction provided by the MPWMD Board of Directors at its December 9,
2013 meeting, with the goal of a more streamlined process that avoids
duplication among agencies, while protecting the water resources of the
Monterey Peninsula. It revises the types
of exemptions available, consistent with the ministerial and categorical
exemption categories in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines, and provides three levels of WDS Permit review based on the
location, water production, number of parcels served, and type of water system,
including Mobile WDS. Certain
definitions are amended or clarified.
4. This
ordinance shall amend the Rules and Regulations of the Water Management
District. Specifically, this ordinance shall revise or add certain terms in
Rule 11 (Definitions). This ordinance
shall replace existing text for Rule 20-A (Permits Required), Rule 20-C
(Exemptions), Rule 21-A (Applications), and Rule 22-A (Application Process);
and shall make refinements to Rule 22-B (Findings), Rule 22-C (Minimum
Standards), Rule 22-D (Mandatory Conditions of Approval), Rule 22-E
(Amendments), and Rule 173 (Mobile WDS).
Several rules refer to Implementation Guidelines for specific protocols.
5. The Water Management District Board of Directors determines
that this ordinance is not considered to be a “project” under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15378 because the function of the ordinance (and its associated
Implementation Guidelines) is to clarify permit processing protocol, and the ordinance does not have
the potential to result in either a direct physical effect or reasonably
foreseeable indirect physical effect on the environment. In contrast,
each future WDS application received will be subject to CEQA review in order to
determine whether the proposal meets the criteria for an exemption, or will require
environmental review pursuant to the applicable CEQA sections.
NOW THEREFORE be it ordained as follows:
ORDINANCE
Section One: Short
Title
This
ordinance shall be known as the Comprehensive Water Distribution System Procedures
Ordinance (Rules 11, 20, 21, 22 and 173).
Section Two: Purpose
This
ordinance shall revise the permanent Rules and Regulations of the Water
Management District to clarify procedures that affect applications for the creation
or amendment of Water Distribution Systems by revising and clarifying
procedures, including exemptions, Mobile WDS and non-Well systems.
Section Three: Amendment of Rule 11 (Definitions)
District
Rule 11 shall be amended by deleting the following defined terms in their
entirety:
“LEVEL 1 (CATEGORICAL) PERMIT”
“LEVEL 2 (ADMINISTRATIVE) PERMIT”
“LEVEL 3 PERMIT
(HEARING OFFICER REVIEW)”
“LEVEL 4 PERMIT (MPWMD BOARD HEARING)”
District
Rule 11 shall be amended by deleting following provisions shown in strikeout
text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set forth in
italicized and bold face type (bold face).
CONFIRMATION OF EXEMPTION – “Confirmation
of Exemption” shall mean a written approval by staff of the Monterey Peninsula
Water Management District based on a Pre-Application Request Form to
Create/Establish a Water Distribution System an application package
which complies with Rule 20 and Rule 21.
LEVEL 1 WDS
PERMIT (BASIC, NON-MPWRS) – “Level 1 WDS Permit (Basic, Non-MPWRS)” shall mean
a discretionary Permit for a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water
Distribution System located outside of the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource
System that does not meet the exemption criteria in Rule 20, but does qualify for
a Permit to be issued without System Limits as a condition of approval, consistent
with the criteria specified in Rules 21, 22 and 173, and the associated
Implementation Guidelines specified in those rules.
LEVEL 2 WDS
PERMIT (BASIC SEASIDE BASIN )– “Level 2 WDS Permit (Basic Seaside Basin” shall
mean a discretionary Permit for a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water
Distribution System located within the Seaside Groundwater Basin that does not
meet the exemption criteria in Rule 20, but does qualify for a Permit to be
issued with System Limits consistent with production triggers in the Seaside
Basin Adjudication Final Decision (March 2006 as amended), and consistent with
the criteria specified in Rules 21, 22 and 173, and the associated
Implementation Guidelines specified in those rules. Examples include a
Multiple-Parcel Connection System that produces less than 5.0 Acre-Feet per
year, or a Single-Parcel Connection System that produces 5.0 Acre-Feet per year
or greater, if such production is specified in the Adjudication Decision.
LEVEL 3 WDS
PERMIT (PROJECT-SPECIFIC LIMITS IN MPWRS/OTHER) – “Level 3 WDS Permit
(Project-Specific Limits in MPWRS/Other)” shall mean a discretionary Permit for
a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water Distribution System located within the
Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System, or a system located outside of the Monterey
Peninsula Water Resource System that does not meet the exemption criteria in
Rule 20, and does not meet the criteria for a Level 1 or Level 2 Permit in
Rules 21, 22 and 173, and the associated Implementation Guidelines specified in
those rules. The Level 3 Permit is
issued with System Limits as a condition of approval, and other restrictions as
necessary to protect the MPWRS. Examples
include: any water system that extracts water from the Carmel Valley Alluvial
Aquifer; a multiple-Parcel system in the Seaside Groundwater Basin that
produces more than 5.0 Acre-Feet per year that is not specified in the
Adjudication Decision; and major water projects such as a dam, desalination
plant or reclamation facility that requires an Environmental Impact
Report.
SENSITIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL RECEPTOR (SER) -- A “Sensitive Environmental Receptor (SER)” is
shall
mean any one of the following areas or locations: (1) the Carmel Valley
Alluvial Aquifer (alluvium) as delineated by the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) in Order WR 95-10 as modified by Order 98-04, and as shown on
maps at the District office; (2) the five tributaries listed in MPWMD Rule
20, all tributaries to the Carmel River within the District boundary that
are not within the Ventana Wilderness, including Cachagua, Pine, San Clemente,
Tularcitos, Hitchcock Canyon, Garzas, Robinson Canyon and Potrero Creeks; (3)
the Seaside Groundwater Basin as delineated by MPWMD, and as shown on maps at
the District office; (4) the Pacific Ocean as delineated by the mean high tide
line; or (5) other sensitive locations as designated by Resolution of the MPWMD
Board of Directors. The Pacific Ocean is included as
a potential indicator of seawater intrusion; the ocean itself is not a SER.
SINGLE-PARCEL
CONNECTION SYSTEM – “Single-Parcel Connection System” refers to shall
mean a Water Distribution System providing water to one or more
buildings or structures or providing water for irrigation purposes on one
individual Llegal Parcel. The Well(s) or other Water Gathering
Facility must be located on, overlying and serving the same individual Legal
Parcel. If the single Parcel is
subdivided into two or more separate Parcels, the Water Distribution System is
now considered to be a Multiple-Parcel Connection System, regardless of Parcel
ownership, unless the newly formed Llegal
Parcels each are served by a separate Well that has received a well
construction permit from the Monterey County Health Department, and
has been registered, metered, inspected and has been approved by
the District within 180 days of the date of the final approval of the
subdivision.
Section Four: Amendment of
Rule 20-A (Permit to Create/Establish a WDS)
District
Rule 20-A shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and
replacing that text with the following Section 20-A.
RULE
20 - PERMITS REQUIRED
A. PERMIT TO CREATE/ESTABLISH A WATER DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
Before any Person Creates or Establishes a Water Distribution System or a
Mobile Water Distribution System, such Person shall first obtain a written Confirmation
of Exemption or Permit from the District, execute and record a
notice on the title of the property, and pay all applicable fees.
Desalination,
reclamation or importation
facilities located within the District are not exempt because the Source of
Supply is considered to be the water emanating from a facility within the
District.
Persons
who hold a valid permit for construction and operation of a Water Distribution
System from the Monterey County Health Department, prior to March 12, 1980, or
a Water Distribution System in existence prior to that date, shall be deemed to
have been issued a Permit in compliance with these Rules and Regulations. Persons who filed a completed application to the
Monterey County Health Department, date-stamped by the Department on or before
March 19, 2001, for construction of a Well serving a Single-Parcel Connection
System shall be deemed to have been issued a Permit in compliance with these
Rules and Regulations provided all of the following actions were taken: (1) the Applicant received a valid well
construction permit from the Monterey County Health Department, made the Well
active, metered the Well, had the Well inspected by MPWMD and received an approved
MPWMD Water Meter Installation Inspection form issued on or before October 15,
2001; and (2) each Water-Gathering Facility of that
system was registered with the District on or before October 15, 2001.
No
Mobile Water Distribution System shall be issued a Permit under the provisions
of the previous paragraph. Each such
system shall be required to apply for and obtain a written Confirmation of
Exemption or Permit in accord with Rules 21 and 22.
The Expansion Capacity Limit and System
Capacity of previously existing systems shall be determined pursuant to Rule
40-A unless they meet the criteria for a Confirmation of Exemption or Level 1
WDS Permit, or do not have a water right already specified in the Seaside Basin
Adjudication Final Decision (as amended) or in a Permit issued by the State
Water Resources Control Board.
An
Owner or Operator of a Water Distribution System shall not modify, add to or
change his/her Source of Supply, location of uses, change the System Capacity (if
applicable) or Expansion Capacity Limit (if applicable), or expand the Service
Area unless that Person first files an application to do so with the District
and receives an amended creation/establishment Permit or written Confirmation
of Exemption.
Section Five: Amendment of
Rule 20-C (Exemptions for WDS Permit)
District
Rule 20-C shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and
replacing that text with the following Section 20-C.
C. EXEMPTIONS FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM PERMIT
Exemptions for a Water
Distribution System Permit for a Well shall only be considered following
receipt of a Well Construction Permit from the Monterey County Environmental
Health Bureau and a State Department of Water Resources Well Completion
Report. The Well must be properly
registered with MPWMD, metered, inspected, and have an approved
MPWMD Water Meter Installation Inspection form on file. Additional requirements
are described in the Implementation Guidelines.
An
MPWMD Water Distribution System Permit is not required for the
situations enumerated below. Unless
noted otherwise, a written and recorded Confirmation of Exemption prepared by
MPWMD staff is required.
1. For properties that lie outside the
District boundary, where both: (a) the property to be served is wholly outside
of the boundaries of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District; and (b) the water
source is also located outside of the District boundary. A written Confirmation of Exemption is not
required.
2. For properties that straddle the
District boundary, where both: (a) the portion of the property served by the
Water Distribution System is outside of the District boundary; and (b) the
Source of Supply is outside of the District boundary. A written Confirmation of Exemption is not
required.
3. For a Well (or Wells) which serves fewer than four
Parcels and is located more than 1,000 feet from the boundary of any component
of the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System as defined in Rule 11.
4. For a Well (or Wells) that serves fewer
than four Parcels located less than or equal to 1,000
feet from components of the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System for which
the well log shows no connectivity to these components as determined by
qualified MPWMD staff.
5. For a Single-Parcel Connection System located within the
Seaside Groundwater Basin with overlying water rights to percolating
groundwater for which annual production shall total less than 5.0 Acre-Feet per
year.
6. To Reactivate, Refurbish or Replace
existing Wells that are registered with the District, as defined in Rule
11. To qualify for this exemption, the
Reactivated, Refurbished or Replacement Well must have substantially the same or
lower
Capacity of the structure
replaced. The replacement structure must
be consistent with other MPWMD Rules and Regulations. This exemption from the MPWMD permitting
process does not affect in any way the Applicant’s obligation to comply with
permit requirements by other regional, state or federal agencies. This exemption shall not apply to an
Abandoned Well, or replacement or refurbishment of an Abandoned Well, or Wells
that have been Inactive for more than three years from the date of receipt of
the Application Form described in Rule 21-A.
7. For On-Site rainwater capture
facilities (e.g., Cisterns) that serve Single-Parcel Connection Systems for Residential
or Commercial Use situations for On-Site Landscape irrigation use.
8. For Mobile Water Distribution Systems
that meet either of the following criteria: (A) For deliveries
of drinking water by commercial companies with licenses from the California
Department of Public Health in volumes less than or equal to 55 gallons per
container. A written Confirmation of
Exemption is not required. (B) For
non-emergency situations, bulk hauled delivery of volumes of water greater than
55 gallons from sources outside the MPWMD boundary may only be used for
non-Potable landscape irrigation (including pools) and must be accompanied by
written approval from the water agency, jurisdiction or other entity with
regulatory authority over the source of supply.
Sources of supply within the MPWMD boundary are subject to a Water
Distribution System Permit from MPWMD pursuant to Rules 20, 21 and 22, and the
Implementation Guidelines.
9. For non-Potable onsite use of water on one Parcel from a naturally occurring spring or seep in Fractured Rock as confirmed in writing by MPWMD staff following an on-site inspection.
10. For an existing or future new Irrigation System, owned and
operated by MPWMD, which exists solely to
irrigate riparian vegetation in the Carmel River Riparian Corridor as part of
the MPWMD Water Allocation Program EIR Mitigation
Program. A written Confirmation of
Exemption is not required.
11. For a non-MPWMD Irrigation System that is served by a Well completed prior to January 15,
2003, with the purpose to irrigate riparian vegetation in the Carmel River
Riparian Corridor pursuant to conditions of approval of an MPWMD River Work Permit, a contract
with MPWMD, or any other irrigation use approved by the District. This exemption does not apply to Irrigation
Systems that are served by Wells completed on or after January 15, 2003.
12. For a Water Distribution System in
existence prior to April 18, 2001, that is comprised of multiple, contiguous
Parcels owned by the same owner. Such a system may be referred to as
“pre-existing Multiple-Parcel Connection System.” However, any amendments to such a Water
Distribution System on or after April 18, 2001, must be permitted by the District pursuant to Rule 20 and Rule
22.
13. For a Water Distribution System that
serves water to Parcels within the Former Fort Ord Lands within MPWMD, but that
does not derive water from the Seaside Groundwater Basin or the Carmel River
Basin, including the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer. A written Confirmation of Exemption is not
required.
14. Any exemption pursuant to this Rule 20-C,
however, shall not be construed to exempt
the facility or its Owner or Operator from any other requirement set forth in
these MPWMD Rules and Regulations, or any other regulatory or legal
requirement.
Section Six: Amendment of
Rule 21-A (Application for WDS Permit)
District
Rule 21-A shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and
replacing that text with the following Section 21-A.
RULE
21 - APPLICATIONS
A. APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CREATE/ESTABLISH A WATER
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
The
Applicant for a Permit to Create/Establish
a Water Distribution System or for a Confirmation of Exemption shall submit the
following, based on guidance provided in the Implementation Guidelines:
1. A completed written Application Form
signed by the system Owner, in the manner and form
prescribed by the Implementation Guidelines.
Based on the information provided in the Application, the General
Manager shall determine: (a) whether the application qualifies for an exemption
under Rule 20; (b) whether ministerial or discretionary action is needed by
MPWMD; and (c) which type of Permit is applicable to the project as prescribed
by Rule 22 and the Implementation Guidelines.
Depending on the situation, the Application package may be required to
include some or all of the remaining
numbered elements of this Rule 21-A; and
2. Environmental information as required
by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
3. Zoning and land use designations for
the property; identify land use approvals which may be required for the proposed
Project by the Municipal Unit in which proposed system would be located (i.e.,
tentative map, use permit, etc.), or by other Governmental agencies, consistent
with state and local regulations that require proof of available water supply;
and
4. Identify type of water right claimed to
exist with each Water-Gathering Facility and each
Source of Supply for the system (e.g., riparian, pre-1914, appropriative,
overlying or other). Provide written
verification of legal water rights applicable to type of right claimed. The verification shall include, but shall not
be limited to the following forms of documentation: (a) Condition of Title
Report, prepared by a title company at the Applicant’s expense, and any and all
supporting documentation to indicate whether legal water rights have been
subordinated or severed; this documentation may include a judicial declaration
of right or a full title opinion prepared by an attorney with expertise in
water law; (b) information that describes the legal basis or authority for
diversion and extraction of water; (c) if Groundwater is being pumped from a
Groundwater basin that has not been adjudicated, a statement to that effect in addition to a copy of the current
deed to the property is sufficient documentation to satisfy this requirement;
or (d) if the source of the water is subject to permit requirements under the State Water Resources Control Board, a copy of the SWRCB water rights permit or
domestic registration must be included; and
5. A copy of: (a) an approved Water Well
Construction Permit issued by the Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau,
including the associated impact assessment conducted by the Monterey County
Water Resources Agency (if applicable); (b) the State of California Well Completion
Report submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (“well log”);
and (c) Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau “Source Water Quality and Quantity Analysis Certification Form” or
similar approval document from that agency (if applicable); and
6. The name and address of each Responsible Party; and
7. The results of Well Capacity (Aquifer Pumping)
Tests as specified by the Implementation Guidelines, the cost of which shall be
borne by the Applicant, and which may be observed by a District representative or agent;
and
8. The results of water quality tests as
specified by the Implementation Guidelines, the cost of which shall be borne by
the Applicant; and
9. An evaluation of the hydrogeologic
information in the manner and form required in the Implementation
Guidelines. This evaluation shall be
prepared by a qualified individual or firm as determined by the District. Qualified consultants shall include a
certified hydrogeologist, a licensed professional geologist with a specialty in
hydrogeology, a certified engineering geologist with a specialty in
hydrogeology, or a registered civil engineer with a specialty in hydrology;
these specialists shall be certified in, registered or licensed by the State of
California. The costs of this evaluation
shall be borne by the Applicant; and
10. Documentation regarding notification to
Neighboring Well owners, if applicable. If
required by the District, the Applicant shall provide notice to Neighboring
Well owners regarding the opportunity to monitor Wells as specified in the
Implementation Guidelines. Applicant
shall provide documentation of notice to, and responses (if any) by,
Neighboring Well owners to the District prior to the commencement of Well
Capacity (Aquifer Pumping) Tests, as specified in the Implementation
Guidelines.
11. For a Mobile Water Distribution System, documentation about
the source of supply, quantity and intended uses, including written approval
from the agency with regulatory authority over the source (if source is located
outside of the MPWMD boundary); and
12. The applicable fees prescribed in Rule
60.
Section Seven: Amendment of
Rule 22-A (Process for Application for WDS Permit)
District
Rule 22-A shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and
replacing that text with the following Section 22-A.
RULE 22 - ACTION
ON APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CREATE/ESTABLISH A
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
A. PROCESS
1.
Review
of Application Package
The
General Manager shall review each Application Form (and attachments) to
Create/Establish a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water Distribution
System, or to amend such a system. If
the Application is determined to be complete pursuant to the Implementation
Guidelines, the General Manager shall confirm the proper Permit Review Level as
defined in Rule 11, Definitions. The
General Manager shall notify the applicant in writing to confirm the Permit
Review Level determination and the associated process steps, including the
required recordation of notice on the title of the property, if applicable, and
potential additional fees. If the
Application is determined to be incomplete, the General Manager shall notify
the applicant in writing of the missing or deficient information, and request
the Applicant to submit that information.
2. Determination of Permit Review Level
Based
on the information in the Application package, the General Manager shall
determine the Permit Review Level as follows, using Table 22-A as a guide and
consistent with the protocol provided in the Implementation Guidelines, and
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Permit Review Levels are as follows:
Exempt: A system meets the criteria identified in Rule 20.
Level 1 Water Distribution System Permit (Basic Non-MPWRS): For a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water Distribution System located outside of the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System that does not meet the exemption criteria specified in Rule 20, but does qualify for a Permit to be issued without System Limits as a condition of approval, consistent with the criteria in these Rules and the Implementation Guidelines.
Level 2 Water Distribution System Permit (Basic Seaside Basin): For a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water Distribution System located within the Seaside Groundwater Basin that does not meet the exemption criteria in Rule 20, but does qualify for a Permit to be issued with System Limits consistent with production triggers in the Seaside Basin Adjudication Final Decision (March 2006 as amended), and consistent with the criteria specified in Rules 21, 22 and 173, and the associated Implementation Guidelines specified in those rules.
Level 3 Water Distribution System Permit (Project-Specific Limits in MPWRS/Other): For a Water Distribution System or Mobile Water Distribution System located within the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System, or a system located outside the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System that does not meet the exemption criteria in Rule 20, or does not meet the criteria for a Level 1 or Level 2 Permit, in Rules 21, 22 and 173, and the associated Implementation Guidelines specified in those rules. The Level 3 Permit is issued with System Limits as a condition of approval, and other restrictions as necessary to protect the MPWRS.
Each
application shall be reviewed pursuant to CEQA, except those projects which
meet the CEQA criteria for a ministerial or categorical exemption (CEQA
Guidelines Section 15268 and Article 19).
3. Protocol for Exempt System
Unless specified otherwise in Rule 20, the General Manager shall provide a written Confirmation of Exemption to the Applicant in the form and manner prescribed in the Implementation Guidelines, including the applicable fee described in Rule 60. A notice on the title of the property shall be recorded by the District prior to issuance of the written Confirmation of Exemption. District action is ministerial and is exempt from the requirements of CEQA (Guidelines Section 15268). Notice of the staff action shall be provided to the public via the “Appealable Decisions” section of the District website. The staff determination may be appealed to the MPWMD Board pursuant to Rule 70, “Appeals.”
4. Protocol for Level 1 Permit (Basic
Non-MPWRS)
The General Manager shall review the Application package in the form and manner prescribed in Rule 21 to determine if the submitted Application is complete, pursuant to the Implementation Guidelines, within thirty (30) days of receipt. If the Application is determined to be incomplete, the General Manager shall notify the Applicant concerning that information in which the Application is deficient and request the Applicant to submit that information, in compliance with Rule 22-F. If the Application is determined to be complete, and all criteria specified in Rule 22-A-2 and the Implementation Guidelines are met, the General Manager shall issue a Level 1 Permit within a goal of sixty (60) days that specifies terms and conditions that are independent of, but consistent with, Rules 22-B, 22-C and 22-D. The Level 1 Permit does not set System Limits. However, a mandatory condition of approval shall state, “There shall be no permanent intertie to any other water system, and there shall be no intertie to the California American Water system under any circumstances, including a temporary emergency, until there is full compliance with SWRCB Order WR 95-10 (as amended), compliance with the Seaside Groundwater Basin Adjudication Final Decision of 2006 (as amended), and water is available in the respective Jurisdiction’s Allocation for release to the Parcel(s).” District action is discretionary and the application is subject to CEQA review unless the project qualifies for a CEQA categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines Article 19). Notice of the staff action shall be provided to the public via the “Appealable Decisions” section of the District website. The staff determination may be appealed to the MPWMD Board pursuant to Rule 70, “Appeals.”
5. Protocol for Level 2 Permit (Basic
Seaside Basin)
The
General Manager shall review the Application package in the form and manner
prescribed in Rule 21 to determine if the submitted Application is complete,
pursuant to the Implementation Guidelines, within thirty (30) days of
receipt. If the Application is
determined to be incomplete, the General Manager shall notify the Applicant
concerning that information in which the Application is deficient and request
the Applicant to submit that information, in compliance with Rule 22-F. If the Application is determined to be
complete, and all criteria specified in Rule 22-A-2 and the Implementation
Guidelines are met, the General Manager shall issue a Level 2 Permit within a
goal of sixty (60) days that specifies terms and conditions that are consistent
with Rules 22-Band 22-C, and in compliance with Rule 22-D unless a specific
condition is not applicable. District action is discretionary and the
Application is subject to CEQA review unless the project qualifies for a CEQA
categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines Article 19) or unless the project is
covered by the previous action of the Superior Court, which supersedes CEQA. Notice of the staff action shall be
provided to the public via the “Appealable Decisions” section of the District
website. The staff determination may be appealed to the MPWMD Board pursuant to
Rule 70, “Appeals.”
6. Protocol for Level 3 Permit
(Project-Specific Limits in MPWRS/Other)
a. The
General Manager shall review the Application package in the form and manner
prescribed in Rule 21 to determine if the submitted Application is complete,
pursuant to the Implementation Guidelines, within thirty (30) days of
receipt. If the Application is
determined to be incomplete, the General Manager shall notify the Applicant
concerning that information in which the Application is deficient and request
the Applicant to submit that information, in compliance with Rule 22-F. If the Application is determined to be
complete, and all criteria specified in Rule 22-A-2 and the Implementation
Guidelines are met, the General Manager shall issue a Level 3 Permit within a
goal of 120 days that specifies terms and conditions that are consistent with
Rules 22-Band 22-C, and in compliance with Rule 22-D unless a specific
condition is not applicable. Usually complex applications may take longer than
120 days. District action is
discretionary and the Application is subject to CEQA review unless the project
qualifies for a CEQA categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines Article 19).
b. The
General Manager shall consult with the Board Chairperson to determine if the
project is large, complex or controversial enough to be taken directly to the
Board of Directors as a public hearing.
If a hearing is scheduled before the Board of Directors, the standard Board
protocol for such a quasi-judicial hearing shall be followed. The Chairperson may direct that a hearing be
scheduled before the General Manager (or his designee) as the sole hearing
officer, as described in subsections (c), (d) and (e) below. The Chairperson could direct that certain
Single-Parcel Connection Systems do not require a public hearing. In that case, notice of the staff action
shall be provided to the public via the “Appealable Decisions” section of the
District website. The staff determination may be appealed to the MPWMD Board
pursuant to Rule 70, “Appeals.”
c. At
a hearing before the staff hearing officer, the Applicant shall be entitled to
present evidence in support of the Application.
Interested Persons may present evidence in opposition or support of the
Application. The hearing officer, in
conducting the public hearing, may request hydrologic, geologic, legal opinions
or other studies necessary to obtain information required for his/her
decision. The cost of such studies shall
be borne by the Applicant. For every Application
for which a Controversy, based on factual evidence already in the record or
introduced into the record, arises concerning the extent or adequacy of water
rights, the hearing officer may require and will specify additional
documentation needed to support each water right claim. The hearing officer shall continue the public
hearing on the Application until the specified information is provided by the
Applicant.
d. The
hearing officer may deny, approve, or continue the Permit Application based on
the minimum standards as set forth in Rule 22-C and its findings pursuant to
Rule 22-B. The hearing officer may impose
such conditions on the Permit that he/she deems necessary and proper, which must
include the “Mandatory Conditions of Approval” specified in Rule 22-D, unless a
specific condition is not applicable.
The General Manager shall notify the Applicant within thirty (30) days
in writing by mail or in person of the hearing officer action taken; namely
continuance, approval, conditional approval, or denial of the Application. Notice of the action taken shall be deemed to
have been given when the written notification has been deposited in the mail,
postpaid, addressed to the address shown on the Application, or when personally
delivered to the Applicant or the Applicant’s representative. Notice of the hearing officer’s action shall
be provided to all MPWMD Board members.
e. The
hearing officer’s decision may be appealed to the MPWMD Board of Directors
pursuant to Rule 70, “Appeals,” upon payment of the fee specified in Rule
60. Permits granted under this provision
may be appealed to the Board of Directors for a de novo hearing. That
hearing shall convene under the rules of process set in Rule 70,
“Appeals.”
Section Eight: Amendment of
Rule 22-B (Findings)
District
Rule 22-B shall be amended by deleting the following provisions shown in
strikeout text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set
forth in italicized and bold face type (bold face).
B. FINDINGS
In order to protect public
trust resources, prior to making its discretionary decision to grant or deny
any Permit to Create or
Establish any Water
Distribution System, or to Create or Establish any Mobile Water Distribution
System, the Board (or the General
Manager for certain systems) shall determine:
1. Whether the system
for which a Permit is sought would cause unnecessary duplication of the same
types of services by any existing system; and
2. Whether the Permit
would result in exportation or importation of water outside or into the District;
and
3. Whether the
proposed Water Distribution System would result in significant environmental
effects that cannot be mitigated by conditions attached to the Permit; and
4. Whether the
Application adequately identifies the claim of right for each Source of Supply
for the Water Distribution System, whether it provides adequate supporting
verification documentation thereto, and/or whether the system relies on any
non-existent or questionable claim of right; and
5. Whether the
Application demonstrates the existence of a long-term reliable Source of Supply
as
demonstrated by standard methodology adopted by the Monterey County
Environmental Health Bureau and/or MPWMD testing procedures identified in the
Implementation Guidelines; and
6. Whether the Source
of Supply is shared by any other Water Distribution System, and if so the
system affects the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System, the extent
to which cumulative impacts may affect each Source of Supply, and species and
habitat dependent upon those Sources of Supply; and
7. Whether the Source
of Supply derives from (a) the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System, and/or
(b) waters within the jurisdiction
of the State Water
Resource Control Board,
and/or (c) waters tributary to the Source of Supply for any other system; and
8. Whether the
proposed Water Distribution System (a) shall intertie to any other system, (b)
shall be able to obtain emergency supplies in the event of system failure, (c)
shall provide fire flow requirements for development served by that system; and
(d) the extent other Water Distribution Systems shall be required to provide
emergency supplies and/or meet fire flow requirements; and
9. Whether the
proposed Water
Distribution System shall
incorporate adequate cross contamination and backflow measures to protect other
systems and Sources of Supply.
Section Nine: Amendment of
Rule 22-C (Minimum Standards for Granting Permit)
District
Rule 22-C shall be amended by deleting the following provisions shown in
strikeout text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set
forth in italicized and bold face type (bold face).
C. MINIMUM
STANDARDS FOR GRANTING PERMIT
An Application may be
considered for approval if it complies with each of the following minimum
standards; if any one of the following standards is not met, the Application
shall be denied:
1. The Application
identifies at least one Responsible
Party who, at all times, will be available and legally responsible for the
proper performance of those things required of a Permit
holder by this regulation.
2. The ability of the
Source of Supply for any Water Distribution System designed to deliver water
for any Potable use to other than a Single-Parcel Connection System, to provide
water that complies with the standards set forth in Title 22 of the California
Administrative Code or standards set forth by the Monterey County Environmental Health
Bureau.
3. The Application
identifies the location of each Source of Supply for the Water Distribution
System or Mobile Water Distribution System, and the location of each
use supplied by the system the Mobile Water Distribution System.
4. The proposed Water
Distribution System will not create an Overdraft
or increase an existing Overdraft, unless a valid superior right is proven.
5. The proposed Water
Distribution System will not adversely affect the ability of existing systems
to provide water to Users unless a valid superior right is proven.
Section Ten: Amendment of
Rule 22-D (Mandatory Conditions of Approval)
District
Rule 22-D shall be amended by deleting the following provisions shown in
strikeout text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set
forth in italicized and bold face type (bold face).
D. MANDATORY
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
1. When the Board
or hearing officer approves the The
Level 2 or Level 3 Permit it shall establish
for each system: (i)
an Expansion Capacity
Limit, which sets the total number of Connections which can be served; (ii) a System
Capacity Limit, which sets the maximum annual production in Acre-Feet
per year; and (iii) a Municipal
Unit (Jurisdiction)
Allocation, if applicable. The Level 1
Permit shall not set an Expansion Capacity Limit or a System Capacity. In addition to
the following mandatory conditions, the District Board or hearing officer
may impose other conditions in granting the Permit. Conditions that are not
applicable to Mobile Water Distribution Systems need not be imposed:
a. Permit shall
designate geographic boundary of Water Distribution System Service
Area, including Assessor’s Parcel Numbers;
b. Permit shall
identify authorized use of Water Distribution System (e.g., Potable,
Sub-potable, Residential, Commercial, and/or other types of use);
c. Permit shall
identify approvals by other agencies that shall be obtained before Water
Distribution System Permit is finalized or vested;
d. Applicant shall
execute an indemnification agreement that holds the District
harmless, and promises to defend the District from any claims, demands, or
expenses of any nature or kind arising from or in any way related to the
adequacy of the water supply of the system;
e. Applicant shall
comply with all District Rules relating to water Well
registration, metering and reporting;
f. Applicant shall
comply with all District water conservation regulations; this may include
requirements for installation of low-flow fixtures or drought tolerant
Landscaping;
g. Applicant shall
comply with District regulations that govern water meter Connections, including
payment of applicable fees;
h. Permit shall
identify whether interties to other systems are allowed and shall identify
restrictions or prohibitions on such interties, including devices to prevent
cross-contamination of systems. MPWMD
shall not approve any Water Permit for a new Connection to the California
American Water system due to the inability of a permitted Water Distribution
System to deliver adequate water quality or quantity to Parcels within its
Service Area until there is full compliance by California American Water with
State Water Resources Control Board Order No. WR 95-10 (as amended); California
American Water compliance with the March 2006 Final Decision of the Seaside
Groundwater Basin Adjudication (as amended); and water is available in the
respective Jurisdiction’s Allocation for release to the Parcel(s);
i. Permit shall identify which mitigation measures, if any,
are required to address potential adverse environmental impacts associated with
the proposed Water Distribution System, and specify funding mechanism, if
applicable;
j. Applicant shall
provide a copy of agreement(s) to serve water to recipient Parcels, if a
Multiple-Parcel Connection System;
k. Applicant shall
receive a District Permit prior to Intensifying or Expanding the approved Water
Distribution System;
l. Applicant shall
pay to the District the invoiced cost for MPWMD staff
time and/or its agents as well as direct costs (pursuant to
Rule 60) to process the Permit, as documented in billing logs, before the
Permit is finalized;
m. Applicant shall
sign an “Acceptance of Permit Conditions” form upon finalization of Permit
conditions, wherein the Applicant states that he/she understands and accepts
the conditions as a binding part of the Permit approval, and agrees to carry
out the conditions in good faith; the Permit is not valid until the signed form
is received from the Applicant;
n. Applicant shall
execute a Notice and Deed Restriction prepared and recorded by the District
regarding the limitation on water use as set forth in the conditions of
approval prior to issuance of the final Permit;
o. Upon notice to the
Water Distribution System Owner or Operator in writing, e-mail or by telephone,
reasonable access to the Site shall be given to MPWMD staff or its designated
representative to inspect and document Water-Gathering Facilities and
Water-Measuring Devices, obtain hydrogeologic data, and take readings from
Water-Measuring Devices.
p. Permit shall state
that the Permit is
subject to Revocation in the event the Applicant does not comply with the
provisions set forth in each condition in this Rule.
2. Every Applicant,
as a condition to holding a Permit pursuant to this Rule, shall report annually
in the form and manner prescribed by the District: (i)
the quantity of water delivered from each Source of Supply, (ii) the total
water produced, (iii) the maximum number of Connections in the system, (iv) the
number of new Connections and disconnections, (v) provide a map or maps of the Service
Area, and (vi) list the identity and address of each Responsible
Party as of September 30th of the previous year.
3. As a condition
precedent to use or enjoyment of any Permit pursuant to this Rule, each
Applicant shall be
required to first obtain and comply with any required approval from the local Jurisdiction
in which the property is located; and if applicable, obtain and comply with a
certificate from the California Public Utilities Commission, or a coastal
development permit or other approvals pursuant to the California Coastal
Act. Failure to comply with this
prerequisite shall provide cause for Revocation of any Permit issued pursuant
to this Rule.
4. For Permits issued
after January 15, 2003, construction tasks for facilities authorized in the MPWMD Water
Distribution System Permit (e.g., Well, pipelines, storage tanks and water
treatment) shall be initiated within one year (365 days except 366 days for
leap years) from the date the Permit is issued. The Permit shall expire if no action is taken
within that year. Construction of
permitted Water-Gathering Facilities shall be completed
and Water Distribution System operation shall commence within two years from
the date the Permit is
issued. The permittee may apply
in writing to the General
Manager for up to a one year 180-day extension
to the Project initiation deadline and/or the system operations commencement
deadline, to be approved at the discretion of the General Manager. Multiple extensions may be requested with
good cause.
Section Eleven: Amendment of
Rule 22-E (Amendments to Permit)
District
Rule 22-E shall be amended by deleting the following provisions shown in
strikeout text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set
forth in italicized and bold face type (bold face).
E. AMENDMENTS TO
PERMIT
No Owner or
Operator of a Water Distribution System shall modify, add to or change his/her
Source of Supply, location of uses, Expand the system beyond the System
Capacity (annual production limit), if applicable, or the Expansion Capacity
(Connection) Limit, if applicable, or Expand the Service Area including
annexations, unless that Person
first files an Application to do so with the District
and receives an amended Creation/Establishment Permit. Such Applications shall
be made pursuant to Regulation II (Permits), shall comply with each Rule
therein, and shall be investigated, considered, determined and acted upon on
the same terms and conditions as provided for the approval, conditional
approval, or denial of a Permit, as provided in this Rule.
Section Twelve: Amendment of Table
22 (Permit Level Matrix)
Table
22-A shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and
replacing that text with the revised Table 22-A, which is attached.
Section Thirteen: Amendment of
Rule 173 (Regulation of Mobile WDS)
District
Rule 173 shall be amended by deleting the following provisions shown in
strikeout text (strikeout), and by adding the following provisions set
forth in italicized and bold face type (bold face).
RULE
173 - REGULATION OF MOBILE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
A. No Person, Extractor,
Owner
or Operator
shall operate a Mobile Water Distribution System without first securing a
written Permit
or
Confirmation of Exemption from the District. In accordance with Monterey County Code
(e.g., Title 15.20), no applications will be accepted or permitted for bulk
hauled water for permanent Potable use.
Applications for establishment of a Mobile Water Distribution System
shall be made pursuant to Rule 20, Rule 21, and Rule 22 (Action
on Application for Permit to Create/Establish a Water Distribution System) and
shall be investigated, considered, determined, and acted upon on the same
terms and conditions as provided for the approval, conditional approval or
denial of a creation/establishment Permit as stated in that rule in
accordance with those rules and the Implementation Guidelines. The application shall identify each Source
of Supply and the location of each use.
For any Sub-potable Mobile Water Distribution System within the California
American Water Service
Area, a condition of approval shall require that California
American Water be notified so that a back-flow protection device can be
installed pursuant to Monterey County Code, as necessary.
B. In the event prior authorization is not
obtained by reason of an emergency or health-related situation,
authorization for the Mobile
Water Distribution System Permit shall be sought from the District by submittal
of a complete application compliant with Rule 21, within five working days
following commencement of the emergency or health-related event.
C. California American Water shall not
provide portable water meters to any Person unless a Permit has been issued by
the District pursuant to Rule 22 or Rule 23.
D. Delivery and/or receipt of water from an
unpermitted Mobile Water Distribution System shall be deemed Water
Waste, and shall be subject to fine, restriction, and cease and desist order as
set forth in Rule 171 and Regulation XI.
Section Fourteen: Publication and Application
The
provisions of this ordinance shall cause the republication and amendment of the
permanent Rules and Regulations of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management
District.
Section
titles and captions are provided for convenience and shall not be construed to
limit the application of the text.
Section Fifteen: Effective Date and Sunset
This
ordinance shall be given effect at 12:01 a.m. on the 30th day following the date of
its adoption on second reading.
Section Sixteen: Severability
If any
subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is, for
any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such invalidity shall not affect the validity or enforcement of the remaining
portions of this ordinance, or of any other provisions of the Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District Rules and Regulations. It is the District's express intent that each
remaining portion would have been adopted irrespective of the fact that one or
more subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared
invalid or unenforceable.
On
motion of Director _________, and second by Director _________, the foregoing
ordinance is adopted upon this ___ th
day of _____, 2014 by the following vote:
AYES: Directors _____
NAYS: Directors
____
ABSENT: Directors ____
I, David J. Stoldt, Secretary to the Board of
Directors of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, hereby certify
the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of an ordinance duly adopted on
the ___th day of _____, 2014.
Witness my hand and seal of the Board of
Directors this __ day of ______, 2014.
____________________________________
David
J. Stoldt, Secretary to the Board
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