RCRC and CSAC submitted joint comments this week on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Draft Emergency Regulations for Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and Alternatives. The draft regulations describe the required plan elements and the criteria that DWR will use to evaluate the plans. The deadline for comments on the draft regulations had been extended one week to April 1, 2016.
RCRC and CSAC recommended significant changes to the draft regulations stating “RCRC and CSAC believe that the draft regulations are overly prescriptive and expansive and would add unnecessary complexity and increased costs on local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA’s) in the development of GSPs.” RCRC and CSAC also urged the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to reevaluate the draft regulations and ensure that requirements beyond that which are required in statute are imposed only where there is sufficient justification to do so.
The SGMA requires the DWR to adopt final regulations by June 1, 2016. The joint comments can be accessed here.