Todd Stonely

The meeting focused on project funding commitments and updates. Key topics included a briefing and subsequent action meeting for the Board of Water Resources. The Board discussed funding for the Lake Creek Irrigation Company pipeline and diversion structure replacement, as well as the Cash Highline Water Association project involving a pipeline upgrade, traveling screen, and sediment basin. Additionally, the Board reviewed a supplemental request for the Jones Dam project under the Twin Creek Special Service District to address seepage issues through an extension of the toe drain system and the installation of a new pipeline to capture excess water.

The strategic plan outlines the department's goals and objectives for protecting and enhancing Utah's natural resources for current and future generations. Key focus areas include water resource management, improving land health and resilience, advancing public lands stewardship, elevating outdoor recreation, and expanding the state's energy and minerals portfolio. The plan also emphasizes fostering employee satisfaction, cultivating a representative workforce, and improving operational efficiency.

The Board meeting included a legislative update regarding two bills impacting the division: House Bill 419 concerning environmental legal action amendments and a resolution about permitting assistance with the BLM, which was recently updated to reflect a cooperative agreement. The Board also received an update on the EPA primacy application for class 6 wells, discussed the timeline for the oil and gas bonding rulemaking, including a new public comment period and an upcoming public hearing, and tracked critical mineral legislation, specifically Senate Bill 254. Additionally, the Division presented information on reclamation cost per acre calculations for small mines and exploration projects for the upcoming year, explaining the methodology for determining direct and indirect costs, contingencies, and the escalation factor.

The board meeting featured a briefing session covering multiple agenda items. Key discussions included a report on the Groundwater Protection Council's strategic developments regarding data management systems and artificial intelligence. The Rules Coordinator provided an update on brine rulemaking, noting the transition into an informal stakeholder engagement process based on recent legislative bills. Additionally, the State Engineer and staff provided an overview of the Division of Water Rights' geothermal program, discussing administrative oversight, regulatory processes, and ongoing groundwater monitoring efforts, with a particular focus on coordination for energy projects.

The Board discussed a request for agency action from Middlefork Energy Uinta LLC regarding the partial vacation and modification of existing orders to suspend specific administrative code rules. The session included testimony from land, geology, and reservoir experts concerning the contraction of the KJ2 federal unit and the expansion of the Redwash federal unit. The board evaluated geological data, unit boundaries, and horizontal drilling plans to ensure the conservation of oil and gas and the protection of correlative rights.