Surface Water Stewardship Act

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 49-4-35 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF SURFACE WATER USE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, TO ENACT THE "SURFACE WATER STEWARDSHIP ACT," TO PROVIDE THAT REGISTERED SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWERS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST OBTAIN A SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMIT RATHER THAN REGISTERING WITHDRAWALS, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN REGISTERED SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWERS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PERMITTING REQUIREMENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT INCREASES IN SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWALS BY REGISTERED SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWERS ARE SUBJECT TO PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS ON THE INCREASED AMOUNT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.