Permit Process, Timeframes, & Fees

General Permits

General Permits have a streamlined application process to allow for quicker processing.  Typically, an application for a general permit can be processed in the first 90 day review period. Upon submission of an application a 90 day application review period begins. At the end of 90 days if the application is not administratively complete, the District will mail a notice of deficiency letter to the applicant. The applicant will then be granted another 90 day review period to provide the requested information. At the end of the 180th day, the application will be deemed administratively complete or incomplete.The General Manager can approve and issue General Permits by rule for uses such as domestic uses, monitor wells, and test wells.

Individual Permits (Less than 2,000,000 gpy)

For Individual Production Permits less than 2,000,000 gpy the permitting process is more streamlined and DOES NOT require an aquifer test or public notice. Upon submission of an application a 90 day application review period begins. At the end of 90 days if the application is not administratively complete, the District will mail a notice of deficiency letter to the applicant. The applicant will then be granted another 90 day review period to provide the requested information. At the end of the 180th day, the application will be deemed administratively complete or incomplete. The General Manager can approve an administratively complete application without notice and hearing.

Individual Permits (more than 2,000,000 gpy)

For Individual Production Permits more than 2,000,000 gpy the permitting process is more involved and typically follows the process depicted here. An aquifer test and hydrogeol

ogical report is required and there is a public notice component as well. Upon submission of an application a 90 day application review period begins. At the end of 90 days if the application is not administratively complete, the District will mail a notice of deficiency letter to the applicant. The applicant will then be granted another 90 day review period to provide the requested information. At the end of the 180th day, the application will be deemed administratively complete or incomplete. The Board must take action to approve an administratively complete application.

All applications for an individual permit are reviewed by staff for administrative completeness in accordance with time-frames specified in District Rule 3-1.6.B. Certain applications may also be subject to public notification (3-1.4.B), a public hearing (3-1.4.C), and/or Board action (3-1.6.C).  Below is a summary table with pertinent time-frames for each of these procedures.

Individual Permits –  Potential for Unreasonable Impacts

An aquifer test and hydrogeological report is required for all production permit over 2,000,000 gpy. Pursuant to District Rule 3-1.4.A.10 applicants are required to conduct an aquifer test and must submit a Hydrogeological Report(District Rule 3-1.4.D) that provides findings and conclusions addressing the response of an aquifer to pumping over time.  Pursuant to District Rule 3-1.4.G this information is submitted to support the applicant’s production volume request and is evaluated by the General Manager to assess the potential of the proposed production to cause “unreasonable impacts”.

Applications for proposed production that are found to have potential for causing unreasonable impacts will receive written notification of the General Manager’s “preliminary finding”. Upon receipt of this written notification of the preliminary finding, the applicant will be granted a 90-day extension to the application review period to provide the following additional application requirements, unless the applicant requests that the application be directly referred to the Board as provided below. Therefore, pursuant to District Rule 3-1.4.A.10 the applicant has three options for proceeding on a path towards a permit. After the applicant has submitted required and optional materials, the staff will review the additional information during an extended 90-day period and will develop the General Manager’s Statement of Position and permit recommendation. At this point the application will be administratively complete and 20-day public comment period will commence shortly thereafter.

Fees

Please refer to the full version of the FY 2023 Fee Schedule.