001 DEPARTMENT. The Department of Water Resources.

002 DOMESTIC WELL. A well that provides ground water required for human needs
as it relates to health, fire control, and sanitation or for domestic livestock as
related to normal farm and ranch operations, or for irrigation of lands not
exceeding a total of two acres in area.

003 GEOTHERMAL WELL. A well from which water is withdrawn for purposes of
using the geothermal properties of the water. The temperature of the water
must be greater than or equal to the mean annual air temperature at the
location of the well plus 18E Fahrenheit plus (0.0137E F times depth of well
measured in feet). Heat pump wells which use ground water with
temperatures at or below the normal gradient do not fall under the definition
of permit requirements for geothermal resource development.

004 INACTIVE STATUS WATER WELL. A water well that is a good state of
repair and for which the owner has provided evidence of intent for future use
by maintaining the water well as provided by § 46-1207.02.

005 INDUSTRIAL WATER WELL. A well that provides ground water for
manufacturing, commercial, and power generation purposes. Commercial use
shall include, but not be limited to, maintenance of golf course turf.

006 INJECTION WATER WELL. A well used for injecting water into the
underground water reservoir. Not included are wells used for inserting media
to repressure oil or nature gas bearing formations regulated by the Nebraska
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

007 IRRIGATION WATER WELL. A well that provides water for purposes
of irrigating more than two acres of crops and other plants.

008 MONITORING WATER WELL. A well from which water is withdrawn
for purposes of monitoring the possible presence of contaminants.

009 OBSERVATION WATER WELL. A well used for purposes of
monitoring static water level.

010 PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WELL (SPACING PROTECTED). A well
owned and operated by a city, village, municipal corporation, metropolitan
utilities district, reclamation district, or sanitary improvement district that
provides water to the public fit for human consumption through at least 15
service connections, or regularly serve at least 25 individuals.

011 PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WELL (SPACING UNPROTECTED). A well
not owned or operated by a city, village, municipal corporation, metropolitan
utilities district, reclamation district, or sanitary improvement district that
provides the public water fit for human consumption through at least 15 service
connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals.

012 TEST HOLE. Hole designed to obtain information on hydrogeologic conditions.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION: Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

Chapter 2 - REPEALED

Chapter 3 - CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OF REGISTERED WELLS

001 NOTIFICATION. The Department shall be notified in writing of any
change in the ownership of any registered well by the new owner of the well.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-602, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 84-909(1), R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

LAST ISSUE DATE: October 1989

Chapter 4 - INDUSTRIAL GROUND WATER PERMIT

001 APPLICATION. All information shall be compiled and submitted in
loose-leaf binder(s) with maximum dimensions of 11 inches by 11 inches
by 4 inches. Maps, plans and drawings must be of a size sufficient to clearly
depict the subject matter, but must be folded to dimensions not to exceed
11 inches by 11 inches. The review area for each application shall be a
minimum one-mile radius (aerial extent) around the well site. The application
shall consist of the following items:

001.01 Completed application form.

001.02 Hydrologic Evaluation Report. The hydrologic evaluation shall
include but not be limited to:

001.02A A detailed description of each well proposed to be included under this permit. The description shall include the intended depth, screen and casing size, pump capacity, description of location, applicable well registration numbers, control and management area permit numbers.

001.02B A narrative evaluating the geologic and hydrologic conditions of the well site and review area.

001.02C Proposed operating data criteria.

001.02D A list of other relevant permits.

001.02E Well driller’s logs from test holes and production wells and electric logs, if available, in tabular or graphical form.

001.02F Pumping test data, if available.

001.02G A table depicting proposed rates of withdrawal and anticipated drawdown in the project wells as a function of both time and distance from the project wells.

001.02H A narrative describing alternate sources of accessible surface and ground water and reasons for choosing the proposed source.

001.02I Maps, plans or drawings showing:

001.02I1 Location of project wells and project facilities including pipelines, pumping stations, treatment plants, wastewater disposal sites or other facilities.

001.02I2 Location of use.

001.02I3 Location of other wells within the review area.

001.02I4 Location of surface water rights within the review area.

001.02I5 A water table map.

001.02I6 The geologic structure of the review area.

001.02I7 Hydrologic conditions in the review area.

001.03 Economic Analysis. The economic analysis shall include:

001.03A The economic benefit of the applicant’s proposed use.

001.03B The economic benefits of existing uses of surface or ground water in the area of the applicant’s proposed use and any transfer.

001.04 Environmental Impact Analysis. This analysis shall discuss
the environmental impacts of the project.

001.05 Social Impact Analysis. This analysis shall discuss the
possible social benefits and detriments of the project.

002 CORRECTION. An application that is incomplete or incorrect shall be
returned to the applicant for correction. Failure to return the corrected
application within the time limit specified shall cause the application to be
dismissed.

003 NOTICE OF HEARING. As a minimum standard, the Notice of Hearing
shall include a description of the amount of water requested, the location of
the wells, the proposed use of water, and the location of use. The Notice of
Hearing shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation in each county within the area of review
and a newspaper of general circulation in Nebraska. The Notice shall state
that any person may file a written request to be made a party to the hearing
within two weeks from the date of final publication of the Notice.

004 HEARING. The hearing will be conducted according to the Department’s
Rules of Practice and Procedure, Title 454 and § 46-209, R.R.S., 1943, as
amended.

005 DECISION. Following the hearing, the Director shall issue a written order.
A copy of the order shall be delivered or mailed to all parties of record.

006 APPEAL. Parties to the hearing may request a rehearing as described in
the Department’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, Title 454, Chapter 11 or
may appeal to the district court as described in § 84-917.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-688, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

LAST ISSUE DATE: October 1989

Chapter 5 - GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT

001 PLANS. Plans submitted shall meet the following minimum standards:

001.01 Plans shall be made on sheets with minimum dimensions
of 21 inches by 30 inches or maximum dimensions of 24 inches by
36 inches. Drawings shall be of such clarity and with distinct
characters of such size as to retain clarity and resolution when
reduced to one-half size. Characters and significant figures should
not be smaller than one-eighth inch on the original plan.

001.02 As a minimum, plans shall include a detailed description of
each proposed well, setting forth the intended depth, screen type and
casing size, and pump capacity. All pipelines, pumping stations,
treatment plants, location of use, location of injection wells or discharge, and other facilities shall be depicted.

001.03 Plans shall also include a summary of geologic and hydrologic data.

002 CONFERENCE. The applicant or a representative shall attend a conference with
the Department and the Department of Environmental Quality. At this conference the
permit requirements under the Environmental Protection Act will be determined, as
well as the scope of any studies which may be required to support the permit
application.

003 NOTICE. If the Director determines a hearing is necessary, the Notice of
Hearing shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the system
will be located. The last notice shall be published no later than ten days prior
to the hearing.

004 DECISION. After the conclusion of a hearing, or based upon the application,
the Director shall issue a written order. A copy of the order shall be delivered or
mailed to all parties of record.

005 APPEAL. Parties to a hearing may request a rehearing as described in the
Department’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, Title 454, Chapter 11 or may
appeal to the Court of Appeals. If a decision was entered without a hearing,
parties may request a hearing as described in the Department’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure, Title 454, Chapter 9.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 66-1101, R.S. SUPP., Nebraska, 1982
Section 66-1105, R.S. SUPP., Nebraska, 1982

Chapter 6 - PERMIT TO TRANSFER GROUND WATER TO
ADJOINING STATE

001.01 A map showing the location of the proposed well(s), the pipelines(s) or other means of transporting water, project facilities and location of use. The map must be neat, legible and on 82 inch by 11 inch paper or folded to that size. It is suggested that the base map be a copy of a U.S.G.S. Quadrangle map. The map must show section lines, the state line, and be drawn to scale.

001.02 Information on the possible negative effects of the proposed withdrawal on ground water and surface water supplies in the area. This information shall include, but is not limited to:

001.02A A proposed operating schedule.

001.02B A map showing the location of all ground water wells (including domestic) within a one-mile radius of the proposed well site.

001.02C A detailed description of each well proposed to be included under this permit. The description shall include the intended depth, screen and casing size, pump capacity, description of location, applicable well registration numbers, control and management area permit numbers.

001.02D A narrative evaluating the geologic and hydrologic conditions of the well site and area within a one-mile radius.

001.02E Well driller’s logs from test holes and production wells and electric logs, if available, in tabular or graphical form.

001.02F Pumping test data, if available.

001.02G Map showing location of surface water rights within a one-mile radius.

002 REVIEW. Additional information, consultation, maps or technical reports may be required after review of initial application. An application that is incomplete or incorrect shall be returned to the applicant for correction. Failure to return the corrected application within the time limit specified shall cause the application to be dismissed.

003 MODIFICATION. A permit granted pursuant to § 46-613.01 shall be revoked, following a hearing, if the Department determines that the permitholder has failed to exercise the right to withdraw ground water within three years of the date the permit was approved, or for a period of three consecutive years thereafter. Permits may not be modified to include additional amounts of withdrawal or addition wells—new permits will be required for the additions.

ANNOTATION

ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-613.01, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 84-909(1), R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

Chapter 7 - INDUSTRIAL GROUND WATER TRANSFER NOTICE

001 NOTICE. The notice submitted to the Department of Water Resources shall
be an original, signed typewritten document in the format described in Appendix B.
This notice shall be submitted to the Department with the $10 filing fee required
by § 33-105(8), R.R.S., 1943, as amended. A copy of this same notice shall be
sent by the owner or leasee of the well to a newspaper of general circulation in
the county or counties in which the point(s) of withdrawal are located.
Following publication as required by § 46-678, the owner or leasee shall
submit a proof of publication to the Department of Water Resources.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943, LB 789
Section 46-677, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943, LB 78

RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 8 - CONTESTED INDUSTRIAL GROUND WATER TRANSFERS

001 PETITION. Any person using ground water at the time a notice to
transfer ground water for industrial purposes is filed in the Department,
may petition the Director for a hearing if the person’s ground water wells
suffer an unanticipated decline in ground water levels after the date the
notice is filed. The petition shall be in the format shown in Appendix A,
and shall be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. The petition shall
include, but is not limited to the following:

001.01 The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the petitioner.

001.02 The ground water well registration number(s) (if applicable) of
all wells owned by petitioner that experienced a decline.

001.03 The legal description of each ground water well that has experienced a decline.

001.04 The name and mailing address of the industrial ground water
well owner accused of causing the decline.

001.05 The legal description of the industrial ground water well(s)
expected of causing the decline.

001.06 The registration number of the ground water wells expected of causing the decline.

001.07 The alleged cause and extent of the ground water decline.

001.08 The nature and extent of any injuries resulting from the decline.

002 SERVICE. A copy of the petition shall be served by the petitioner upon the
industrial well user. Such service shall be by registered or certified mail.
Failure to provide service shall cause the petition to be dismissed without
prejudice.

003 HEARING. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the
Department’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, Title 454, and the
Administrative Procedures Act.

004 DECISION. After the conclusion of the hearing, the Director shall issue
a written order. A copy of the order shall be delivered or mailed to all parties
of record.

005 APPEAL. Parties to the hearing may request a rehearing as described in
the Department’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, Title 454, Chapter 11 or
may appeal to the Court of Appeals.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska 1943
LB 789

Chapter 9 - NOTICE OF ABANDONMENT

001 REQUIREMENTS. Notice of abandonment shall include:

001.01 Registration number of abandoned well.

001.02 Location---including 40-acre government subdivision,
section, township, range and county.

001.03 Present owner and address.

001.04 Diameter of pump column removed from well being
abandoned.

001.05 Explanation of abandonment procedures used.

001.06 Date of abandonment.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-209, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-602, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

LAST ISSUE DATE: May 1994

Chapter 10 - CONTROL AREA RULES

001 Natural resources districts shall submit proposed control area rules in
the following manner:

001.01 All rules shall be typewritten on 8.5-inch by 11-inch white
paper. The top margin on all sheets shall be at least 1.5 inches at the
top and at least one inch on the sides and bottom.

001.02 All proposed new rules or amendments to existing rules
shall be shown by underscoring new rules or words and striking by
use of a hyphen (-) all words that are to be deleted.

001.03 When proposing new sections of existing rules or amendments
to any section of existing rules, the natural resources district shall
submit a complete set of rules showing proposed changes as
described in paragraph 001.04 above.

002. After approval of the proposed rules or amendments, the natural resources
district shall file within 60 days a "clean" set of rules in the Department with
the changes approved incorporated in the document.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-670, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-666(3), R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943

LAST ISSUE DATE: May 1994

Chapter 11 - GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS

001 Natural resources districts shall submit proposed ground water management plans in the following manner;

001.01 Use three-ring, loose-leaf notebooks. Notebooks should be
of the type that allow for labeling on the side or front.

001.02 Use labeled, tabbed dividers between sections.

001.03 When providing plans or modifications to the Department
of Water Resources for approval, provide enough copies for the
following agencies:

1 Department of Water Resources
1 Department of Health
1 Department of Environmental Quality
1 Conservation and Survey Division
1 Game and Parks Commission
1 Natural Resources Commission
1 To be returned to NRD stamped, if approved

7 TOTAL

001.04 All pages are to be numbered consecutively or by chapter (Example: 1-1000 or A-1, B-1).

001.05 Complete table of contents and indexes must be provided.

001.06 When submitting modifications, if changes cause need for additional pages, additional pages shall be identified by letters following the page number (Example: 1, 2, 3, 3a, 3b or A-1, A-2, A-3, A-3a).

001.07 When submitting modifications, include a letter describing what
modifications were made and all pages where modifications occur.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-670
Section 46-673.03

Chapter 12 - GROUND WATER WELL REGISTRATIONS

001 The Department will register ground water wells intended as production
wells but in which the pump has not yet been installed as inactive water wells.
Such wells must be maintained in accordance with § 46-1207.02. To register a
well as an inactive water well the water well owner and/or water well contractor
shall provide on the registration form the intended water well capacity for
purposes of determining registration fees. The water well owner shall also
state an estimated date when the pump will be installed.

When a pump is installed in an inactive, registered water well, the water well
owner and pump installation contract shall, within 30 days, complete a Water
Well Registration Pump Installation Update form. Such form will be provided
by the Department. This form shall consist of the water well owner’s name,
address, and signature; the water well registration number; the pump installer’s
name, and pump column information; pumping water level; rate and amount of
time pumped, and yield of water well in gallons per minute.

002 Water well registration and pump installation information must be updated
by the water well owner when:

002.01 The original information provided is determined to be
inaccurate or incomplete.

002.02 The water well is modified in any substantial way making the original information inaccurate in its description of the water well.

This information shall be submitted to the Department in writing.

ANNOTATION
ENABLING LEGISLATION:
Section 46-602, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943
Section 46-1207.02, R.R.S., Nebraska, 1943