HB2056

THE CONTEXT: Regulating Water Quality The term water of the state means all waters within Arizona's jurisdiction including all "perennial or intermittent streams, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, aquifers, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems and other bodies or accumulations of surface, underground, natural, artificial, public or private water situated wholly or partly in or bordering on the state" ( A. R.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would declares that, notwithstanding other laws, the following features are excluded as a water of this State, WOTUS or protected surface waters and from the state Dredge and Fill Permit Program: a) Dry wash; b) Arroyo; c) Swale; d) Gully; e) Rill; or f) A similar erosional feature characterized by low volume, infrequent or short duration flows and make technical and conforming changes.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the licensing pathway more workable while retaining a defined state standard. It would declares that, notwithstanding other laws, the following features are excluded as a water of this State, WOTUS or protected surface waters and from the state Dredge and Fill Permit Program: a) Dry wash; b) Arroyo; c) Swale; d) Gully; e) Rill; or f) A similar erosional feature characterized by low volume, infrequent or short duration flows, and would also make technical and conforming changes, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.