An official State of Kansas government website.

Government Website icon

The .gov means it's official.
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Padlock icon

The site is secure.
The https:// or lock icon ensures you're safely connected to the website and any information you provide is encrypted.

Publications iconKansas Register

Print icon

Volume 41 - Issue 52 - December 29, 2022

State of Kansas

Department of Agriculture
Division of Water Resources

Notice of Hearing

Pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-1041, the Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1 (GMD No. 1) has requested the designation of the Four County Local Enhanced Management Area (Four County LEMA) in a designated area in Greeley, Lane, Scott, and Wallace counties within the boundaries of GMD No. 1. The plan for the proposed designation of the Four County LEMA was previously submitted to the chief engineer by GMD No. 1 and was found to be acceptable for further consideration. An initial public hearing in this matter was held October 17, 2022, and December 21, 2022, the chief engineer issued an order finding that the evidence presented at the initial public hearing satisfied the relevant criteria set forth in K.S.A. 82a-1041 and ordered that a second hearing to consider the designation of the Four County LEMA would be held. The initial order is available at http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/FourCountyLEMA.

Since the chief engineer found at the initial hearing that the Four County LEMA plan satisfied the relevant criteria set forth in K.S.A. 82a-1041, the chief engineer has scheduled a second public hearing pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-1041. The hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. (CST) February 2, 2023, at the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, 212 E. 5th St., Scott City, Kansas. The hearing will continue as long as is necessary for a full disclosure of relevant facts. If a full disclosure of relevant facts cannot be achieved on February 2, 2023, the hearing will continue at a future date that allows adequate notice to be given as required by K.S.A. 82a-1041.

The chief engineer has also scheduled a prehearing conference to take place prior to the hearing. The prehearing conference will be held virtually via Zoom at 10:00 a.m. (CST) January 18, 2023. Members of the public who wish to attend the prehearing conference must pre-register at http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/FourCountyLEMA and can also be obtained by contacting Ronda Hutton at 785-564-6715 or ronda.hutton@ks.gov. At the hearing, the chief engineer will serve as the hearing officer. The hearing will be conducted pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-1041 and K.A.R. 5-19-3 and will determine whether the proposed LEMA should be designated and if the corrective controls proposed in the LEMA Management Plan shall be accepted, rejected, or if modifications to the plan should be proposed.

Anyone may submit written or oral comments to be included in the hearing record. Oral comments will be accepted only from in-person attendees at the hearing location in Scott City, Kansas. Written comments may be submitted at the public hearing or may be mailed to the Four County LEMA, c/o Ronda Hutton, 1320 Research Park Dr., Manhattan, KS 66502; faxed to 785-564-6777; or emailed to ronda.hutton@ks.gov. Written comments may be submitted until February 9, 2023 and must be postmarked by that date. After that date, the chief engineer will close the record of the initial hearing and will issue an order accepting the proposed LEMA plan, rejecting the proposed plan, or returning the plan to GMD No. 1 and giving GMD No. 1 the opportunity to modify and resubmit the plan.

A copy of the proposed Four County LEMA plan and related documents are available at http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/FourCountyLEMA. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend the public hearing.

Earl D. Lewis, P.E., Chief Engineer
Division of Water Resources

Doc. No. 050774

Secretary of State Seal