The Utah Board of Water Resources approved a third-party contract template to allow applicants to pay fees to the Bureau of Reclamation associated with changes to portions of the Green River Block water right.

Sarah Schechter of the Attorney General’s office told the board that Kent Rame had applied for a fixed-time change of his segregated portion of the Green River Block water right, which triggers the need for a third-party contract between the applicant and the board to cover Bureau of Reclamation fees. Schechter presented the contract as a template the board can use for future similar obligations.

Board Member William Merkley stated he would recuse himself from the vote because the water conservancy district he represents is a party to the contract; Merkley also publicly thanked the AG’s office for its work on the matter. The board then approved the contract as to form and authorized board officers to enter third-party contracts as the obligations arise. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with the recusal noted.