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Committee endorses bill to extend state water pollution permits from five to ten years
Summary
The committee recommended House Bill 2085 favorably after KDHE testified the change would apply only to state non-discharging permits, reduce administrative burden for small communities, and would not change fee structure.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources opened a hearing on House Bill 2085 and heard from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), which supports extending the maximum term for certain state water pollution control permits from five years to 10 years.
Nut graf: KDHE told the committee the bill applies to state (not federal) permits for small non-discharging facilities and is intended to reduce permit workload and backlog, particularly for smaller rural communities; agency witnesses said routine inspections and operator training would continue under the change.
Shelley Shores, section chief for wastewater and stormwater at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, testified KDHE issues both federal and state permits and that the bill would apply only to state permits covering small, non-discharging facilities. She said the change "would allow state water pollution control permits an extension from 5 years to a 10 year term up to a 10 year term." Shores told the committee the change would not create environmental impacts and would free KDHE staff to focus on complex federal discharging permits.
During questioning, senators asked about fees; Shores confirmed there would be no change to the annual fee structure. In the hearing she cited a fee example of "$185" for municipal permits and said some industrial permit fees are "$60" depending on the permit type, and she clarified the fees are collected annually.
After public testimony and written proponent filings, Senator Titus moved to pass House Bill 2085 favorably and place it on the consent calendar; the motion was seconded by Senator Shane and adopted by voice vote.
Ending: KDHE said inspections and technical assistance would continue under the longer permit term; the bill as presented would take effect on July 1 (year not specified in the hearing) and the reviser noted the House had passed the bill by a 123-0 vote.
