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Resident says data-center filings mislabel basin; authority staff to file response before comment deadline
Summary
A Ridgecrest resident told the board that appendices in a data-center application appear to reference the Kern Subbasin rather than Indian Wells Valley; staff said a response is circulating and will be submitted to the CEC docket before the July 16 comment deadline.
A Ridgecrest resident told the Groundwater Authority that documents filed in the California Energy Commission docket for a proposed data center contain incorrect water-basin information and asked the board to act.
"It's posted under TN number 269636...pages 42 through 61 contains the incorrect water basins groundwater sustainability plan," resident Renee West said during public comment, adding that the docket's appendix appears to show materials for the Kern Subbasin rather than Indian Wells Valley.
Board staff responded that the authority has not yet filed its follow-up letter but that a response is circulating among staff and will be submitted to the CEC "before the closing of the comment period." Staff said the response will also be posted to the authority's website and the CEC docket.
Why it matters: if the application appendices misidentify the basin, technical conclusions about water supply and basin conditions could be misleading for reviewers. West asked the board to emphasize the error on the docket so regulators and intervenors can note the discrepancy.
Next steps: staff committed to filing the authority's response and to including the letter in the next board packet; the board indicated the response will be posted to the CEC docket and linked publicly before the July 16 comment deadline.
