Code of Federal Regulations Title 18. Conservation of Power and Water Resources § 18.806.23 Standards for water withdrawals

(1) The Commission may limit withdrawals to the amount (quantity and rate) of water that is needed to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of the project sponsor.

(2) The Commission may deny an application, limit or condition an approval to ensure that the withdrawal will not cause significant adverse impacts to the water resources of the basin. The Commission may consider, without limitation, the following in its consideration of adverse impacts:  Lowering of groundwater or stream flow levels;  groundwater and surface water availability, including cumulative uses;  rendering competing supplies unreliable;  affecting other water uses;  causing water quality degradation that may be injurious to any existing or potential water use;  affecting fish, wildlife or other living resources or their habitat;  causing permanent loss of aquifer storage capacity;  affecting wetlands;  or affecting low flow of perennial or intermittent streams.

(3) The Commission may impose limitations or conditions to mitigate impacts, including without limitation:

(4) The Commission may require the project sponsor to undertake the following, to ensure its ability to meet its present or reasonably foreseeable water needs from available groundwater or surface water without limitation:

(5) For projects consisting of mine dewatering, water resources remediation, and AMD facilities that qualify as a withdrawal, review of adverse impacts will have limited consideration of groundwater availability, causing permanent loss of aquifer storage and lowering of groundwater levels provided these projects are operated in accordance with the laws and regulations of the member jurisdictions.