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Kansas Statutes Chapter 82A. Waters and Watercourses § 82a-737. Civil enforcement of act

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Chief engineer” means the chief engineer of the division of water resources of the department of agriculture.

(2) “Secretary” means the secretary of agriculture.

(b) Any person who commits any of the following may incur a civil penalty as provided by this section:

(1) Any violation of the Kansas water appropriation act, K.S.A. 82a-701 et seq., and amendments thereto, or any rule and regulation adopted thereunder;

(2) any violation of an order issued pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-1038, and amendments thereto, relating to an intensive groundwater use control area; or

(3) any violation of a term, condition or limitation imposed by the chief engineer as authorized by law, including, but not limited to: (A) Diversion of water from an unauthorized point of diversion; (B) failure to limit the use of water to the authorized place of use; (C) failure to submit or comply with the terms of conservation plans as required pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-733, and amendments thereto; (D) failure to comply with the maximum annual quantity or rate of diversion authorized; (E) failure to properly install, maintain or assure the accuracy of acceptable water measurement devices; (F) failure to comply with orders related to minimum desirable stream flow, unlawful diversion, impairment of senior water rights or waste of water; or (G) failure to limit the use of water to an authorized type of use.

(c) The amount of the civil penalty provided for by this section shall be not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation. In the case of a continuing violation, each day such violation continues may be deemed a separate violation. Such civil penalty may be assessed in addition to any other penalty provided by law.

(d) The chief engineer or the chief engineer's duly authorized agent, upon a finding that a person has committed a violation specified in subsection (b), may order the modification or suspension of the person's water right or use of water, in addition to any other penalty provided by law.

(e) No civil penalty or suspension or modification of a water right or use of water shall be imposed pursuant to this section except on the written order of the chief engineer or duly authorized agent of the chief engineer. Such order shall state the nature of the violation, the factual basis for the finding, the penalty to be imposed and the appropriate procedure for appeal of the order, as established by K.S.A. 82a-1901, and amendments thereto.

(f) Any person aggrieved by an order of the chief engineer, or the chief engineer's duly authorized agent, pursuant to this section may request a hearing or review as provided by K.S.A. 82a-1901, and amendments thereto, and, upon exhaustion of administrative remedies, may appeal to the district court in the manner provided by the Kansas judicial review act.

(g) The provisions of this section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas water appropriation act.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Kansas Statutes Chapter 82A. Waters and Watercourses § 82a-737. Civil enforcement of act - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ks/chapter-82a-waters-and-watercourses/ks-st-sect-82a-737/

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