Wichita ASR Prehearing Order Issued

On May 1, 2019 Hearing Officer Connie Owen issued an order directing that oral arguments on the eight remaining motions by the parties will be heard May 28, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Harvey County Courthouse in Newton. Details on the who the parties are and the motions that will be argued are laid out in the order.

The evidentiary hearing on the merits of Wichita’s proposed changes to its Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project issues has not yet been set pending securing the location, but it appears likely that the dates will be in late September 2019.

KDA-DWR continues to update our Wichita ASR page with information regarding the City of Wichita’s proposal, background information, and the information related to the current hearing process.…

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Wichita ASR matter delegated, March 26 hearing postponed

On March 19, 2019 Chief Engineer Barfield delegated to Constance (Connie) Owens the authority to serve as the presiding officer in the matter of considering Wichita’s proposed changes to its Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project, postponing the formal phase of the public hearing previously scheduled for March 26, 2019. Hearing Officer Owen will conduct a hearing among the formal parties and provide written recommendations to the Chief Engineer based on the record after such hearings are complete. 

A new date for the formal phase of the hearing will be announced in the near future.

KDA-DWR web site related to Wichita’s proposed changes to its ASR has been updated with the parties’ filings (expert reports, motions), as well as the latest orders from the Chief Engineer. https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/WichitaASR

Tags: ASR, GMD2, StaffordFO, Wichita, Equus Beds …

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Formal hearing for Wichita ASR proposals set for March 26

The formal phase of the public hearing on proposed modifications to the permitting of Wichita’s existing Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project will be held on March 26, 2019, continuing to March 27 if needed. The public hearing will be held at ICM, Inc. 125 N. 1st Street, Suites 2 and 3, Colwich, KS.

While this phase is principally for the former parties, it is open to the public and verbal comments from the public will be accepted at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m on March 26.

Wichita’s proposal, a brief summary, public comments received to date including transcript of the December 11 meeting, and more available on the KDA’s web site at https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/WichitaASR

Tags: ASR, GMD2, StaffordFO, Wichita, Equus Beds …

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Wichita ASR Dec 11 hearing scope narrowed to public comments; second hearing to follow

Below is a summary of additional motions and subsequent decisions related to the hearing(s) in connection with the City of Wichita’s requested changes to its Aquifer Storage and Recovery permits.

  • On Oct. 26, an order was issued admitting additional parties to the formal proceeding.
  • On Nov. 3, the new parties filed a motion to extend preparation timelines and requesting the hearing be postponed to allow more time to prepare. GMD 2 filed a motion to support; the City opposed.
  • On Nov. 12, Chief Engineer Barfield issued an order on these motions which: 1) left the Public Hearing scheduled for Dec. 11, 2018 in Wichita in place but limiting the hearing to individual public comments, 2) determined there would be a second public hearing for the purpose of conducting the formal phase of the hearing, and 3) extended the deadline for the close of discovery to Dec. 21, 2018.
  • Following a call on Nov. 16, an order was issued tentatively setting Feb. 13 for the second, formal phase hearing and established other preparation deadlines.

See our web site for copies of the motions, orders and related matters:  http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/WichitaASR

Tags: WichitaASR, StaffordFO, GMD2…

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Wichita Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) hearing rescheduled to Dec 11, scope of hearing narrowed

On September 4, GMD 2 filed a motion requesting additional time to prepare for the hearing. This precipitated a series of additional filings by the parties and additional pre-hearing conferences calls.  On Sept. 20, the City of Wichita requested their new applications be withdrawn.

After discussion at the September 26 pre-hearing conference, it was agreed the hearing would be postponed to December 11 and the scope of the hearing would be narrowed, dropping the consideration of the City’s withdrawn new applications.

Thus, the public hearing in the matter of Wichita’s proposed changes to Phase II of its ASR project will be held on December 11, 2018, starting at 9:00 a.m. at American Ag Credit, located at 4105 North Ridge Road, Wichita, Kansas, 67205, to be continued on December 12 if needed.

More details on these matters are available at: http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/WichitaASR

Tags: WichitaASR, GMD2, StaffordFO…

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Wichita Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) hearing set for Oct 22

A public hearing in the matter of Wichita’s proposed changes to Phase II of its ASR project will be held on October 22, 2018, starting at 9:00 a.m. at American Ag Credit, located at 4105 North Ridge Road, Wichita, Kansas, 67205, to be continued on Oct. 23 if needed.

Details on the hearing procedures, the specific questions to be considered, and more are in the pre-hearing conference order at: http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/dwr-water-appropriation-documents/cityofwichita_phaseii_asr_prehearing_conf_order_20180723.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Tags: WichitaASR, GMD2, StaffordFO…

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