WEBVTT 00:07.046 --> 00:10.946 >> Good morning everybody. 00:11.286 --> 00:17.946 And for those who don't know me, I'm Robert Mace, I'm Deputy Executive Administrator here 00:17.946 --> 00:21.816 at the Texas Water Development Board who run the Water Science & Conservation group here. 00:22.566 --> 00:28.916 Thank you all for being here and showing interest in providing comments 00:28.916 --> 00:32.096 or perhaps just looking and listening what other people say 00:32.096 --> 00:34.786 about implementation of House Bill 30. 00:36.716 --> 00:40.056 Just briefly, we've got to-- I guess, 00:40.056 --> 00:43.966 if anybody here that's TWDB staff or my staff could stand up. 00:44.046 --> 00:45.666 We've got a number of folks here. 00:46.326 --> 00:48.196 And you're going to hear from John Meyer. 00:49.046 --> 00:52.326 So, we have a number folks here, they're going to be taking notes, listening. 00:52.326 --> 00:54.716 We've got somebody from legal here. 00:56.236 --> 01:00.906 So, a very interesting here which you have to say, of course, in this solicitation, 01:00.956 --> 01:04.896 we had pointed out some specific things we are looking to hear on. 01:04.896 --> 01:09.496 You're also going to hear about some key questions by John Meyer but ultimately, 01:09.496 --> 01:14.976 it's open for any comments you have about the implementation that we're going to go 01:14.976 --> 01:16.546 through in putting this bill together. 01:17.266 --> 01:22.256 Also, we're please to have with us one of our Board Members, Director Kathleen Jackson. 01:22.696 --> 01:24.376 Miss Jackson, would you like to say something? 01:27.886 --> 01:28.936 >> Thank you Robert. 01:28.936 --> 01:30.746 I really appreciate everybody being here. 01:30.746 --> 01:32.686 And wow, what a great turnout. 01:33.006 --> 01:35.616 The stakeholder process is extremely important. 01:36.116 --> 01:40.496 We're really pleased that the legislator has tasked us 01:40.496 --> 01:43.336 with studying the brackish aquifers across Texas. 01:43.406 --> 01:52.056 And we think that there is amazing opportunities moving forward not just with brackish desal. 01:52.056 --> 01:56.186 but with many other strategies to make sure that we're developing water for Texas. 01:56.186 --> 01:57.306 I'm here in listening mode. 01:57.306 --> 02:01.496 I know that Bech already said he could be here as well, of course, from the quorum standpoint, 02:01.986 --> 02:05.136 two of us can't be on the same place at the same time. 02:05.476 --> 02:09.396 So, I'm here representing the Board and really just listening to thoughts 02:09.396 --> 02:11.226 and ideas which I think is so important. 02:11.496 --> 02:16.016 This is, I think, really a great opportunity because it's early on in the process. 02:16.016 --> 02:19.266 And then, I know that as we move forward, we're going to be continuing to ask 02:19.266 --> 02:21.576 for stakeholder input as we move forward. 02:21.576 --> 02:23.866 So, I just want to appreciate everybody being here, 02:24.146 --> 02:28.666 and bringing with you your thoughts and ideas. 02:29.246 --> 02:32.106 >> I'm sure many of you followed House Bill 30 02:32.106 --> 02:34.776 in its different permutations as it went through session. 02:35.486 --> 02:40.766 Of course, we're here today to talk about how it finally passed and broadly, 02:40.766 --> 02:45.116 what it represents is a science study of looking 02:45.216 --> 02:50.446 at the Board designating brackish groundwater production zones. 02:51.176 --> 02:55.466 And, there's a lot of science, arguably pure science, involved there, 02:55.926 --> 03:00.436 but there's also some policy questions that are wrapped up in this bill, you know, for example, 03:00.736 --> 03:06.466 impacts on resources that are above or perhaps lateral to groundwater production zones 03:06.816 --> 03:09.526 that we're really looking for some feedback from you all. 03:09.526 --> 03:13.796 And John shortly is going to provide an overview of what's in the bill, 03:14.006 --> 03:18.596 and kind of where we're looking to get forward with the work process. 03:19.036 --> 03:24.366 We do have out on the street now request for qualifications for what we call phase one 03:24.366 --> 03:29.576 of the studies as well as phase two of the studies, that phase one has 03:29.576 --> 03:32.956 to be done before we go on to the next session, and then phase two 03:33.636 --> 03:35.576 at some point a little bit later. 03:35.646 --> 03:37.396 John will discuss those deadlines. 03:37.886 --> 03:42.266 Ideally, we would have waited until we have this meeting before we put those RFQs out, 03:42.266 --> 03:43.666 but time is of the essence. 03:43.666 --> 03:46.916 We have some very short deadlines, legislative deadlines. 03:47.376 --> 03:50.496 One thing I do I want to assure you though, is with the contracted work, 03:50.626 --> 03:52.916 that work is focused on the science. 03:53.266 --> 03:58.256 And any of the designations or recommendations of designations are going to come 03:58.256 --> 04:04.016 from agency staff and specifically the executive administrator when it goes to the Board 04:04.096 --> 04:08.266 for a designation decision, at some point, next year. 04:08.986 --> 04:10.956 So, hopefully the fact, the request 04:10.956 --> 04:13.846 for qualifications went out, it didn't cause anybody concern. 04:15.006 --> 04:19.386 There's still, as Director Jackson noted, plenty of opportunities for stakeholder input. 04:20.166 --> 04:25.476 We tried to create several ways for you all to provide feedback, you know, 04:25.866 --> 04:29.016 there's still time to do written commentary. 04:29.016 --> 04:33.966 And we have a deadline of-- was it the 30th or the 31st, 30th, Friday? 04:34.156 --> 04:36.526 >> Yeah, October 31st, Friday. 04:36.526 --> 04:41.526 >> For this Friday, let's just going to kind of get focused for people 04:41.526 --> 04:43.916 to send us comments so we can start processing them. 04:43.916 --> 04:47.716 But, really, any point during this process, don't hesitate to reach 04:47.716 --> 04:50.176 out to us, and let us know what you think. 04:50.766 --> 04:53.906 Also, as Director Jackson eluded, there are opportunities 04:53.906 --> 04:56.316 for stakeholder involvement going forward. 04:56.806 --> 05:02.076 We anticipate the consultants as well as internal studies 05:02.076 --> 05:04.096 that we're doing with staff, go forward. 05:04.636 --> 05:10.836 Once the data is collected then we would have a discussion with stakeholders on potential areas 05:10.836 --> 05:17.156 to look at closer for brackish groundwater production zone designation. 05:18.296 --> 05:24.756 When you came in and signed in, we gave you all some comment sheets. 05:25.276 --> 05:29.736 And since we've got such a big crowd here today, what we're asking is for you to-- 05:29.736 --> 05:33.476 if you want to get up and say something verbal, we're going to pass around a microphone. 05:34.316 --> 05:38.236 Please fill that out and we'll have somebody come up the aisle 05:38.236 --> 05:41.006 at some point and collect the sheets. 05:41.446 --> 05:47.166 If you hear something somebody is saying, you're like, "Dang it, now I want to make a comment," 05:47.166 --> 05:49.936 then fill it out very quickly and give it to us, 05:49.936 --> 05:53.066 and we'll make sure you get your moment in the limelight. 05:53.896 --> 05:57.176 Show us a note that these proceedings are being recorded. 05:57.876 --> 06:01.476 Then, we also have folks taking notes as well. 06:01.536 --> 06:07.256 So, first step on the agenda then, well, second up on the agenda, I was first, 06:07.886 --> 06:12.196 is a brief presentation on House Bill 30 from John Meyer. 06:12.316 --> 06:17.556 And John is our technical lead in working on this project. 06:17.756 --> 06:17.996 John? 06:25.736 --> 06:26.956 >> Well, thank you all for coming today. 06:27.126 --> 06:30.596 I'm glad the weather cleared up a little bit so we had safe travel here. 06:30.686 --> 06:33.056 You know, we had quite a rainstorm here in Austin this weekend. 06:33.136 --> 06:38.606 What I want to talk to you today is kind of what House Bill 30 contains and how we're going 06:38.606 --> 06:42.526 to begin to implement this particular, you know, legislation within the Water Development Board. 06:43.256 --> 06:46.706 So, House Bill 30 goes ahead and directs the Board 06:46.706 --> 06:51.686 to map brackish groundwater production zones across the state, all the major, minor aquifers. 06:52.266 --> 06:55.686 We have to go ahead and put up all these information 06:55.686 --> 06:58.356 into a report that is due to the legislator. 06:59.016 --> 07:03.886 Every even numbered year starting-- the next report is due December 1st 2016. 07:04.526 --> 07:10.136 Within that legislation, it's specified that four aquifers have to be mapped and complete 07:10.606 --> 07:15.266 by the report next year, which is about real tight timeframe that Robert mentioned for us 07:15.266 --> 07:18.816 to get the SoQ's out for us to get this information contracted 07:18.816 --> 07:19.926 out and back to the Board? 07:20.436 --> 07:25.066 So, those four aquifers are the Gulf Coast, the Carrizo-Wilcox specifically 07:25.066 --> 07:29.486 between the Colorado River and the Rio Grande, the Blaine and then the Rustler aquifer. 07:30.186 --> 07:34.896 And then the remaining aquifers, we're going to go ahead, get those mapped by December 1st, 07:34.896 --> 07:38.466 2022 which is also specified in the legislation. 07:39.256 --> 07:43.206 And specifically within the House Bill 30 and we've got a copy of the bill, you know, 07:43.206 --> 07:47.456 at the front desk if you haven't seen the most latest signed version of it. 07:47.456 --> 07:52.856 A House Bill 30 indicates that the Board has to identify and designate local 07:52.856 --> 07:57.496 or regional brackish groundwater production zones and areas of the state with moderate 07:57.496 --> 08:01.886 to high availability and productivity of brackish groundwater that can be used 08:01.886 --> 08:05.266 to reduce the use of fresh groundwater and that. 08:05.436 --> 08:09.116 And then, there's some very specific place where we can designate these zones. 08:10.106 --> 08:12.936 These zones have to be separated by hydrogeologic barriers, 08:13.516 --> 08:17.506 sufficient to prevent significant impact, and that significant impact is something we're going 08:17.506 --> 08:22.416 to talk about today, to water availability or water quality 08:23.016 --> 08:25.496 in areas of the same or other aquifers. 08:27.026 --> 08:31.946 Subdivisions of aquifers or geologic strata that have an average total dissolved solids level 08:31.946 --> 08:35.936 of 1000 milligrams per liter or less at a time of designation. 08:36.326 --> 08:39.376 And then, there's also some exclusion in where we can't designate zones 08:39.376 --> 08:42.506 and I'll mention those a little bit later here in the presentation. 08:43.086 --> 08:48.616 So, this is all going to kind of build upon the BRACS Program which stands 08:48.616 --> 08:53.356 for Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System that we begun in 2009. 08:54.026 --> 08:55.996 So, we've mapped a few aquifers across the state. 08:55.996 --> 09:00.656 And we're going to be folding that information into this current legislation. 09:01.286 --> 09:04.166 Our objective is to map in a very sufficient detail, 09:04.676 --> 09:07.466 the brackish groundwater resources of each major, minor aquifer. 09:08.066 --> 09:10.196 We collect and load a lot of information, you know, 09:10.196 --> 09:12.546 a custom database called the BRACS database. 09:14.126 --> 09:16.766 It's very similar to the groundwater database design, 09:16.766 --> 09:19.146 but it's able to hold all the additional types 09:19.146 --> 09:21.466 of information we need to kind of do our studies. 09:22.286 --> 09:26.366 And then, we maintain a collection of well reports and geophysical well logs in order 09:26.366 --> 09:30.326 for us to kind of look at that that those deeper brackish sections of the aquifers. 09:31.096 --> 09:34.126 And then, one of things that the Board has always done is make all this information 09:34.126 --> 09:38.876 available, you know, to the public, both on our web site, or if you need some of the really, 09:38.876 --> 09:42.476 really large file sizes of the geophysical logs, you can get in touch with us 09:42.476 --> 09:44.166 and we can get that information out to you. 09:45.996 --> 09:50.156 So, the salinity classification that we used within the Board, 09:50.206 --> 09:53.526 zero to 1000 milligrams per liter is considered fresh. 09:54.386 --> 09:58.136 The brackish portion, we call it slight saline and moderately saline. 09:58.746 --> 10:01.976 That's either 1 to 3000, or 3000 to 10,000. 10:02.046 --> 10:06.016 And then in our studies, we also go ahead and map the very saline zone 10:06.016 --> 10:08.846 which is 10,000 all the way to 35,000. 10:09.276 --> 10:12.636 And for our reference, 35,000 is approximately equal to seawater. 10:14.386 --> 10:19.996 So our approach in kind of conducting and implementing this legislation is today, 10:19.996 --> 10:21.676 we're holding the initial stakeholder meeting. 10:22.256 --> 10:25.186 And as Robert mentioned, there's going to be plenty of opportunity during the course 10:25.186 --> 10:29.396 of the individual studies as well as this process, you know, over stakeholder input. 10:30.156 --> 10:34.806 Our objective is to map the entire brackish groundwater resource for each aquifer. 10:35.116 --> 10:38.246 So we really want to map the whole aquifer and then we will subdivide that part 10:38.246 --> 10:42.986 into this brackish groundwater production zones, yeah, according to the legislation. 10:43.776 --> 10:48.466 Once that's done, we'll propose potential production areas. 10:48.736 --> 10:53.176 Now, we use that term different than the brackish groundwater production zones 10:53.236 --> 10:57.056 because the actual Board has to go ahead and make that recommendation. 10:57.896 --> 11:01.206 So from the science standpoint, we're going to take a look 11:01.206 --> 11:03.446 at these potential production areas in each aquifer. 11:04.066 --> 11:06.576 Have a stakeholder meeting to talk about those things. 11:06.576 --> 11:11.306 We're going to prioritize those areas within each of the aquifers for further study. 11:12.166 --> 11:16.256 We'll then do the impact analysis on the 30 and 50 year pumping requirements. 11:17.036 --> 11:22.906 Then, we will propose these brackish groundwater production zones to our executive administrator. 11:23.646 --> 11:29.276 And then, we will present the executive administrator's recommendations to the Board. 11:29.336 --> 11:32.316 This first set of aquifers, that's going to happen next fall. 11:33.156 --> 11:37.116 And then we're going to present all the study findings in this biennial seawater 11:37.116 --> 11:39.646 and brackish groundwater report that's due to the legislature. 11:39.646 --> 11:45.786 So, I'll go through a whole series of maps with a bunch of aquifers that are 11:45.786 --> 11:49.416 on each map that have similar objectives. 11:49.416 --> 11:54.706 As Robert mentioned, we put out an SoQ, Statement of Qualifications. 11:54.706 --> 11:57.426 That's going to be due November 6th of this fall. 11:57.426 --> 12:01.686 This is for the 2016 contracts which will be the Blaine, 12:01.686 --> 12:04.276 Carizzo-Wilcox, Gulf Coast and Rustler aquifers. 12:05.846 --> 12:08.326 We also had a little money leftover from the legislator. 12:08.876 --> 12:13.106 So, we're also going to be doing three more aquifers with this round of funding that's going 12:13.106 --> 12:15.936 to be the Blossom, the Nacatoch and the Trinity. 12:15.936 --> 12:21.066 These are going to be due in August 2017 because we don't actually have a date specified 12:21.066 --> 12:22.736 on legislation for when these are due. 12:23.316 --> 12:26.616 So we're going to defer this to 2017 because we have to use 12:26.616 --> 12:28.366 up all the money by that point in time. 12:30.676 --> 12:34.626 The remaining aquifers across the state are going to be studied by Board staff. 12:35.196 --> 12:37.116 And we've got six and a half people that are going 12:37.116 --> 12:39.796 to be working specifically on this project. 12:39.796 --> 12:44.486 And we will probably organizing these aquifers in teams of two staff per aquifer 12:44.486 --> 12:46.376 so we'll be doing three studies concurrently. 12:47.436 --> 12:50.846 So you can take a look at the list of aquifers, I won't name each one. 12:53.146 --> 12:55.296 We've also got four aquifers across the state. 12:55.766 --> 12:57.246 And from the data that we have at this point, 12:57.246 --> 13:00.716 we don't have any significant brackish groundwater within it. 13:01.336 --> 13:06.726 So we don't propose to do studies on these aquifers, however, if within the course of time 13:06.726 --> 13:11.906 if we find additional information out there, we may go ahead and schedule this for study. 13:13.736 --> 13:18.126 These aquifers are the Igneous in West Texas, the Marathon, 13:18.456 --> 13:22.346 the Marble Falls which can barely kind of see in the center part of the state 13:22.346 --> 13:24.926 around the Llano Uplift and then the Rita Blanca. 13:26.516 --> 13:30.986 And then we do have a number of aquifers where we do have significant use 13:30.986 --> 13:34.506 of brackish groundwater in parts of these aquifers. 13:35.116 --> 13:38.006 And the legislation specifically indicates 13:38.006 --> 13:43.286 that we can't designate brackish groundwater production zones in areas 13:43.286 --> 13:47.466 where there is also significant brackish groundwater being used at this point in time. 13:47.936 --> 13:53.326 And so especially in West Texas, we got the Hueco-Mesilla Bolsons, the West Texas Bolsons, 13:54.166 --> 13:58.326 the Seymour Aquifer, parts of the Ogallala Aquifer, 13:58.566 --> 14:01.566 the Edwards-Trinity High Plain and then the Blossom Aquifer. 14:01.566 --> 14:07.206 So we're going to be taking a look at these aquifers very carefully to determine, you know, 14:07.206 --> 14:13.656 if we do need to designate zones in parcel them or maybe, we're going to defer that post-2022. 14:16.346 --> 14:23.286 And then we've got four GCDs across the State in which the legislation specifically indicates 14:23.636 --> 14:26.316 that we can't designate brackish groundwater production zones. 14:26.926 --> 14:30.866 So within the Gulf Coast Aquifer, we've got the Fort Bend 14:30.866 --> 14:33.406 and the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence Districts. 14:33.996 --> 14:38.886 So when we study the Gulf coast, we're going to map the entire Gulf Coast Aquifer with respect 14:38.886 --> 14:40.246 to the brackish groundwater resources. 14:40.646 --> 14:43.626 But we can actually designate brackish groundwater production zones 14:43.926 --> 14:45.826 within the boundaries of those two districts. 14:46.536 --> 14:51.466 Also with respect to the Edwards Aquifer, the Balcones Fault Zone portion of that, 14:52.026 --> 14:54.856 we've got two GCDs, the Edwards Aquifer Authority 14:55.266 --> 14:58.736 and then the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. 14:59.006 --> 15:03.976 We can't designate any brackish groundwater production zones within those areas as well. 15:03.976 --> 15:06.926 However, there are some areas that are outside of the district boundaries 15:07.436 --> 15:10.916 and there may be some areas that are down deep and maybe more saline, 15:11.346 --> 15:12.946 they would fall in within that range. 15:12.946 --> 15:17.166 So we've got to do some more like internally to figure it out, you know, exactly the conditions 15:17.166 --> 15:20.166 where we may want to conduct a study and work with those districts on that. 15:20.166 --> 15:25.156 So at this point in time, we'll kind of get in to the questions. 15:25.676 --> 15:27.916 Robert do you want to kind of emcee this or? 15:34.416 --> 15:36.096 Oh and that's the clicker. 15:38.076 --> 15:42.176 >> So, let me stress that we want to hear your comments regardless on what it is, you know, 15:42.176 --> 15:45.886 how you felt about that UT game, how the Yankees are doing, you know. 15:46.896 --> 15:51.016 But there are three questions that we've identified as staff that we're 15:51.016 --> 15:53.096 in particular looking for feedback on. 15:53.546 --> 15:57.266 Again we're scientists, we're good at, you know, looking at the well logs and mapping 15:57.266 --> 16:02.606 out the geology and making the estimates on the volumes of water of varying qualities. 16:03.156 --> 16:09.246 But there are some, lack of a better term, mushy terms in the bill that, you know, 16:09.246 --> 16:12.206 our Board is going to have to make a decision on and, you know, 16:12.206 --> 16:14.026 staff is going to have to advise the Board. 16:14.576 --> 16:20.076 And so, you know, before we make a decision, we want to hear your thoughts. 16:20.316 --> 16:22.696 One of those key terms, I'm not going to read that paragraph 16:22.696 --> 16:25.626 but one of the key terms is "significant impact". 16:26.416 --> 16:30.656 And so, you know, this legislation is looking to define groundwater, 16:31.586 --> 16:33.216 brackish groundwater production zones. 16:33.816 --> 16:39.856 And one of the requirements is that they're separated by hydrogeologic barriers sufficient 16:39.856 --> 16:43.046 to prevent significant impacts to water variability, 16:43.046 --> 16:46.246 water quality in any area the same or other aquifers. 16:46.976 --> 16:51.156 So significant, we're looking for some feedback on that. 16:51.386 --> 16:57.576 A one hand, maybe one foot of water level decline through a confining layer 16:57.896 --> 17:01.256 into a fresh water system could be considered significant. 17:01.256 --> 17:04.516 One person might be 10 foot to another person. 17:05.186 --> 17:12.796 So we're looking for some feedback there, how we should define that, what that number should be, 17:12.796 --> 17:14.396 what do you consider significant. 17:19.116 --> 17:25.956 Also, we're looking for separated by hydrologic barriers sufficient 17:25.956 --> 17:27.776 to prevent significant impacts. 17:27.776 --> 17:31.356 And so, what those hydrologic barriers mean? 17:31.766 --> 17:38.746 Obviously, a physical barrier like a, you know, a clay or a shale above a brackish layer 17:39.296 --> 17:45.156 that separates that brackish layer from a fresh water above, clearly a hydrogeologic barrier. 17:45.836 --> 17:48.926 Perhaps laterally, you've got a sandstone aquifer, 17:48.926 --> 17:52.246 you got brackish-- here's a fault, a barrier fault. 17:52.626 --> 17:54.666 And on the other side, you've got fresh 17:54.666 --> 17:56.786 so I think that's probably clearly hydrologic barrier. 17:57.846 --> 18:01.596 Is distance enough to be a hydrologic barrier? 18:01.596 --> 18:06.416 In other words, you've got sandstone, you've got brackish down here, you got fresh over here, 18:06.886 --> 18:10.546 can you pump over here and have minimal impacts on the fresh 18:10.686 --> 18:13.036 and for that to be considered a hydrogeologic barrier? 18:13.716 --> 18:17.616 That's a little more hydrogeologically exoteric than significant impacts. 18:17.616 --> 18:22.026 So maybe we'll hear from our hydrogeologic friends out there. 18:23.806 --> 18:27.796 And then significant source, so if-- 18:27.796 --> 18:33.556 to a certain degree, we've kind of already made some demarcation as you heard from John 18:33.556 --> 18:39.966 that if folks are already producing water from a brackish groundwater resource, 18:40.496 --> 18:43.526 then that would take that off the table as a designated 18:43.526 --> 18:45.746 and as a brackish groundwater production zone. 18:46.306 --> 18:50.116 A good example of that is the Bone Spring-Victorio Peak, 18:50.256 --> 18:52.226 that aquifer is completely brackish. 18:52.766 --> 18:55.066 There's to the tune of what? 18:55.066 --> 18:58.726 Seventy thousand, 80,000 acre feet a year pulled from that system. 18:59.336 --> 19:00.676 That sounds significant. 19:00.676 --> 19:03.406 That sounds like a significant source of brackish water to me. 19:04.306 --> 19:07.346 But where is the lower limit on that? 19:07.656 --> 19:14.706 You know, is it enough for a few farmers to have windmill, water for their cattle. 19:14.976 --> 19:16.806 Is that a significant source? 19:16.806 --> 19:21.586 Is it something higher than that or even is it something lower than that? 19:22.706 --> 19:26.376 So those are the three key questions that we're looking for feedback on. 19:26.526 --> 19:30.626 But again, you know, any thoughts you have, we do want to hear. 19:30.626 --> 19:35.506 It doesn't mean that we've identified all the issues that we need to hear about. 19:36.236 --> 19:39.806 And truly, we haven't made any decisions on this. 19:39.806 --> 19:44.916 We really do want to hear from stakeholders on this as we go forward. 19:45.546 --> 19:52.756 I should also note that, yeah, we're seeking input at this point, but I'm not going to say 19:52.756 --> 19:55.506 when exactly we'll make a decision on this. 19:55.506 --> 20:00.976 And it could be postponed awhile as the studies go forward. 20:01.786 --> 20:06.736 And really ultimately, you know, as an agency, we don't have to make a decision on these things 20:06.736 --> 20:09.496 until we take it to the Board for approval. 20:10.866 --> 20:14.076 So, as far as meeting format is concerned, 20:14.256 --> 20:17.976 what they want to stress is this is not a role-making process. 20:17.976 --> 20:21.686 You know, so if it's a rule-making process, I just have to seat here and say thank you 20:21.686 --> 20:23.036 for your comment, everything you said. 20:23.096 --> 20:28.496 So there can be a little bit of back and forth, particularly if you have questions. 20:29.036 --> 20:32.696 We don't want to spar with anybody on a comment they made. 20:32.696 --> 20:38.056 Your comment is your comment, we respect that, but we are open to taking questions. 20:38.156 --> 20:41.406 And sometimes, the best comments can come in a question format, 20:42.006 --> 20:44.476 especially if it's a question we haven't considered before. 20:45.566 --> 20:49.076 So this is more informal along those lines in terms 20:49.076 --> 20:51.206 of us being able to harvest ideas and thoughts. 20:52.286 --> 20:56.556 I don't know if you want to pass or whoever wants to speak. 20:57.236 --> 20:58.726 I guess who's going to pick them up? 20:58.726 --> 20:59.736 Erica and Sanjeev [assumed spelling]. 21:00.976 --> 21:05.356 Got a lot of folks here and so who wants to speak? 21:05.356 --> 21:07.116 Kind of gives me an indication how much time-- 21:08.206 --> 21:10.806 looks like only Mary Saws [assumed spelling] so she gets the hour and-- 21:11.516 --> 21:14.216 [ Laughter ] 21:14.716 --> 21:21.616 We'll make sure we give everybody an opportunity to speak if they want to speak. 21:21.616 --> 21:25.416 I also want to note that obviously, we have a board member here today. 21:25.416 --> 21:30.836 The chairman can't be here because it would have to be a posted meeting, that would be a quorum. 21:31.596 --> 21:35.376 And so he passes his regrets but Kathleen's here to-- 21:35.456 --> 21:38.156 with ears wide open to hear everything you'll have to say. 21:38.996 --> 21:42.996 The only thing I would say is if you make a verbal comment, if you're so moved, 21:42.996 --> 21:45.286 we would encourage you to submit in a written comment. 21:45.396 --> 21:48.566 That helps us a lot and that, you know, 21:48.566 --> 21:52.066 we get it in your words rather than taking it from notes. 21:52.716 --> 21:53.696 We are recording this. 21:53.696 --> 22:01.506 I noted earlier but, yeah, you might want to be more effusive in your comment later on. 22:01.506 --> 22:06.156 So please, go ahead and send in written comments if you so choose. 22:06.826 --> 22:12.606 And then, the other thing I wanted to stress before we go into taking comments and I guess, 22:12.606 --> 22:17.516 we do have a microphone so I'll call of a name and-- how many we have there Sanjeev? 22:18.186 --> 22:18.376 >> Two. 22:18.486 --> 22:25.936 >> Two? There's a lot of lurkers in the room. 22:26.026 --> 22:32.946 Is that-- yeah, this bill at this point is just asking the Board to make these designations. 22:32.946 --> 22:36.846 And at this point, there is no regulatory requirements 22:36.846 --> 22:39.136 or strings attached to this designation. 22:39.286 --> 22:43.716 It doesn't mean there's not going to be in the future but I just want to stress that that 22:43.716 --> 22:47.476 at this point, the Board is being asked to make these designations. 22:48.386 --> 22:53.406 The first few of them will happen before the end of next year, before next session. 22:54.866 --> 22:56.456 So Mary? 23:04.286 --> 23:08.706 >> Robert, I know you were surprised that I would have something to say [laughter]. 23:09.096 --> 23:11.066 I saw everybody just fall out off their chairs. 23:11.716 --> 23:20.726 I wanted to chat a little bit with you about the significant source of water supply 23:20.726 --> 23:23.716 for municipal, domestic or agricultural purposes. 23:24.426 --> 23:31.706 I noticed as you mentioned, the map showed some demarcations that you've already made. 23:32.146 --> 23:36.116 And it sounded in your follow-up comment that perhaps those were made based 23:36.116 --> 23:38.796 on volume of water that's being used. 23:39.036 --> 23:40.876 >> Mm-hmm. 23:42.136 --> 23:47.666 >> Now, it seems like during the legislative session, of course, at that time, 23:47.666 --> 23:50.066 a lot of the bills had regulatory impacts. 23:50.396 --> 24:06.036 There was some concern by groundwater districts, scarcely populated but who's constituents 24:06.036 --> 24:11.936 or land owners, well owners only used brackish water 24:12.356 --> 24:14.486 because that's really all that was available. 24:15.476 --> 24:17.646 But it wouldn't be a large volume. 24:18.296 --> 24:22.126 Is there any thought to talking about that? 24:22.226 --> 24:23.586 Working on that issue? 24:25.066 --> 24:32.256 >> Well, you're making a comment to bring it up, I would encourage groundwater districts 24:32.296 --> 24:40.696 or other local entities or locals that have concerns to let us know in writing ideally 24:40.696 --> 24:46.366 with some information on supporting the concern. 24:49.036 --> 24:53.206 >> And so, really when you guys started thinking about it, you were just thinking in terms 24:53.206 --> 24:57.766 of areas where a lot of volume of brackish was being used? 24:58.016 --> 24:58.596 >> Correct. 24:58.596 --> 25:01.616 And that's, yeah, I can't throw out a number. 25:01.966 --> 25:02.106 >> No. 25:02.236 --> 25:05.886 >> It was just clearly like for example, Bone spring Victorio Peak clearly 25:06.816 --> 25:11.606 that in our mind couldn't be designated because of the appreciable amount 25:11.766 --> 25:13.706 of use for agricultural purposes. 25:14.306 --> 25:14.626 >> Yeah. 25:15.106 --> 25:20.566 >> It gets more challenging as that relative amount of pumping comes down. 25:21.576 --> 25:27.466 Another reason that we've take in some aquifers off the table upfront is we have a very 25:27.466 --> 25:30.326 ambitious schedule with limited resources. 25:30.326 --> 25:35.136 And so those that, you know, if an aquifer is all fresh, we don't need to look at it. 25:35.136 --> 25:36.676 So, we took those off the table. 25:37.136 --> 25:43.266 And those that already have appreciable use, we took those off the table just to reduce the-- 25:43.396 --> 25:47.026 for good reason but also to reduce the amount of work that we have to do whether 25:47.026 --> 25:49.536 with our contractors or with internal resources. 25:49.706 --> 25:56.836 >> Right. And I think my second comment has to do with your comment that letting us all know 25:56.836 --> 25:59.716 that there's no regulatory impact to this at this point. 25:59.716 --> 26:09.586 And I'm assuming that everybody here followed the ins and outs of this and the legislation. 26:09.586 --> 26:16.216 And the focus of the earlier parts of the legislation or the earlier versions 26:16.216 --> 26:29.186 of the legislation were to perhaps lessen the regulatory burden in terms of production permits 26:29.956 --> 26:34.186 in ultimate groundwater production zones. 26:35.126 --> 26:41.286 And although it's true that this legislation doesn't mention that and this is not going 26:41.286 --> 26:47.656 to be regulatory, I think that we would be remiss if we pretended like that didn't exist 26:48.086 --> 26:54.516 because that's going, I think, going to inform the position that's going to be taken 26:54.516 --> 26:56.436 by a lot of the groundwater districts. 26:58.786 --> 27:07.096 Conceivably, if you had a groundwater production or brackish groundwater production zone 27:08.376 --> 27:13.236 in your groundwater district under some of these precursor bills, 27:13.666 --> 27:20.186 the groundwater districts authority to regulate it would be watered down. 27:20.476 --> 27:21.906 Ha ha! So to speak. 27:27.176 --> 27:31.416 >> We've got Paul Weatherby [assumed spelling] up next. 27:34.386 --> 27:36.436 You see, he's right there. 27:46.456 --> 27:49.186 >> Probably go not to sit down Robert, I can't do both here. 27:50.956 --> 27:55.566 Well anyway, thank you for the opportunity to make these comments. 27:56.156 --> 28:03.266 We were striving to try to contain the comments for today's issue to the issue at hand. 28:04.096 --> 28:08.446 But as she said it's kind of hard for us to realize what all we should bring up. 28:08.446 --> 28:13.206 But with the said, we've always, at Middle Pecos Groundwater District, 28:13.206 --> 28:20.956 has always supported the science, tried to use the science and at the same time, 28:21.646 --> 28:24.676 protect and reserve our water forever. 28:25.476 --> 28:30.526 I always have trouble trying to get in line with some 28:30.526 --> 28:34.966 of those thinking 30-year, 50-year supply, whatever. 28:35.356 --> 28:38.176 I expect us to have a million years of supply. 28:39.106 --> 28:44.306 Our permitting process is whether is 2 acre feet 28:44.306 --> 28:48.926 or 50,000 acre feet should be good for as long as it's needed. 28:49.546 --> 28:51.626 And we manage that water accordingly. 28:52.296 --> 28:57.306 So with that said, you notice in the bill when it came out, 28:58.106 --> 29:02.496 brackish groundwater is a potential new source for production. 29:02.496 --> 29:04.536 Well I don't know where they got the word new. 29:05.166 --> 29:09.526 In Pecos County, we've been producing it for hundreds of years 29:10.066 --> 29:13.786 from all the aquifers whether they're fresh or brackish. 29:14.446 --> 29:19.226 They came up with 1,000 TDS and that's fine. 29:19.316 --> 29:26.576 We've been drinking 1400, 1500 TDS for years which we consider fresh water. 29:27.276 --> 29:32.466 So I'm a little confused on how definite you all are going to apply that-- 29:32.926 --> 29:37.366 the science or whatever to an aquifer whenever varies. 29:37.796 --> 29:45.126 As we all know across the aquifer itself, it also varies as to the production 29:45.126 --> 29:51.736 of the aquifer along itself, we have real fresh water available. 29:51.846 --> 29:55.646 And if you over-pump this within a week with your irrigation, wells, 29:55.646 --> 29:58.036 et cetera, then it tends to turn brackish. 29:58.426 --> 30:00.666 Then it'll freshen up when you get off of it. 30:01.356 --> 30:08.906 You know, I don't know how you all are going to come about with that science to come 30:08.906 --> 30:14.766 in of not just our county but I'm here representing our county I don't know how you are 30:14.766 --> 30:19.046 going to come in and say, all right, this is going to be a brackish management zone. 30:20.136 --> 30:25.006 But today, it's fresh but, I don't know, it's just confusing. 30:26.256 --> 30:26.696 We-- 30:34.746 --> 30:40.666 We notice that on this immediate study that you all have to do is you have the Rustler. 30:41.906 --> 30:49.696 I assume you all are going to pinpoint up-- pin point at Rustler for this initial study. 30:50.656 --> 30:59.116 We know it's brackish all the way across but we also know which used extensively in the county. 30:59.906 --> 31:05.186 We ask for exemption status from the study et cetera in the beginning and that fell 31:05.186 --> 31:10.026 on deaf ears even though parts of Texas was, ours wasn't. 31:10.026 --> 31:14.576 We are one of the largest counties and we sure we have a lot 31:14.576 --> 31:17.076 of that Rustler Aquifer [inaudible] that's being utilized. 31:17.076 --> 31:22.936 And I hope during the study that the Water Development Board which we work with you all 31:22.936 --> 31:26.256 on a weekly, daily basis and your record will show that, 31:26.896 --> 31:31.806 that we hope that you all have the final finding that we can manage this water 31:31.806 --> 31:35.876 and make it available and still protected for future generations. 31:35.876 --> 31:43.266 With that, being established as a specific management zone covering hundreds and hundreds 31:43.266 --> 31:47.496 and hundreds of square miles of aquifer in Pecos County. 31:47.866 --> 31:52.176 And I won't get in the day, well, I'm scared of it might happen in he next 10 years 31:52.176 --> 31:59.956 if that is established as a management zone and it goes into where it's outside the regulation 31:59.956 --> 32:03.356 of a GCD but that's another story. 32:04.846 --> 32:11.426 The nonexempt wells as she mentioned, I mean, the exempt wells that she mentioned, 32:11.936 --> 32:14.756 we have submitted them, a 2 acre field. 32:14.756 --> 32:20.126 We have thousands of them in Pecos County, they're fresh and brackish on the same ranch. 32:21.066 --> 32:25.936 I want to continue in basis, they're brackish or fresh on the same area, same place. 32:25.936 --> 32:33.986 And I hope you all take that and I'm sure you will get with us on specific areas of use. 32:34.676 --> 32:40.796 And I don't know whether they addressed the DFC, now or they are not. 32:40.796 --> 32:44.606 I don't know if it's appropriate, but I know that if a management zone gets established 32:44.606 --> 32:49.966 by the state that if we can't continue our DFC process, 32:49.966 --> 32:53.566 we have to work around that zone although that's out the window, 32:53.876 --> 32:57.386 but throw the DFC thing out I guess. 32:58.546 --> 33:01.866 Our springs, we had 32 years ago. 33:02.386 --> 33:07.646 Now, we've just got very Pecos Springs, Santa Rosa come in, she's dried up. 33:07.726 --> 33:17.936 Diamond Y, Diamond Y Spring is primarily-- the Rustler Aquifer provides Diamond Y Spring. 33:17.936 --> 33:22.866 It's a federally protected with endangered species and stuff. 33:23.096 --> 33:29.086 If you take it out of the picture, well, it-- does the rest of Rustler-- 33:29.086 --> 33:30.586 that's part of the Rustler Aquifer. 33:30.686 --> 33:38.716 Yeah, I just don't understand right now and I hope that communicating with TWDB, you know, 33:38.716 --> 33:40.546 how this process is going to work its way 33:40.546 --> 33:47.216 through to further protect our springs or to continue to protect them. 33:47.636 --> 33:53.886 And the bill mentioned oil gas industry. 33:54.826 --> 33:57.936 Of course, we support that, you know, we do just like everybody else, 33:57.936 --> 34:00.206 90% of our tax money comes from there. 34:01.236 --> 34:06.816 But I know in other area where you're looking at brackish water sources, we have an enormous part 34:06.816 --> 34:14.936 of the county which is bigger that some counties in Texas that have water that is being used, 34:15.526 --> 34:23.546 that is not even in the Water Development Board database as designated aquifer. 34:24.816 --> 34:27.796 And it's an enormous amount of water. 34:27.846 --> 34:32.546 We've used the words alluvial water, most of is toward the Pecos River. 34:33.366 --> 34:39.236 We've called it the San Andres primarily, that's all field talk, what is kind of the formation, 34:39.236 --> 34:41.126 where it comes from, the San Andres. 34:42.226 --> 34:48.796 That water is virtually today flowing on the ground and has for years and we're working to-- 34:48.796 --> 34:55.416 we're actually working right now to contain that and utilize it for industrial municipal use. 34:56.536 --> 35:03.446 But-- I guess, it would be brackish because some of it is up to 30,000 TDS and some 35:03.446 --> 35:06.466 of it is not before a thousand or 6000 TDS. 35:07.036 --> 35:08.086 But where is it at? 35:08.086 --> 35:14.146 I guess, you all are going to study, just come out there and look, 35:14.146 --> 35:18.476 I don't know how are you going to do it because you don't have the science on that aquifer, 35:18.476 --> 35:23.436 it's 2000 feet down there, we know that from all field reports. 35:24.226 --> 35:32.126 It's 3 to 500 feet thick if you had lucky enough to get with BEG and find their records. 35:32.736 --> 35:35.866 To some places, it's not that thick. 35:35.866 --> 35:38.986 Some, it may be more, it's like the Capitan Reef, a lot of-- 35:38.986 --> 35:41.096 there's not a lot of information on it. 35:41.876 --> 35:46.366 So to go in and formally establish that as a management zone, 35:46.906 --> 35:54.336 I believe is a little preliminary to open it up to whatever is going to happen in the future. 35:54.936 --> 35:59.456 Also, there's injection wells being injected into these waters 35:59.456 --> 36:02.166 that you all are going to be studying. 36:02.656 --> 36:06.496 I'm not throwing rocks at anybody, I'm just saying that we have proven it and we're going 36:06.496 --> 36:14.476 to continue to prove that the-- whether it's commercial injection or private injection wells 36:14.476 --> 36:18.626 on leases that they've always been able to inject in to the San Andres 36:18.626 --> 36:21.346 because that is an oil and gas produce information but that's 36:21.346 --> 36:23.806 where there's a heck of a lot of brackish water also. 36:24.586 --> 36:27.626 It's shallower than the Ellenburger, Devonian, et cetera. 36:27.756 --> 36:35.606 It's up closer, It's assessable by the public or by land owner to utilize for any beneficial use 36:35.916 --> 36:37.656 if they want to treat it or whatever. 36:38.596 --> 36:43.556 But you got the oil and gas going in this end in a quarter of a mile away, 36:43.556 --> 36:46.776 you got to come out on a water well on this end. 36:46.776 --> 36:49.316 So we're trying to work through that. 36:49.316 --> 36:54.256 And that's going to take time so I'd hope that preliminary studies just don't blanket it 36:54.256 --> 36:58.276 out there as being an untapped, new, whatever you want to call it, 36:58.276 --> 37:02.566 water source for beneficial use when I can show you 37:02.566 --> 37:05.326 that we got problems going on with it right now. 37:06.076 --> 37:08.086 So that's where communication comes in. 37:09.426 --> 37:17.446 The week-- I've submitted a packet by email to everybody that I thought needed to see it. 37:17.446 --> 37:22.266 I'm not going to go over all the specifics in the packet but it does include some 37:22.266 --> 37:26.806 of you all science, TWDBs, I've include USGS science 37:27.376 --> 37:32.476 that it's funny how the more science you get turned in to you, 37:33.136 --> 37:35.756 the more different entities look at it. 37:35.756 --> 37:36.516 They can argue. 37:36.516 --> 37:38.016 Hydrologists argue. 37:38.926 --> 37:42.656 Groundwater water district managers argue. 37:42.946 --> 37:52.206 All I know is, is that we support the old say in Supreme Court. 37:52.206 --> 37:53.776 Local management is good. 37:54.486 --> 37:58.446 I hope that you all give the local groundwater districts not only us 37:58.446 --> 38:05.146 but across the state a definite play in this matter and not just get-- 38:05.256 --> 38:09.316 I don't guess it's fair to say this but I don't want to get politicked out. 38:10.096 --> 38:13.576 We want our staff, if we can back up what we're telling you, 38:13.576 --> 38:16.486 we want it to be used and recognized. 38:17.306 --> 38:23.236 And if there's a problem with it, we want to know, we want that communication gap open. 38:23.236 --> 38:32.376 There's been too much hard work done by everybody over the years to just kind 38:32.566 --> 38:38.936 of say man, this-- because I think this study is too much for you all to be due by 2016, 38:38.936 --> 38:41.536 I'm sorry you're tasked with that. 38:41.536 --> 38:45.456 Whereas, you can just say no, we can't do that right now, we got to work on it 38:45.456 --> 38:53.566 but I understand you need to save your job and your political positions, but I'll do stress 38:53.566 --> 38:59.686 that we're not scientists, we're not experts down there or anyone 38:59.686 --> 39:02.096 in groundwater districts, at least we're not. 39:03.006 --> 39:07.806 But we happen after living there three and four generations, we know our water. 39:08.516 --> 39:14.026 And before anything is definite, I hope we still continue to have strong input 39:14.026 --> 39:16.456 on what is brought out on the table. 39:17.586 --> 39:25.336 And I suppose that timeline unless it's continued to be, when did you say? 39:25.446 --> 39:27.426 >> In ultimate, there's-- we've got-- 39:27.426 --> 39:28.346 >> December or? 39:28.346 --> 39:29.896 >> Yeah December 1st the next year-- 39:30.276 --> 39:30.846 >> Right. 39:31.226 --> 39:37.906 >> For aquifers then we've got a timing of money issue with the next set of aquifers, 39:38.406 --> 39:41.256 and then we got to wrap everything up by 2022. 39:44.186 --> 39:48.196 Really appreciate your comments Paul and appreciate you coming this far 39:48.196 --> 39:50.406 out to share your thoughts with us. 39:50.746 --> 39:56.746 Your comments sparked off some things in my head so let me just put this out there, 39:56.746 --> 40:00.876 not only for you but for everybody in the audience. 40:01.246 --> 40:10.126 The kind of broadly how these studies are going to go is two phases, you know, 40:10.246 --> 40:14.836 whether it's in internal study that our staff is doing on these aquifers or if it's a contractor. 40:15.526 --> 40:18.126 The first phase is going to be a data collection phase 40:18.126 --> 40:20.056 of the available information that's out there. 40:20.136 --> 40:23.616 You know, some of what we're looking actually, a lot of what we're looking at, 40:23.616 --> 40:29.296 or well logs from the oil patch which really is the only data we have in some of these aquifers. 40:29.296 --> 40:33.376 And they go deep enough and we can interpret those logs and see what's going on 40:33.696 --> 40:36.016 or get a better sense of what's going on. 40:36.116 --> 40:41.026 So that's going to be the phase one, it's, what is the available information that's out there. 40:41.026 --> 40:45.466 And at that point, the consultants or our internal folks, 40:46.246 --> 40:50.906 if they're doing an internal study, we then have a stakeholder meeting to share 40:50.906 --> 40:56.856 with interested parties, here's what we found, here's what we think we know about the system, 40:57.556 --> 41:00.876 and these of the areas that look like could-- 41:00.956 --> 41:07.526 they could be areas to look at deeper as far as making a designation. 41:08.636 --> 41:13.456 And so, we'll, at that point, as the consultants or the scientists as well 41:13.456 --> 41:18.046 as us internally will get the feedback from that discussion. 41:18.336 --> 41:21.826 And then at that point, we'll direct our contractors 41:21.916 --> 41:24.306 in which areas to look at for a designation. 41:24.356 --> 41:28.246 Does that mean, you know, we're going to look at three or four identified areas, 41:28.246 --> 41:29.896 those three areas are going to be designated? 41:29.966 --> 41:33.206 No. It just means we're going to take a closer look at it because it could be-- 41:33.596 --> 41:36.196 when we started looking at how the system response hydraulically, 41:36.986 --> 41:38.356 that may take it off the table. 41:38.596 --> 41:43.076 You know, if it looks like if we pumped here, it's going to drain the fresh water up above, 41:43.326 --> 41:47.586 well that would take it off the table based on what the law says. 41:48.376 --> 41:54.446 After that second phase of the study is done, you know, staff will be working 41:54.636 --> 41:56.696 with our management and executive administrator 41:57.636 --> 41:59.946 since he will make a recommendation to the Board. 42:00.206 --> 42:05.276 And at that point, the plan is, is that will be kind of a standard Board process, 42:05.466 --> 42:12.756 public meeting, opportunities for public comments and as well as seen the kind 42:12.756 --> 42:17.936 of the report that comes out that will help inform staff's recommendation 42:17.936 --> 42:20.376 to the Board on designation. 42:21.376 --> 42:23.346 So, there will be plenty of opportunities. 42:23.346 --> 42:28.226 I think the fact that you've generated documents, the information you shared, 42:28.226 --> 42:30.746 that's valuable information for us. 42:30.746 --> 42:35.186 And so, you know, anybody out there that has information like that, you know, 42:35.186 --> 42:40.926 that helps us as staff as we're trying to formulate a recommendation to our Board. 42:42.516 --> 42:47.016 And then, you talked about desired future conditions and zones 42:47.176 --> 42:53.866 and House Bill 30 doesn't impact desired future conditions at this point, 42:53.866 --> 42:56.926 you can still have desired future conditions for brackish resources, 42:57.056 --> 43:00.436 I think perhaps that you're alluding to is what might happen in the future 43:01.046 --> 43:03.196 with these designated zones with the legislature. 43:03.196 --> 43:07.276 Of course, who knows but, that's something we'll just have to see. 43:08.116 --> 43:12.876 And then you also mentioned injection wells and those, you know, if a formation is being used 43:12.876 --> 43:16.546 for injection, that's off the table as far as a designation. 43:16.756 --> 43:22.406 And that is in the House Bill 30 and I think also for practical purposes, 43:22.406 --> 43:25.596 I can't imagine somebody want to desalt that water anyways. 43:25.596 --> 43:27.706 So, I think that would be off as well. 43:28.716 --> 43:30.356 What? You're laughing. 43:30.496 --> 43:31.626 Somebody desalting it [laughs]. 43:32.316 --> 43:34.386 So, I just put that out. 43:34.386 --> 43:38.166 There's additional information since we didn't touch on that when we talked about the bill. 43:38.466 --> 43:42.686 But, you know, I'm glad you've brought reporting for us, 43:42.726 --> 43:45.976 continue to share with us, and we'll continue to reach out. 43:48.086 --> 43:52.536 >> One thing or I won't give this microphone to somebody. 43:53.236 --> 43:56.766 I just urge everybody to comment good, bad, 43:56.766 --> 44:00.216 and ugly if you want to call it that in simple terms. 44:00.216 --> 44:00.776 >> We wanted it all. 44:01.086 --> 44:02.956 >> You know, I know you do. 44:03.066 --> 44:06.766 And I'm saying, I just urge everybody to put it out there. 44:06.766 --> 44:11.206 You know, you might make or represent it mad at you or something that's all right, 44:11.526 --> 44:12.866 you know, just get it all out there. 44:12.866 --> 44:14.116 She can get all one basket. 44:14.496 --> 44:20.756 >> Yeah because-- If a lot of folks have boots on the ground and we don't have 44:20.756 --> 44:22.216 that information, we need to hear it. 44:22.616 --> 44:30.856 So, we're going to go ahead and go in formal since we only got people that signed up. 44:30.906 --> 44:32.646 But if you didn't-- just say who you are. 44:32.646 --> 44:35.706 >> Yeah, is it Paul? 44:36.396 --> 44:36.786 >> Yup. 44:36.786 --> 44:45.076 >> Yeah, similar to-- and this may seem like logical questions but or comments but, 44:45.616 --> 44:52.516 we haul off one of the largest water disposable people in the state. 44:54.046 --> 44:58.016 And it seems odd to me, I mean, I love the study of-- 44:58.016 --> 45:05.556 and we need to study these brackish aquifers but we have more water that we're disposing off 45:05.946 --> 45:07.866 and all different types of water. 45:08.396 --> 45:12.016 So it's not just all trash water. 45:12.846 --> 45:21.796 And you're, you know, we're going to designate these production zones 45:21.796 --> 45:26.736 and they're producing it now, more water that has to be cleaned 45:27.586 --> 45:31.366 as somebody's brackish aquifers have to be cleaned as well. 45:31.526 --> 45:33.456 You don't want it running on the ground, 45:33.456 --> 45:36.726 you don't want your cattle drinking it, you don't want to drink it. 45:37.146 --> 45:40.636 Especially if you over pumped it like what he talked about, it will change. 45:40.796 --> 45:43.426 So that has to be monitored. 45:43.496 --> 45:46.606 A lot of money to process this water. 45:48.486 --> 45:55.246 But, we're producing more water and nobody wants it. 45:55.876 --> 46:04.776 And so we separate it, clean it, get the solids out of it, treat it, per total TDS, 46:04.776 --> 46:10.926 and then shove it down in one of these aquifers probably in some places in Texas for sure. 46:11.286 --> 46:19.906 So, the expense to produce it, they're doing it. 46:19.906 --> 46:28.926 So, we have a lot of water, we just don't take care of the water and we can clean the water. 46:29.746 --> 46:31.896 Somebody's got to buy it. 46:33.266 --> 46:36.286 So I think that's a big part of the issue. 46:37.196 --> 46:43.106 We know the water is there, it's always been there but nobody wants it until it's clean. 46:43.936 --> 46:44.886 Well, who's going to clean it? 46:45.416 --> 46:47.366 Well, we got to pay to clean it. 46:47.366 --> 46:53.426 It just seems we've all-- we've been kind of at this point for a long time. 46:54.196 --> 47:00.696 And I'm glad we're here to where we can talk about this out in the open. 47:00.696 --> 47:06.746 And it's not all companies taking all of our water and ripping everybody off for all. 47:07.686 --> 47:13.336 But, I wish there would be more discussion about clarifying that. 47:13.336 --> 47:16.686 When you say significant impact, that's pretty broad. 47:16.686 --> 47:19.396 Was that subterranean? 47:19.436 --> 47:20.596 Is it on the surface? 47:20.596 --> 47:22.046 Or where are we going to put these plants? 47:22.596 --> 47:24.316 Where are we going to store it? 47:24.316 --> 47:25.946 Who's going to pay for it? 47:26.706 --> 47:27.566 That's significant. 47:28.076 --> 47:33.466 I don't know, we got a lot of water, we just don't take care of it. 47:34.356 --> 47:35.616 >> Could you say who you are? 47:36.056 --> 47:37.026 >> Bradley Hart [assumed spelling]. 47:37.706 --> 47:38.336 >> Thank you Bradley. 47:38.666 --> 47:38.926 >> Thank you. 47:40.126 --> 47:41.046 >> Appreciate the comments. 47:41.266 --> 47:44.676 I should note that I'm a nodder so if I nod at you, it doesn't mean I necessarily agree 47:44.676 --> 47:46.916 with you, I just-- I'm hearing you [laughs]. 47:48.376 --> 47:51.756 So if you see me nod and go, "What did he just agree to?" 47:52.356 --> 47:53.676 Don't misread that. 47:54.986 --> 47:56.116 Don't be shy. 47:56.486 --> 48:00.846 OK, got someone over here. 48:01.666 --> 48:04.266 You brought up monitoring and Paul brought up monitoring. 48:04.266 --> 48:10.966 And something else he didn't mention is that part of the bill also has the Board 48:11.486 --> 48:19.846 when we make a designation to also provide recommendations on the monitoring 48:20.226 --> 48:25.346 that could be done if somebody went in to produce from that brackish groundwater zone 48:26.116 --> 48:33.536 to essentially, you know, prove up that the impacts are minimized. 48:34.656 --> 48:37.066 So that's also part of the bill. 48:39.736 --> 48:40.136 Greg. 48:40.136 --> 48:43.626 >> Greg Sengelmann with the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District. 48:44.226 --> 48:47.456 My question is a little bit about significant impact. 48:47.456 --> 48:52.896 I was wondering whether that was somewhat of got to be a moving target and I was just-- 48:52.976 --> 48:55.246 the way I was thinking of it was to give an example. 48:55.246 --> 49:02.976 So, lets just say you had an aquifer and its hydrologically connected, but you say, "OK, 49:03.276 --> 49:08.316 if here's a management zone, if you pump 50,000 acre feet in the brackish area, 49:09.226 --> 49:12.726 it's only going to cost 20 feet of extra drawdown 49:12.726 --> 49:15.566 in the fresh area and that's not significant. 49:15.806 --> 49:17.536 So we go far with that. 49:18.176 --> 49:24.406 But that's assuming what in the freshwater zone, what they're pumping now, what the DFC is, 49:24.406 --> 49:26.036 or what their future projected is? 49:26.086 --> 49:29.866 Because if you set that in it's a point in time, 49:31.406 --> 49:36.936 does that mean that that freshwater is static thing, you can't perm it anymore because then, 49:37.126 --> 49:44.426 with those two together, that drawdown then goes down deeper, 49:44.426 --> 49:46.396 you know what I'm saying, in the freshwater zone. 49:46.556 --> 49:50.626 So, I'm not sure how that's going to work, how's it going to-- 49:50.726 --> 49:54.556 it then seem like it can be a static number in that type of scenario. 49:55.746 --> 49:59.476 So that was sort of my question on how we would look at that. 49:59.476 --> 50:02.976 But I guess, just like he said, that's a future DFC question. 50:03.966 --> 50:09.056 If we wanted more pumpage, somebody came for a new permit, you would have to increase the DFC 50:09.056 --> 50:14.456 in the freshwater zone, of course, and that's going to draw that whole aquifer down even more. 50:15.606 --> 50:21.926 Although, yeah, you're right, the brackish project would still only contribute that much. 50:22.326 --> 50:27.896 Assuming we're monitoring it, that's the truth, that's what going to happen. 50:27.896 --> 50:31.696 I mean, we all know that it could cause more drawdown, it could cause less drawdown, 50:31.696 --> 50:34.826 we're just using models at the time. 50:34.826 --> 50:37.426 So, basically, that's my question is, 50:37.716 --> 50:44.886 I don't see that can be a static number in that type of situation there. 50:45.646 --> 50:50.356 >> OK. To be honest, nothing I've thought of, it's a good point. 50:50.736 --> 50:54.836 Yeah, it could be, as you mentioned, it could be the DFC, you know, what is the-- 50:54.836 --> 50:58.316 because we're supposed to evaluate these on-- 50:58.316 --> 51:01.346 and I look over to John so he can like stretch his leg out 51:01.346 --> 51:02.836 and kick me when I say something wrong. 51:02.836 --> 51:08.136 But, as I recall, 30 years and 50 years, we're looking at two different timeframes, 51:08.136 --> 51:12.536 so just shooting from the hip, you know, we could take a-- you brought a good point, 51:12.626 --> 51:15.016 what, you know, relative to what? 51:15.126 --> 51:16.436 Is it saturate thickness? 51:16.436 --> 51:19.296 Is it drawdown on the freshwater aquifer and what time? 51:19.916 --> 51:21.416 You know, shooting from the hip, it could be, you know, 51:21.416 --> 51:25.706 what is the anticipated DFC for 30 years out? 51:25.706 --> 51:27.116 What is it for 50 years out? 51:28.556 --> 51:35.476 And then comparing, you know, what that impact might be. 51:35.786 --> 51:36.256 Thank you. 51:42.746 --> 51:45.696 Everybody wants the fried chicken special at the cafeteria, I guess, 51:45.826 --> 51:48.756 because that's-- [laughter] any other? 51:48.756 --> 51:49.436 Don't be shy. 51:50.296 --> 51:51.346 Other comments? 51:52.056 --> 51:52.966 Questions? 51:59.726 --> 52:01.936 Going once-- Oh here we go. 52:01.976 --> 52:03.536 And we got another one up in the front too. 52:10.766 --> 52:12.016 >> Mary Saws. 52:12.896 --> 52:17.246 Do you anticipate doing any role-making on these particular definitions? 52:17.846 --> 52:27.886 If not, at what point will the stakeholders see what the definitions are, 52:27.966 --> 52:29.366 the working definitions? 52:30.006 --> 52:37.476 >> Traditionally, we-- the stakeholders are probably the same 52:37.476 --> 52:41.456 when it goes to the Board as a memo. 52:41.796 --> 52:44.416 And so at some point, that memo would be posted, 52:45.166 --> 52:49.346 staffs would send out a notice to everybody that it's posted. 52:49.346 --> 52:53.446 And then there would be the Board meeting. 52:53.986 --> 52:57.576 We've had internal debate over whether or not it requires role-making. 52:57.576 --> 53:00.526 We haven't quite settled on that yet. 53:01.046 --> 53:04.866 But if anybody has thoughts on that, we would be happy to receive those. 53:06.006 --> 53:13.226 I've got another question up here in the front, question or comment. 53:15.666 --> 53:19.226 >> Mr. Mace, it's Raymond Straub of Straub Corporation at Stanton, Texas. 53:19.676 --> 53:24.956 I would like to retouch on your comment about if, yeah, 53:25.586 --> 53:27.686 water-bearing unit is being injected to-- 53:27.686 --> 53:32.136 into from O&G sources that it will automatically remove it 53:32.136 --> 53:35.526 from your potential source aquifer list. 53:36.286 --> 53:43.726 The Capitan has some of that O&G injection into it as well as the San Andres or both of those, 53:43.966 --> 53:48.706 you can find significant sources of reasonably good quality water in those two. 53:48.706 --> 53:53.616 So, would that remove those two aquifers from potential source aquifer? 53:54.226 --> 54:01.206 >> Not necessarily, because I think it depends on where, so, you know, 54:01.206 --> 54:05.696 like the Dockum for example is large aquifer. 54:06.176 --> 54:09.796 If the injections happen over here, but there's no injection, you know, 54:09.956 --> 54:16.336 100 miles away down here, then this potentially could still be considered for designation. 54:17.366 --> 54:24.176 Also in, sorry, but also if, let's say, injection is occurring in the Wilcox 54:24.176 --> 54:30.006 but it's far deeper in the formation than where the brackish or the water of interest is. 54:30.006 --> 54:35.456 And so we have to be looking at, I think, the goal would be is to make sure 54:35.456 --> 54:40.976 that what gets produced is not producing water from the injecting. 54:41.436 --> 54:49.296 >> So it'd be more localized, not necessarily on a-- just a system more basis, 54:49.296 --> 54:52.716 it would be more relative to location, is that specific? 54:53.136 --> 54:54.546 >> Correct, that's what we're thinking. 54:54.946 --> 54:55.036 >> OK. 54:57.156 --> 55:03.056 >> My lawyer might get hold that language and tell us otherwise but we'll see. 55:11.126 --> 55:16.386 >> So that thus lead to-- this is Mary Saws again, that thus lead to another question. 55:16.546 --> 55:26.796 And that is, a lot of the legislation is written in terms of aquifers, 55:26.986 --> 55:32.526 but these zones don't have to be of a particular size. 55:32.526 --> 55:33.276 Isn't that right? 55:33.446 --> 55:33.916 I mean-- 55:34.646 --> 55:37.796 >> Yeah. It's a, you know, it could be regional, it could be local. 55:39.436 --> 55:40.346 Looking over at John. 55:40.906 --> 55:41.216 >> Right. 55:41.216 --> 55:41.976 >> John nods correct. 55:42.196 --> 55:44.196 [ Inaudible Remark ] 55:44.376 --> 55:51.196 >> And they could be designated by depth as well, is that what I'm hearing? 55:53.746 --> 55:58.676 >> I think depth is a component, I think it's going to be more of a-- 55:58.676 --> 56:05.916 sort of envision more of a especial designation that here's this area that could be designated. 56:05.916 --> 56:09.316 And then it'll be tied to a depth in the sense 56:09.316 --> 56:11.436 that there's a formation, it will be tacked on to. 56:11.436 --> 56:11.756 >> Got you. 56:12.216 --> 56:17.686 >> But there is a potential, since they use the word regional, 56:17.686 --> 56:24.256 that we could do a regional designation if there's a layer of an aquifer 56:24.406 --> 56:29.116 that looks regionally, you know, isolated or, you know, 56:29.356 --> 56:35.266 component has a good confining layer then that's also a possibility for us to designate. 56:41.446 --> 56:45.056 I should note that anything I say is subject to challenge so [laughs]. 56:45.736 --> 56:50.186 You don't like something I said, set me straight now or later. 56:50.386 --> 56:54.826 Any other-- Got another question upfront here. 57:02.836 --> 57:05.706 >> Once again it's Raymond Straub of Straub Corporation, Mr. Mace. 57:06.106 --> 57:12.146 The addition of other producing zones and I notice we have pretty well lined up, 57:12.706 --> 57:16.426 pretty much unusual suspects on water producing zones, 57:16.426 --> 57:24.036 but what about other deeper producing zones that contain high quality water than-- 57:24.036 --> 57:27.446 we do not have an account of at the moment? 57:27.446 --> 57:32.986 Is there a mechanism for adding these units at a later date or is there-- 57:32.986 --> 57:37.066 of these, will they be excluded from this brackish concept? 57:37.606 --> 57:45.536 >> I think if somebody comes to us and I think the comment is related to because there's a, 57:45.536 --> 57:50.646 like for example, South Texas, I have people come to me with, you know, really deep, 57:50.646 --> 57:54.796 you know, way below traditional we call traditional aquifers, 57:55.206 --> 57:58.376 coming up with brackish or even freshwater. 57:58.636 --> 58:04.556 I would say, we'd be open that someone come in into us if they've got, you know, data, 58:04.646 --> 58:08.006 enough data for us to consider designating it. 58:08.006 --> 58:13.296 But at this point, you know, we don't, in house, we don't have that information of that data 58:13.296 --> 58:17.606 and it tends to be the stuffs I've seen, it tends to be a single well. 58:17.726 --> 58:21.836 But if anybody has information, bring it to us and we'll take a look at it, 58:22.626 --> 58:25.796 visit with you and see what that entails. 58:26.436 --> 58:30.026 >> In the southern-- well in Brewster and Pecos County, 58:30.336 --> 58:34.326 potentially some of the [inaudible] systems may have 58:34.766 --> 58:39.796 where there's actually outcrops may have some relativity high quality water in those systems. 58:39.826 --> 58:42.576 But they would be-- I mean, they're not even been classified in, 58:42.576 --> 58:43.926 you know, in any of our current. 58:45.036 --> 58:50.746 >> And so, yeah, so again on that, you know, we have the major aquifers, 58:50.746 --> 58:54.186 we have the minor aquifers and then we have the mysterious other aquifers. 58:54.186 --> 59:02.796 And so, other aquifers which is a catch-all for those, you know, the little pockets, 59:02.796 --> 59:08.736 alluvial aquifers or other formations that, you know, can be important sources of supply 59:08.736 --> 59:14.646 for locals or could be, you know, future potential sources of supply. 59:15.496 --> 59:20.966 And so, again, I think, and if you have information, anybody has information 59:21.746 --> 59:25.146 or something like that, can bring the information you have to us and we'll take a look 59:25.146 --> 59:30.126 at it and consider, you know, building that into what we're doing for House Bill 30. 59:31.006 --> 59:32.916 >> So it's not a closed agenda. 59:32.916 --> 59:37.266 >> It's not a closed, it's not just restricted to what we listed as major 59:37.266 --> 59:38.836 and minor aquifers, let's say that. 59:39.046 --> 59:46.086 >> But that would be part of the 2022 or beyond prospects. 59:46.376 --> 59:54.376 >> Yes. I think ideally before 2022, I think it's arguable to whether or not the door closes, 59:54.376 --> 59:56.596 I kind of think the door closes at 2022. 59:56.596 --> 01:00:01.796 I may be wrong, but ideally we would make those designations before 2022. 01:00:04.086 --> 01:00:06.446 And the deadlines are ambitious. 01:00:06.446 --> 01:00:07.596 We think they're achievable. 01:00:08.306 --> 01:00:09.896 You know, we use the term. 01:00:09.896 --> 01:00:13.796 We have a brackish resource aquifer characterization system 01:00:13.796 --> 01:00:17.556 that we've been employing across the states so far. 01:00:18.116 --> 01:00:24.336 And we use the term BRACS light when we refer to these studies impart because, you know, 01:00:24.816 --> 01:00:28.786 we won't to do the full-blown BRACS analysis that we would normally do. 01:00:29.456 --> 01:00:35.186 And so, we do anticipate coming back in some cases after 2022 to-- 01:00:35.186 --> 01:00:41.856 don't necessarily revisit the designations but to fill in the gaps on the map and with the; 01:00:41.896 --> 01:00:46.186 purpose of providing information for folks looking at desalting brackish groundwater. 01:00:48.916 --> 01:00:51.716 >> This is Ty Edwards, Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District. 01:00:52.206 --> 01:00:55.456 Are you only going to look at brackish zones where's there's GCDs 01:00:55.866 --> 01:00:58.246 or all the counties off for covers? 01:00:58.246 --> 01:01:00.736 >> We're looking at everything, entire state. 01:01:10.396 --> 01:01:13.366 You got an order, every other ones, supposed to go to Mary so it's [laughter]. 01:01:15.856 --> 01:01:16.446 >> This is Mary. 01:01:17.046 --> 01:01:22.806 Quite a number of groundwater conversation districts have a wealth 01:01:22.866 --> 01:01:28.276 of water quality information that they've been gathering during the last couple of decades. 01:01:30.126 --> 01:01:33.656 Is that something that is in the BRACS' database? 01:01:34.146 --> 01:01:41.076 Is that something that groundwater districts should provide to you during this process? 01:01:41.606 --> 01:01:43.586 And will that be considered? 01:01:44.496 --> 01:01:51.166 >> The-- We do have staff that work with the groundwater database that work with districts 01:01:51.216 --> 01:01:55.276 to get their water level information as well as water quality information or database. 01:01:55.696 --> 01:02:00.986 And so, if that cooperation presently exists, then yes, 01:02:00.986 --> 01:02:03.306 it would be in the BRACS' database and considered. 01:02:03.976 --> 01:02:08.926 But if there's, you know, districts that have-- haven't cooperated with us in the past. 01:02:09.446 --> 01:02:13.006 And I don't mean that in a derogatory way just, you know, sharing data, 01:02:13.006 --> 01:02:17.316 and haven't shared data was us in the past, there's an opportunity to certainly to do that. 01:02:17.316 --> 01:02:19.786 We would love to have access to that information. 01:02:30.316 --> 01:02:31.826 >> Thank you. 01:02:32.116 --> 01:02:34.826 I'm John Bender [assumed spelling], I'm with the Texas Corn Producers. 01:02:35.626 --> 01:02:42.276 Could you review the points between now and December first next year 01:02:42.276 --> 01:02:46.946 in which you will be specifically seeking stakeholder input? 01:02:48.036 --> 01:02:49.086 >> So, there's today [laughs]. 01:02:52.106 --> 01:02:57.136 There's a, of course, anytime between now and the designation. 01:02:57.396 --> 01:02:59.846 You can send us letters, give us a call. 01:03:00.706 --> 01:03:05.536 But as far as the formal process is today, then there will be a stakeholder meeting 01:03:05.776 --> 01:03:10.276 after the consultants look at the available information 01:03:10.276 --> 01:03:12.216 on characterizing the brackish resource. 01:03:12.486 --> 01:03:19.206 Purpose of that meeting, it's going to be to share the information with stakeholders. 01:03:19.206 --> 01:03:23.996 And then also get some feedback on where we should or should not. 01:03:24.266 --> 01:03:28.716 And further investigate zones for potential designation. 01:03:30.336 --> 01:03:37.416 After that points, there's going to be a report that gets delivered. 01:03:37.556 --> 01:03:42.406 We do plan to make that available to stakeholders and the report 01:03:42.406 --> 01:03:43.916 that comes from the consultant firm. 01:03:43.916 --> 01:03:47.856 But at this point, we don't plan on having a stakeholder meeting to discuss that report. 01:03:48.556 --> 01:03:53.586 And then it will be the Board meeting that makes that designation. 01:03:54.296 --> 01:04:01.576 And so, there will be an opportunity for public comment at that Board meeting. 01:04:02.116 --> 01:04:09.436 >> Earlier, there was a question about you all arriving 01:04:09.436 --> 01:04:12.386 at definitions on these three questions. 01:04:12.606 --> 01:04:16.396 And you haven't decided yet whether that will be by role-making? 01:04:16.676 --> 01:04:25.426 If it's not done by role-making, if it's done by memo or some other means, 01:04:25.836 --> 01:04:32.056 will there be an opportunity to comment on you all's definitions 01:04:32.056 --> 01:04:37.226 on these three points before it's finally settled. 01:04:38.096 --> 01:04:44.036 >> There'll be an-- When the Board takes up the designations, there'll be an opportunity 01:04:44.036 --> 01:04:52.276 to address the Board about the designation and then, of course, you know, all these questions 01:04:52.276 --> 01:04:57.136 that are up on the Board very well could be part of that decision. 01:04:57.136 --> 01:05:03.646 So, there'll be opportunity to address the Board before they make a designation decision. 01:05:11.596 --> 01:05:12.916 >> Thank you. 01:05:22.536 --> 01:05:26.616 >> Who's the consulting firm that will make this report? 01:05:27.386 --> 01:05:28.756 >> Don't know. 01:05:28.806 --> 01:05:34.256 The individual studies will have a request for qualifications out on the street now 01:05:34.256 --> 01:05:41.846 so we won't know until early next year who the selected candidates are. 01:05:42.206 --> 01:05:45.516 And that will be taken back to the Board for approval. 01:05:46.136 --> 01:05:48.866 As far as the report that goes to the legislature, 01:05:48.866 --> 01:05:50.766 that will be something that we do internally. 01:05:51.416 --> 01:05:55.036 So, the Board will make the designations. 01:05:55.606 --> 01:06:01.286 And then, staff will take those designations, put it into or I guess, 01:06:01.286 --> 01:06:04.686 our biennial desalination report legislature. 01:06:05.616 --> 01:06:07.796 And then, take that back to our Board for approval 01:06:07.796 --> 01:06:09.886 because there's other things that go into that report. 01:06:11.056 --> 01:06:13.646 >> Well and what's the purpose for the designation? 01:06:14.626 --> 01:06:16.856 >> It's not stated in the statue. 01:06:19.626 --> 01:06:22.476 >> There's no purpose for that [laughter]. 01:06:30.966 --> 01:06:36.256 >> It's not unusual for, you know, for us to be asked to, you know, do, yeah, 01:06:36.396 --> 01:06:40.206 the designations for example, that's how it happened with groundwater management areas. 01:06:40.406 --> 01:06:47.406 And so, almost a very similar process and that it's impart defined by science. 01:06:47.406 --> 01:06:51.096 There's a few policy questions to address. 01:06:51.096 --> 01:06:53.726 And then, Board made the designations. 01:06:56.096 --> 01:06:57.426 >> Robert, Mary Saws again. 01:06:57.516 --> 01:07:03.096 It seems late on the definitions for the stakeholders to find 01:07:03.096 --> 01:07:08.386 out what definitions you are using at the Board meeting because, by that point, 01:07:09.166 --> 01:07:16.146 the time crunches going to be even greater so, at that point, even legitimate. 01:07:17.676 --> 01:07:20.956 Well, two things, at that point, it will be so late 01:07:20.956 --> 01:07:28.326 that legitimate comments practically speaking probably could not be accepted. 01:07:28.836 --> 01:07:33.356 And then the second is that the staff will have done lots of lots of work based 01:07:33.356 --> 01:07:35.316 on the definitions that they've come up with. 01:07:35.736 --> 01:07:41.426 So, that's another practical reason why the Board is not [inaudible]. 01:07:43.876 --> 01:07:47.626 I think this is-- OK. 01:07:47.816 --> 01:07:54.126 It seems like if the staff is going to apply those definitions after the consultants come 01:07:54.126 --> 01:07:57.036 up with the data that's available. 01:07:57.516 --> 01:08:04.486 Then perhaps, those definitions-- could those definitions be made available 01:08:04.786 --> 01:08:07.876 at the same time as the consultant's report? 01:08:09.406 --> 01:08:10.876 >> It's possible. 01:08:10.876 --> 01:08:14.096 The reason I hesitate to promise anything is I don't know which way, 01:08:14.326 --> 01:08:17.026 which direction those definitions are going to go. 01:08:17.266 --> 01:08:20.996 You know, they could go one direction for example, 01:08:20.996 --> 01:08:24.556 kind of uniformed definition across to all aquifers. 01:08:24.556 --> 01:08:30.056 And just throw it out there as an example, you know, the significant impact means it has, 01:08:30.526 --> 01:08:35.066 you know, whatever the impact of the brackish pumping is on the fresh water resources, 01:08:35.066 --> 01:08:38.156 it's less than 1% of the saturated thickness at 2030. 01:08:38.646 --> 01:08:40.316 I just made that up off top my head. 01:08:40.866 --> 01:08:41.926 Don't read anything into that. 01:08:42.506 --> 01:08:45.656 And that could be, you know, formally applied across all the aquifers. 01:08:45.656 --> 01:08:52.106 And so, you know, if we go down that path, that may be something that we could share. 01:08:52.726 --> 01:08:56.616 I would have to, of course, work with my managers, upper management to see 01:08:56.616 --> 01:08:59.046 if they're comfortable sharing that upfront. 01:08:59.486 --> 01:09:01.846 Another way it could go is it could be more aquifer-specific. 01:09:02.026 --> 01:09:08.896 Yeah, there may be, for example, again, I'm just pulling this out of the hat. 01:09:09.426 --> 01:09:18.376 It might be that there's a shallow windmill wells for ranchers that, you know, 01:09:18.376 --> 01:09:23.546 1% of the total saturated thickness causes them to go dry in which case then maybe, you know, 01:09:23.546 --> 01:09:30.176 whatever our significant impact is tailored to the aquifer, the specific aquifer. 01:09:31.076 --> 01:09:38.736 And so again, you know, that pushes the decision later in the process, you know, 01:09:39.016 --> 01:09:46.116 as staff we work with, executive administrator, in terms of coming up with a recommendation. 01:09:46.936 --> 01:09:51.446 So again, it just depends how quickly, you know, we can come up with a recommendation. 01:09:51.886 --> 01:09:55.706 The deadlines are pretty ambitious, so we don't have a lot of time 01:09:55.706 --> 01:09:58.976 to go to the Board with designations. 01:09:59.346 --> 01:10:03.216 >> And so, it's going to be pretty, pretty chop-chop. 01:10:03.216 --> 01:10:07.536 You know, I think ideally, we would have the report that comes out of the consultants, 01:10:07.596 --> 01:10:09.596 have a stateholder meeting there. 01:10:10.326 --> 01:10:14.586 But we're just not going to have a lot of time in order to meet that legislative deadline. 01:10:14.586 --> 01:10:20.146 We're going to have to go to the Board twice essentially with these designations, 01:10:20.146 --> 01:10:24.666 once for the designation, once for the report to legislature on the desalination in general. 01:10:24.736 --> 01:10:31.636 So, hear what you're saying, we'll take that comment and consider it. 01:10:31.706 --> 01:10:36.066 And then, you know, based on the feedback today and the written comments, 01:10:36.206 --> 01:10:39.396 we'll have to see what our path is as staff going forward. 01:10:39.506 --> 01:10:43.476 Or whether we do something uniform or we do something more site-specific. 01:10:54.326 --> 01:10:59.596 I should also note that, you know, I tend to lean towards site-specific because as soon 01:10:59.596 --> 01:11:03.966 as you come up with a uniform way doing something, somebody throws you a curve ball 01:11:05.036 --> 01:11:07.796 and you have to go different direction but-- 01:11:07.796 --> 01:11:08.956 >> Yeah, my name is Courty Bess [assumed spelling] 01:11:08.956 --> 01:11:10.406 and I'm with the High Plains Water District. 01:11:10.406 --> 01:11:12.956 And this is kind of pertains to John's question second ago. 01:11:12.956 --> 01:11:17.536 But, as you all sort of narrow down the specific areas where you want to study 01:11:17.536 --> 01:11:23.296 through the consulting process and some of the initial stakeholder input, do you ever see going 01:11:23.296 --> 01:11:27.456 out to these specific regions and have a more in-depth conversation or stakeholder input 01:11:27.456 --> 01:11:29.896 from local residence, land owners, groups, 01:11:29.896 --> 01:11:34.626 et cetera that have greater input before actually finalizing the study areas. 01:11:35.036 --> 01:11:37.066 >> At this point, no. 01:11:37.286 --> 01:11:43.936 Again, just the timing issue of meeting the deadline, December 1st of next year. 01:11:46.666 --> 01:11:51.546 So, I would, you know, since you work for groundwater district, I'm certainly counting 01:11:51.546 --> 01:11:58.946 on you all to bring those concerns to us or help us get the word out to your locals 01:11:58.946 --> 01:12:03.536 to participate or let us know what the concerns are, but we definitely want 01:12:03.536 --> 01:12:08.126 to hear what you say, and anything your constituents have to say. 01:12:08.946 --> 01:12:11.056 So, if you can help us out there, that would be great. 01:12:15.436 --> 01:12:15.726 Mary [laughter]? 01:12:16.646 --> 01:12:20.146 Sorry to keep picking on you Marie. 01:12:22.546 --> 01:12:23.496 Anybody else? 01:12:27.576 --> 01:12:32.096 Going once, going twice? 01:12:32.636 --> 01:12:33.086 Here we go. 01:12:33.966 --> 01:12:41.476 That works men. 01:12:41.796 --> 01:12:45.016 >> [Inaudible], Schleicher County, just interested citizen. 01:12:46.586 --> 01:12:53.726 Paul from Pecos was mentioning that they're injecting into water zones 01:12:53.726 --> 01:12:55.076 that they're also pulling out of. 01:12:55.326 --> 01:13:01.026 Are you all working with any other organizations and to try alleviate that, work with that, 01:13:01.026 --> 01:13:06.796 doing anything about it so that there's not a problem years down the road? 01:13:06.796 --> 01:13:09.096 >> It's not in our preview. 01:13:09.746 --> 01:13:15.126 It's regulated by the Railroad Commission in Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 01:13:15.586 --> 01:13:18.086 which we only chat with those folks from time to time, 01:13:18.156 --> 01:13:22.416 but they have the regulatory authority over those activities. 01:13:29.506 --> 01:13:29.996 There's Mary [laughs]. 01:13:37.946 --> 01:13:43.436 >> Did you tell us when you expect or when the due date is for the consultants 01:13:43.436 --> 01:13:45.066 to come back with the availability? 01:13:46.056 --> 01:13:46.576 >> Is that August? 01:13:46.576 --> 01:13:46.946 Next year. 01:13:47.036 --> 01:13:49.036 [ Inaudible Remark ] 01:13:49.056 --> 01:13:54.366 >> August 31st, 2016 and that goes around the conference. 01:13:54.476 --> 01:13:59.986 We are meeting it up to the conference room to determine when they want to set 01:13:59.986 --> 01:14:05.006 that stakeholder meeting because after that stakeholder meeting, we're going to talk 01:14:05.006 --> 01:14:06.576 about the proposed production areas. 01:14:07.276 --> 01:14:10.336 And then, we go back and prioritize those areas for them. 01:14:10.336 --> 01:14:20.456 And we have to turn around and do all the numerical function having the 30 01:14:20.636 --> 01:14:21.836 and 50 [inaudible]. 01:14:21.836 --> 01:14:32.406 I'm sure it will happen during the summer of 2016 [inaudible] probably later spring. 01:14:33.186 --> 01:14:39.046 >> So, there'll be two-- so the August 31st, 2016 date is the date that you want them 01:14:39.046 --> 01:14:41.626 to have already applied the 30 and 50 year. 01:14:42.126 --> 01:14:47.676 And so, then you're saying that they can come up with their date availability 01:14:47.676 --> 01:14:53.136 and have their stakeholder meeting based on their schedule and what they think in terms 01:14:53.136 --> 01:14:57.066 of going back and crunching numbers to meet the August 31st date. 01:14:57.366 --> 01:14:57.696 >> Correct. 01:14:58.116 --> 01:15:01.126 >> OK. And because when do you expect to take it to the Board? 01:15:02.346 --> 01:15:10.896 >> As soon as possible because we only got September and October basically, did you-- 01:15:11.246 --> 01:15:17.656 all of the functioning numbers work with Board staff and executive management. 01:15:17.656 --> 01:15:21.216 And there are two Board meetings, you have the brackish groundwater production zone 01:15:21.216 --> 01:15:24.586 designations and for the Board [inaudible] decision. 01:15:24.846 --> 01:15:29.176 And then, we have to put all that information into the biennial seawater report 01:15:29.176 --> 01:15:31.716 and that's [inaudible] legislator December 1st. 01:15:32.036 --> 01:15:33.886 So, we know we're getting the report off December 1st, 01:15:33.886 --> 01:15:37.446 you know, we just have to [inaudible]. 01:15:37.446 --> 01:15:43.796 >> Probably no later than early November, maybe late October. 01:15:43.796 --> 01:15:51.106 We want to try to ideally leave a one Board meeting between when we take it to the Board 01:15:51.956 --> 01:15:56.496 to give the Board the option to consider kind of hold 01:15:56.496 --> 01:15:58.926 and consider before they come back and make a file decision. 01:16:00.716 --> 01:16:04.086 So, that's why I said no later than early November. 01:16:04.506 --> 01:16:07.126 That means you're going to have to work on Thanksgiving week maybe [laughter]. 01:16:08.016 --> 01:16:11.896 But hopefully, earlier than that, right? 01:16:12.076 --> 01:16:12.336 Yeah? 01:16:12.466 --> 01:16:16.966 >> Hopefully, earlier than that. 01:16:17.216 --> 01:16:20.266 >> Right behind you. 01:16:20.266 --> 01:16:21.556 >> Jeremy White with the USGS. 01:16:21.556 --> 01:16:26.456 So, when you say crunching numbers, you mean running numerical models? 01:16:26.486 --> 01:16:30.346 >> For us, crunching numbers are-- we're asking the-- 01:16:30.346 --> 01:16:35.266 we don't want the consultants to give us the answer on what should 01:16:35.266 --> 01:16:39.696 or should not be designated as a brackish groundwater production zone. 01:16:39.766 --> 01:16:41.706 We want that to come from the agency. 01:16:42.336 --> 01:16:49.096 And so, what we were envisioning is that the consultants do whether 01:16:49.166 --> 01:16:51.956 in groundwater parlance, we call sensitivity analysis. 01:16:52.106 --> 01:16:54.566 You know, basically, let's say we identify zone, 01:16:54.566 --> 01:16:57.576 this looks like this could be a good zone to designate. 01:16:58.226 --> 01:17:01.796 They're going to go run in different amounts of pumping which could be 01:17:01.796 --> 01:17:05.286 through a numerical model or perhaps an analytical tool. 01:17:05.286 --> 01:17:11.316 And then see what the impacts are on the bordering aquifers. 01:17:11.456 --> 01:17:15.426 And so, we see kind of a range of numbers coming out of that. 01:17:16.326 --> 01:17:23.186 And then, now, if a priori we come up with a uniform way of saying, you know, 01:17:23.536 --> 01:17:27.356 not significant impacts so it'd be pretty obvious to see, you know, what that is 01:17:27.356 --> 01:17:28.976 and how much pumping gets you there. 01:17:30.696 --> 01:17:37.186 If we don't have a priori decision, then at that point, we can then go, you know, 01:17:37.186 --> 01:17:41.286 staff working with our executive administrator and go what you want to do here, you know, 01:17:41.546 --> 01:17:46.826 because it could be one-foot, two-foot, half of foot, no fourth, you know, what's the answer. 01:17:47.636 --> 01:17:52.346 The other good reason I think for doing it that way is that it allows everybody 01:17:52.346 --> 01:17:54.456 to see what the potential answers are. 01:17:54.456 --> 01:17:58.406 And so, it isn't-- the expectations, we don't just present one number 01:17:58.406 --> 01:18:02.556 but there'll be a range that, you know, if you don't like one-foot, you want two-foot, 01:18:02.556 --> 01:18:05.466 you want to make that argument well then, you're going to know what that means 01:18:05.466 --> 01:18:09.006 in terms of production and impacts. 01:18:09.116 --> 01:18:11.686 Similarly, once the Board makes the designation, 01:18:12.426 --> 01:18:15.486 that information will be part of the record if you will. 01:18:16.156 --> 01:18:20.126 So, with, you know, somebody decides to take that ball and run with it. 01:18:20.126 --> 01:18:25.546 And they don't like the parameters that our Board used to ultimately make the designation, 01:18:25.816 --> 01:18:28.346 they can choose around if they fit. 01:18:28.346 --> 01:18:32.746 So, we're talking about calculations, we're kind of talking about those types of calculations. 01:18:32.746 --> 01:18:36.086 We're hoping that by the time we get something form the contractors, 01:18:36.086 --> 01:18:39.056 you know, they've done the real hard work. 01:18:39.056 --> 01:18:40.706 And then, we just well, I shouldn't say that. 01:18:40.706 --> 01:18:43.146 They've done the easy-- they've done the hard technical work. 01:18:43.146 --> 01:18:49.156 And there's going to be the hard kind of the decision work of, you know, is something-- 01:18:49.766 --> 01:18:52.056 should something be designated or not. 01:18:52.056 --> 01:18:55.476 >> It just sounds really aggressive to get done by August. 01:18:55.476 --> 01:18:55.586 >> Yes. 01:18:55.586 --> 01:18:57.186 >> I'm not interested, I'm just saying it's-- 01:18:58.466 --> 01:18:58.846 >> Yes. 01:18:58.846 --> 01:18:59.736 >> -- really ambitious. 01:19:00.126 --> 01:19:00.356 >> Yes. 01:19:01.476 --> 01:19:05.136 >> And just to follow up to that question, 01:19:05.936 --> 01:19:10.796 many of these production zones do not have potential production zones, 01:19:10.796 --> 01:19:15.756 do not have GUMs that available or they're imparts of the GUMs 01:19:15.756 --> 01:19:17.316 that there's a lot of uncertainty. 01:19:18.106 --> 01:19:24.636 Do you anticipate that the consultants will be using numerical tools 01:19:24.636 --> 01:19:31.326 to do the same survey analysis and like tools, what if there are no numerical tools available, 01:19:31.326 --> 01:19:36.376 do you expect the consultants to develop on numerical tool for the same survey analysis? 01:19:37.436 --> 01:19:45.186 >> I think the, you know, if there's a GUM that looks like it would be a good tool 01:19:45.186 --> 01:19:53.046 to evaluate impacts of pumping and brackish system on bordering, you know, 01:19:53.046 --> 01:19:56.066 fresh resources then obviously that would be the tool we'd use. 01:19:56.576 --> 01:20:01.056 If that doesn't exist, then we'll be looking for an analytical tool which I don't know 01:20:01.056 --> 01:20:06.896 if that exists or perhaps a sample conceptual model put into the-- 01:20:07.456 --> 01:20:10.716 into a numerical model to look at those impacts. 01:20:11.506 --> 01:20:14.576 You know, and one of the challenges we have is, you know, 01:20:14.576 --> 01:20:18.826 we don't have a lot of information in these systems. 01:20:18.886 --> 01:20:25.986 I think one of the key terms is the vertical hydraulic hand activity of the confining layer 01:20:27.706 --> 01:20:34.476 which you'll have to make educated, you know, kind of best educated guess on what that is, 01:20:35.146 --> 01:20:37.156 and then see what the results are. 01:20:38.036 --> 01:20:44.196 >> So you just mentioned that if there isn't an appropriate analytical model then you would 01:20:44.196 --> 01:20:47.116 expect the consultants to develop a numerical model? 01:20:47.656 --> 01:20:48.716 >> Simple numerical model. 01:20:49.386 --> 01:20:56.066 We're not talking developing a GUM, but I think a simple-- so, you know, conceptual model. 01:20:56.466 --> 01:21:01.366 I got an aquifer here, it's got parameters, I got a confining layer, it's got parameters, 01:21:01.786 --> 01:21:04.426 I got a freshwater aquifer up here, it's got parameters. 01:21:05.206 --> 01:21:10.186 Set the grid out uniformly, I know what the general thickness is, 01:21:10.766 --> 01:21:15.076 set my boundary conditions, let's pump it and see what the impacts are going 01:21:15.076 --> 01:21:18.726 through the confining layer, as well as up depth if that's of concern. 01:21:19.516 --> 01:21:25.696 So I think that can be done pretty quickly. 01:21:32.586 --> 01:21:37.366 But your model, you might disagree with me but [laughs]. 01:21:37.366 --> 01:21:41.016 You know, and that's going to be one of the challenges for the consultants is that, 01:21:41.016 --> 01:21:44.056 you know, how many zones do we have? 01:21:44.446 --> 01:21:49.946 How much time and financial resources do we have to do these assessments? 01:21:49.946 --> 01:21:55.486 So I think it will be key for us to come up with a simple way of making this analysis. 01:21:55.486 --> 01:22:01.316 And in many cases, if there's not a great deal of data, probably doesn't warrant more 01:22:01.316 --> 01:22:04.086 than a simple numerical representation. 01:22:05.286 --> 01:22:09.916 I kind of always stunk at analytical solutions 01:22:09.916 --> 01:22:12.666 so I just always want the computer models anyways but-- 01:22:14.136 --> 01:22:14.996 >> Just one more follow up. 01:22:14.996 --> 01:22:18.636 When you're talking about significant impacts, you're talking about water quality also? 01:22:19.656 --> 01:22:26.976 >> Water quality is mentioned in the statute as something to look at. 01:22:27.626 --> 01:22:32.696 And we're still kind of debating exactly what that means because generally 01:22:32.696 --> 01:22:36.456 when you're producing a brackish system, you're pulling-- 01:22:36.456 --> 01:22:39.866 you're going to be pulling fresh towards a pumping center. 01:22:40.706 --> 01:22:48.106 And so, I would anticipate major water quality impacts on the fresh if anything is going 01:22:48.106 --> 01:22:53.226 to be impacting water quality-- improving water quality on the brackish resource. 01:22:53.736 --> 01:22:58.006 I suppose you could induce water level declines in your fresh aquifer 01:22:58.526 --> 01:23:00.946 which then pulls water somewhere else. 01:23:02.106 --> 01:23:06.796 But I would guess that if you're-- if you have that much impact in your fresh resource, 01:23:06.946 --> 01:23:11.966 you've probably gone well beyond appreciable impact, what's that word, 01:23:11.966 --> 01:23:13.616 significant impact at that point. 01:23:13.886 --> 01:23:16.686 Let's talk a little bit internally about well, 01:23:16.686 --> 01:23:21.416 does the water quality aspect relate to the brackish system itself. 01:23:21.456 --> 01:23:31.336 And which is supposed it could, which is possible, but it's hard to imagine 01:23:31.336 --> 01:23:37.126 that we have enough time to be stimulating those systems, let alone have the data to be able 01:23:37.126 --> 01:23:41.866 to do it, so, leaning towards impacts on the freshwater resources. 01:23:42.506 --> 01:23:46.726 And I think, almost by definition, they're going to be very minor if nonexistent. 01:23:47.086 --> 01:23:47.796 >> OK. Thanks. 01:23:56.786 --> 01:24:00.366 >> We've got 32 more minutes of fun, if-- here we go [laughs]. 01:24:06.406 --> 01:24:09.526 >> I was glad to hear the mention of water quality 01:24:09.646 --> 01:24:13.256 because that was something I was interested in. 01:24:13.356 --> 01:24:17.896 Railroad Commission oversees groundwater-- 01:24:18.246 --> 01:24:24.856 water from production, anything associated with O&G type waste. 01:24:24.856 --> 01:24:27.506 And they look at like about 3000-- 01:24:27.506 --> 01:24:33.016 300 TDS in the groundwater as some sort of cleanup standard. 01:24:34.026 --> 01:24:38.416 TCEQ has their same water quality top standards. 01:24:39.256 --> 01:24:44.396 Is there going to be an understanding with TWDB, Road Commission, TCEQ, 01:24:44.396 --> 01:24:50.076 some sort of unified concept of what contaminant or waste is going to be-- 01:24:50.076 --> 01:24:54.256 now that we're bringing brackish water into a useable market, 01:24:54.256 --> 01:24:56.566 something that's tangible and usable. 01:24:57.316 --> 01:25:03.226 Is there going to an update into understanding of what waste is or what contaminant maybe? 01:25:03.226 --> 01:25:09.826 And how the agencies themselves administer or regulate that? 01:25:10.106 --> 01:25:13.906 >> It's not going to be part of this project. 01:25:14.186 --> 01:25:18.656 And I think what you're saying is, correct me if I'm wrong, is that, 01:25:19.246 --> 01:25:22.296 let's say there's this designation, let's say at some point in the future, 01:25:22.296 --> 01:25:27.096 this designation means something and somebody goes in and decides to put in well field 01:25:27.096 --> 01:25:29.556 and desalt this brackish groundwater, well, 01:25:29.556 --> 01:25:34.736 there's going to be a [inaudible] concentrate to dispose of. 01:25:35.076 --> 01:25:39.996 This bill and this project is not looking at that disposal. 01:25:40.926 --> 01:25:47.176 And so, whatever, you know, whatever the current requirements are and for municipal sourcing, 01:25:47.176 --> 01:25:50.846 it would be TCEQ, you know, regulating that injection. 01:25:51.486 --> 01:25:54.486 Whatever those current requirements are, I think the-- 01:25:54.526 --> 01:26:01.156 looking at the injection goes beyond what we've been asked to do is this project 01:26:01.156 --> 01:26:05.516 that it's clearly an issue if somebody, you know, wants to go in, in one of these zones 01:26:05.516 --> 01:26:08.636 and start desalting brackish groundwater. 01:26:10.176 --> 01:26:16.726 >> So you don't see any immediate change in the classification of the qualities of water 01:26:16.726 --> 01:26:20.886 in the way in which they're managed. 01:26:21.606 --> 01:26:26.346 >> I don't-- Yeah, I'm not aware of any changes along those lines. 01:26:34.826 --> 01:26:38.376 >> Several times, you've mentioned which is completely understandable 01:26:39.346 --> 01:26:43.406 that you don't have enough time to do this. 01:26:43.406 --> 01:26:44.576 Sufficiently and-- 01:26:44.576 --> 01:26:45.306 >> I think we have time. 01:26:45.536 --> 01:26:48.786 >> -- thoroughly, not today, I'm talking about the whole thing. 01:26:49.416 --> 01:27:00.536 Come November 1st, November 10th, if you're not able to complete what you need to do, 01:27:00.776 --> 01:27:05.376 what are the steps to get an extension when the legislature, 01:27:05.376 --> 01:27:08.916 I understand has ordered you all to do this, give you a timeline. 01:27:09.456 --> 01:27:18.976 If you-- To be fair to all aquifers, people, et cetera, et cetera, to be fair to yourselves 01:27:18.976 --> 01:27:23.696 and your studies, to be good studies. 01:27:24.246 --> 01:27:28.926 And you need six more months to do that. 01:27:29.346 --> 01:27:33.676 You have to call a special session of the legislature or what to get an extension. 01:27:34.146 --> 01:27:38.636 Are you just going to say, is this all we got, but then, we all have to live 01:27:38.636 --> 01:27:41.406 with what all you got that you didn't have time to complete. 01:27:42.126 --> 01:27:44.606 >> I probably start by turning in my resignation [laughter]. 01:27:46.176 --> 01:27:51.096 >> No, but do you, hey, is there-- do you know of a way to-- 01:27:51.576 --> 01:27:58.736 >> I mean, for off, I want to be clear that we fully anticipate meeting those deadlines. 01:28:00.296 --> 01:28:05.066 And we will do everything we can to meet the deadlines. 01:28:05.116 --> 01:28:05.546 >> All right. 01:28:06.476 --> 01:28:12.586 >> You know, if, let's just say, a thermal nuclear war with North Korea breaks 01:28:12.586 --> 01:28:18.186 out then maybe we've got a good reason to go inform the legislature that, hey, 01:28:18.186 --> 01:28:20.276 we're going to be a little late with this. 01:28:21.406 --> 01:28:26.636 There's a-- You know, ideally, you would have a legislature change the launch, 01:28:26.636 --> 01:28:27.436 change the deadline. 01:28:27.436 --> 01:28:33.596 Of course, the legislature is not meeting until formally, until 2017. 01:28:33.806 --> 01:28:38.686 But, you know, we have no plans to ask the legislature to have a special session 01:28:38.686 --> 01:28:40.306 to change the deadline at this point. 01:28:42.316 --> 01:28:47.016 And so, you know, we do feel like we can deliver a good project, we call it BRACS light. 01:28:47.016 --> 01:28:54.436 You know, the BRACS project was envisioned as, you know, very detailed assessment 01:28:54.436 --> 01:29:01.576 of a formation to assess communities in making decisions on, you know, what productivity 01:29:01.576 --> 01:29:04.696 and what water quality might be when they go in 01:29:04.696 --> 01:29:09.176 and do a brackish well field for brackish desalination. 01:29:09.756 --> 01:29:13.396 HB30 is a little bit different which is, you know, 01:29:13.396 --> 01:29:17.856 we're directed to define brackish groundwater production zones. 01:29:18.576 --> 01:29:22.746 And so, they're, you know we don't feel like we need as detailed of information. 01:29:23.366 --> 01:29:27.746 And the legislature has given us some pretty good, you know, don't go here. 01:29:28.356 --> 01:29:32.506 You can look over here but definitely don't go looking over there that-- 01:29:34.206 --> 01:29:36.426 to allow us to be able to do what we need to do. 01:29:36.506 --> 01:29:39.876 And then we look at our potential contractors, we'll have to, you know, 01:29:39.876 --> 01:29:43.716 make sure that they've got a track record of giving things done on time because this is going 01:29:43.716 --> 01:29:48.326 to be one of those things where, you know, we're going to have to be on time 01:29:48.526 --> 01:29:50.456 in order for us to meet our deadlines. 01:29:55.486 --> 01:29:57.396 We've got question over here? 01:30:05.476 --> 01:30:13.486 >> If you all designate those zones usable water, do you see that TCEQ coming back 01:30:13.486 --> 01:30:20.686 and changing their depths for usable water, for casing depths. 01:30:21.906 --> 01:30:24.626 >> You know, we've looked at that information. 01:30:24.866 --> 01:30:27.816 >> We're talking to the Railroad Commission. 01:30:27.816 --> 01:30:31.666 We've got kind of a formation group, teams [inaudible]. 01:30:31.916 --> 01:30:39.266 And so we brought that up certainly to the Railroad Commission staff. 01:30:39.726 --> 01:30:43.456 If we designate zone or a contractor designate some zones 01:30:43.456 --> 01:30:46.446 and then kind of put some [inaudible]. 01:30:46.926 --> 01:30:49.926 We've got some of the staff here today. 01:30:49.926 --> 01:30:57.026 I don't think we have an answer to that right now but we're very aware of the possibility 01:30:57.716 --> 01:31:06.486 that there could be some slight differences to be made. 01:31:06.916 --> 01:31:10.226 [Inaudible] and trying to discuss this as [inaudible] through pipeline. 01:31:10.336 --> 01:31:14.976 >> And you mentioned TCEQ but that moved couple of years go from TCEQ 01:31:14.976 --> 01:31:18.256 over to Railroad Commission which is why John's referring to the Railroad Commission. 01:31:20.726 --> 01:31:24.566 But we are in close communication with the surface casing folks at Railroad Commission, 01:31:24.836 --> 01:31:27.736 because they've got a lot of data over there that we 01:31:27.736 --> 01:31:33.206 like to get our hands before doing these mapping projects of brackish resources. 01:31:40.286 --> 01:31:40.976 Anybody else? 01:31:49.296 --> 01:31:57.366 Going once, going twice, going three times [laughs]. 01:31:58.276 --> 01:32:03.926 Put your hand down Adam. 01:32:05.436 --> 01:32:06.036 Well, very good. 01:32:06.036 --> 01:32:09.926 Give yourself around of applause for great questions, 01:32:10.231 --> 01:32:12.231 [ Applause ] 01:32:12.446 --> 01:32:13.376 -- great comments. 01:32:13.376 --> 01:32:18.006 Again, please follow up with us or if you've heard something, you know, 01:32:18.036 --> 01:32:23.046 and later on you're thinking about it, shoot us an email or send us a letter, 01:32:23.046 --> 01:32:26.686 however, you want to give comments to us. 01:32:26.806 --> 01:32:30.356 We will be really taking a serious look at comments after this week. 01:32:30.496 --> 01:32:35.166 But again, anytime the mood strikes you, give us a call or send us some notes. 01:32:35.526 --> 01:32:36.946 I would love to hear what you have to say. 01:32:36.976 --> 01:32:45.866 If you have data, concerns, thoughts, technical guidance for us, we would love to hear it. 01:32:46.256 --> 01:32:48.986 And with that, we're adjourned. 01:32:49.076 --> 01:32:49.356 Thank you.