{"id":6064,"date":"2014-03-20T18:13:35","date_gmt":"2014-03-20T18:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/exempt-well-loophole-mt\/"},"modified":"2017-07-19T16:18:50","modified_gmt":"2017-07-19T16:18:50","slug":"exempt-well-loophole-mt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/es\/exempt-well-loophole-mt\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a1VICTORIA! Laguna de pozo exento de Montana"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label=”Fullwidth header image” src=”https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Exempt-Well-Loophole-Bozeman-Housing-1920×973-feetyouwear-flickr.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding_phone=”30px||30px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Case title and text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

VICTORY! Montana Exempt Well Loophole<\/h1>\n

Rural homeowners, ranchers, and farmers in Montana and other western states have long relied on a provision of the law that affords them the opportunity to drill a small well without first obtaining a permit. It\u2019s an approach that has made sense for sparse rural developments even though water is scarce in the West and its use is typically governed by a first in time, first in right doctrine.<\/p>\n

But during Montana\u2019s residential housing boom of the last decade, developers seized on this \u201cexempt-well\u201d loophole to cut development costs by purchasing agricultural lands and building subdivisions beyond community boundaries. This not only impacts the availability of one of the most precious western resources\u2013water\u2013it also brings all the unwelcome impacts of sprawl.<\/p>\n

The Montana legislature never intended the exempt well provision to be used in this manner. The Montana Water Use Act explicitly states that the exempt well provision does not apply to \u201ccombined appropriations\u201d of two or more wells from the same source aquifer. But in 1993, Montana\u2019s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) eviscerated this limitation by stating that a \u201ccombined appropriation\u201d is only present if the wells are physically manifold or plumbed together.<\/p>\n

Since then, the number of \u201cexempt\u201d wells has skyrocketed: approximately 30,000 such wells were drilled during an eight year period from 2000 to 2008. Most of the new wells have been drilled in Montana\u2019s high growth counties (i.e., Gallatin, Flathead, Ravalli, and Lewis & Clark).<\/p>\n

In November 2009, WELC petitioned DNRC to close this loophole and amend the definition of \u201ccombined appropriation\u201d to bring it into conformity with the plain language and legislative intent of the Montana Water Use Act.<\/p>\n

DNRC issued a decision on the petition in August 2010, upholding the validity of the exempt well rule and compelling WELC to file a civil action against DNRC.<\/p>\n

On October 17, 2014, the Montana District Court for Lewis and Clark County ruled in WELC\u2019s favor, ordering DNRC to close the loophole in the state\u2019s water well permit rules that subdivision developers and others were using to avoid the permitting process.<\/p>\n

On September 13, 2016, the Supreme Court of the State of Montana again ruled in WELC\u2019s favor, affirming the District Court\u2019s ruling and ensuring that the loophole remained closed.<\/p>\n

Because of these court victories, subdivisions developers can no longer drill multiple unconnected wells and claim that each well is \u201cexempt\u201d from permitting, by relying on an exemption that was intended only for small, rural uses. This is especially important in \u201cclosed basins,\u201d which are already overappropriated.<\/p>\n

WELC\u2019s clients in this case, the Missoula-based Clark Fork Coalition, as well as ranchers Polly Rex, Katrin Chandler, Betty Lannen, and Joe Miller, were awarded the Montana Trial Lawyers Association\u2019s 2017 Citizens Award in recognition of their long and successful fight to vindicate the rights of water rightsholders and all Montanans who use and enjoy the state\u2019s waters.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#f1f3f2″ allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”30px||30px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners – linked partner logos” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

Partners<\/h3>\n

\"clark<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Polly Rex<\/p>\n

Katrin Chandler<\/p>\n

Betty Lannen<\/p>\n

Joe Miller<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related Documents – linked PDFs” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

Related Documents<\/h3>\n

Exempt Well Loophole MT Supreme Court Decision (9.13.16)<\/a><\/p>\n

Exempt Well Loophole MT Supreme Court Decision Synopsis (9.13.16)<\/a><\/p>\n

Exempt Well Loophole District Court Order (10.17.14)<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Staff – attorney name linked to tag query” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

Staff<\/h3>\n

Laura King:\u00a0Bio<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Docket<\/a><\/p>\n

Matthew Bishop:\u00a0Bio<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Docket<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blog admin_label=”Blog” saved_tabs=”all” fullwidth=”on” posts_number=”3″ show_thumbnail=”off” show_content=”off” show_more=”on” show_author=”off” show_date=”on” show_categories=”off” show_comments=”off” show_pagination=”on” offset_number=”0″ use_overlay=”off” background_layout=”light” use_dropshadow=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#dddddd” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”padding: 15px 20px; ||margin-top: 0;” include_categories=”148″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Photo Credits” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”center” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” header_font_size=”40px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” saved_tabs=”all” text_font_size=”10″]<\/p>\n

Photo by feetyouwear\/Flickr.
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VICTORY! Montana Exempt Well Loophole Rural homeowners, ranchers, and farmers in Montana and other western states have long relied on a provision of the law that affords them the opportunity to drill a small well without first obtaining a permit. It\u2019s an approach that has made sense for sparse rural developments even though water is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

OrderExemptWells101714.pdf<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Motion.Dissolve.Stip_.Reopen.Case_.March_.7.2014.pdf<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Stipulation.Non_.Compliance.Letter.Feb_.2014..pdf<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Exempt_Well_Chronicle_Opinion_March 2 2014.pdf<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Bozeman Daily Chronicle Art Front Page Sunday Feb 23 2014 Loophole_Limbo.pdf<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Rural homeowners, ranchers, and farmers in Montana and other western states have long relied on a provision of the law that affords them the opportunity to drill a small well without first obtaining a permit. It\u2019s an approach that has made sense for sparse rural developments even though water is scarce in the West and its use is typically governed by a first in time, first in right doctrine.<\/p>

\u2028\u2028But during Montana\u2019s residential housing boom of the last decade, developers seized on this \u201cexempt-well\u201d loophole to cut development costs by purchasing agricultural lands and building subdivisions beyond community boundaries. This not only impacts the availability of one of the most precious western resources\u2013water\u2013it also brings all the unwelcome impacts of sprawl.<\/p>

\u2028\u2028The Montana legislature never intended the exempt well provision to be used in this manner. The Montana Water Use Act explicitly states that the exempt well provision does not apply to \u201ccombined appropriations\u201d of two or more wells from the same source aquifer. But in 1993, Montana\u2019s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) eviscerated this limitation by stating that a \u201ccombined appropriation\u201d is only present if the wells are physically manifold or plumbed together.\u2028\u2028<\/p>

Since then, the number of \u201cexempt\u201d wells has skyrocketed: approximately 30,000 such wells were drilled during an eight year period from 2000 to 2008. Most of the new wells have been drilled in Montana\u2019s high growth counties (i.e., Gallatin, Flathead, Ravalli, and Lewis & Clark).\u2028\u2028<\/p>

In November 2009, WELC\u00a0petitioned<\/a>\u00a0DNRC to close this loophole and amend the definition of \u201ccombined appropriation\u201d to bring it into conformity with the plain language and legislative intent of the Montana Water Use Act.<\/p>

DNRC issued a decision on the petition in August 2010, upholding the validity of the exempt well rule and compelling WELC to file a civil action against DNRC.<\/p>

On November 12, 2010, a Montana state court judge signed off on a\u00a0settlement agreement<\/a>\u00a0reached by the ranchers and DNRC to repeal the rule that governs permit-exempt water wells. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, DNRC was required to repeal the rule within 15 months and ensure that any new rule is broader than the current definition and takes into account the cumulative impacts of appropriations from multiple wells for a single project.\u00a0\u2028\u2028The deadline agreed to in the settlement for the new rules passed at the end of 2013, and the state, buckling to pressure from developers, failed to close the loophole. We filed a motion to withdraw the stipulation and re-open the case, which was granted.<\/p>

Victory! On October 17, 2014, the Montana District Court for Lewis and Clark County ordered DNRC to close the loophole in the state\u2019s water well permit rules that developers and other large water users were using to avoid the permitting process when drilling thousands of water wells for new subdivisions. In this arid state, where water is a precious and scarce resource, the lack of oversight has unfairly threatened the availability of water for existing users. Montana\u2019s ground water, and the people and animals that depend on it, deserve an equitable and reasoned appropriation system, and the Court\u2019s order ensures that this is the case.<\/p>

(WELC project #448)<\/em><\/p>

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