PUBLIC HEARING ON PRODUCTION PERMIT

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

PUBLIC HEARING ON PRODUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION FOR SUTER FARMS, LLC Call to order at 1:00 p.m. the public hearing on Application for a Production Permit for Suter Farms, LLC. Party representing application: Todd Suter Protestant to application: None. Note: La Escalera/Gerald (Dee) Lyda had submitted a Protest along with a Technical Memorandum from his Hydrogeologist/Steve Finch, Jr. with JSAI, Inc. Mr. Lyda explained that he and Mr. Suter had discussions this morning, and that Mr. Suter agreed to install meters on Well #1 and Well #2. Mr. Lyda withdrew his protest. Public Comment: None. President McGuairt declared the application uncontested. Manager Ty Edwards presented the application to the Board. Notice is hereby given that Suter Farms LLC, has made application for a Production Permit with the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District for a 2 well system (Well 1 is #2019090411, and well 2 is #2019090422) located on 632.26 acres in Survey T&P RR CO Block 3 Section 200 on Property ID #3621, approximately 15 miles Southwest of Fort Stockton on Old Alpine Highway in Pecos County, Texas. The application request authorization to produce 992 acre-feet/year for Irrigation Use from the Edwards Trinity Aquifer. A few months ago we approved a drilling permit for 2 wells for Suter Farms. Suter Farms purchased just under 5,000 acres of property West of Fort Stockton. He drilled 2 wells on Section 200. Itis just outside of our Management Zone 1 in the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer. He conducted his required pump tests. Well 1 hit 800 gallons a minute. Well 2 ended up doing 1280 gallons per minute. We were on site when he did the pump tests. We cameraed the monitor well. We also monitor well #2007050801 Old Mesquite Well which is in the same section, just north of the proposed wells. We are going to go ahead and monitor this well if the permit is approved. 1 believe he is going to put an airline in his producing wells so we can get static water levels on those as well. We also monitor a well at Hammond's house. The wells are registered in accordance with our rules. We notified everyone around in the area. We didn't hear back from anyone except for Dee Lyda this morning. Mr. Suter is wanting to plant forage crops to feed cattle. He is only requesting 2 acre foot an acre for 496 acres of forage. Todd Suter is here today. The application is administratively complete as far as filling in the blanks. Middle Pecos GCD Minutes for September 17, 2019 Page 11 Mr. Suter was sworn in for testimony. Suter Testimony: Mr. Lyda was concerned and was wanting me to put meters on my pumps. | agreed to do that. And, to report the readings annually as the District requires. Mr. Lyda clarified that the Technical Memorandum from JSAI, Inc. had an additional recommendation (#3 in the JSAI report) that read should drawdowns exceed 3 feet per year..., and | have over-ridden the condition and removed it. This leaves only the metering of the wells as a permit condition. Adjourn hearing and consider and/or act on Application for a Production Permit for Suter Farms, LLC. President Jerry McGuairt adjourned the hearing at 1:12 p.m. Ronnie Cooper made a motion to approve the Production Permit for Suter Farms, LLC. A special permit condition is to install meters on each well. Motion seconded by Janet Groth. Motion carried unanimously. Vote: 8 For. -0- Against. 3 Absent.

This motion is scored as RESTRAINS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 4.2/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, voting YES on measures that cap or reduce ad valorem tax burdens, expand taxpayer exemptions, retire debt early, enforce competitive bidding caps, or remove regulatory/zoning barriers to private property rights earns a positive Pro-Liberty score.