Wichita ASR

***UPDATE 01/14/2022 - Hearing Officer Recommendations Posted

See the document Recommendations on the City of Wichita's Proposed ASR Phase II Modifications, which is also provided in the Hearing Officer Notices, Orders, Etc. table below.


02/19/2021 - Public Hearing Recordings from February 2021


Background:

  • The City of Wichita (City) has the state's only active Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project. The project was developed and approved in two phases.
  • On March 12, 2018, the City forwarded a detailed proposal for changes to the conditions associated with its existing permits for Phase II of the project. The City also submitted a series of new applications which have subsequently been withdrawn.
  • The City's proposal was clarified and modified in minor ways via an initial review process during April and May 2018.
  • On June 28, 2018, a public informational meeting regarding the proposed changes was held at the Halstead High School Auditorium.
  • Beginning on July 19, 2018, a series of pre-hearing conferences were held to set a date, time and location for the formal hearing; to discuss procedures for the hearing; to set any necessary deadlines; and to discuss any other appropriate matters.
  • Orders resulting from the pre-hearing conferences and public hearing are available below in the table "Hearing Officer Notices, Orders, Etc." The filings by the parties are included in the table "Parties' Motions, Etc."
  • Information related to the City's existing ASR permits is available below.
  • A public comment hearing on Wichita's proposed modifications to Phase II of its ASR project was held on December 11, 2018 (transcript).
  • On March 19, 2019, Chief Engineer Barfield delegated to Constance (Connie) Owen the authority to serve as the presiding officer in this matter and postponed the formal phase of the public hearing previously scheduled for March 26, 2019. Presiding Officer Owen will conduct a hearing among the formal parties and provide written recommendation to the Chief Engineer based on the record after the hearing is complete.
  • The formal phase of the public hearing began in Halstead, KS on December 10, 2019 continued into 2021.

City of Wichita Request:

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
Wichita ASR Permit Modification Proposal: Cover Letter 634 KB 03/12/2018 Wichita 
Wichita ASR Permit Modification Proposal
    Attachments A-D
    Attachment E
    Attachments F-J		 14 MB
10 MB
24 MB
18 MB		 03/12/2018  Wichita 
Wichita New Applications (File Nos. 48,704 through 48,733) Multiple Multiple DWR

Public Comments:

Description

File Size   

Document Date

Provided By
Richard Basore written comments 129 KB 02/25/2021 Basore
Gary Stecklein written comments 78 KB 02/21/2021 Stecklein
Scott and Katie Rowe written comments  215 KB
01/16/2021
Rowe
Sam, Marcia, and Andy Goering written comments 99 KB  08/24/2020 Goering
City of Halstead written comments 345 KB 02/10/2020 Halstead
Beth Vannata written comments
 224 KB
 01/21/2019 Vannata
Jim Loyd written comments
 218 KB
 12/17/2019
 Loyd
Transcript of oral public comments from informal public comment period of 12/13/2019
 226 KB
 12/13/2019
 Reporter
Written comments received at formal hearing of 12/10-12/2019 or at informal public comment period of 12/13/2019
  

848 KB
2.3 MB
523 KB
993 KB
1.2 MB
379 KB
408 KB
 12/10-13/2019
 Various
Judy Berger written comments
 265 KB
 12/09/2019
 Berger
Ted Saranchuk written comments 723 KB 05/20/2019  Saranchuk 
Harvey County Board of Commissioners written comments 133 KB 03/29/2019  HV Co. 
Galen Fast written comments 841 KB 03/26/2019 Fast
Gary Fair written comments 136 KB 03/23/2019  Fair 
Joseph Trego written comments 97 KB 03/13/2019  Trego 
Tommy Logue written comments 380 KB 03/13/2019  Logue 
Gary Stecklein written comments 89 KB 03/07/2019  Stecklein 
Toyia Bulla written comments 85 KB 02/25/2019  Bulla 
Rob Krehbiel written comments 143 KB 02/08/2019  Krehbiel 
Richard Basore written comments 83 KB 01/22/2019  Basore
Gary Stecklein written comments 87 KB 01/11/2019 Stecklein
Beth Vannatta written comments 92 KB 12/27/2018 Vannatta
Transcript of oral public comment hearing (12/11/2018)
 330 KB 12/11/2018 Reporter
Kansas Farm Bureau written comments 53 KB 12/11/2018 KFB
David Mueller written comments 98 KB  12/11/2018 Mueller
Philip Lohrenz written comments 14 KB  12/10/2018 Lohrenz
John Reimer written comments
 55 KB 12/10/2018 Reimer
Dr. Keith Jacob written comments
 35 KB  12/10/2018 Jacob
Dr. Kate Jacob written comments
 13 KB 12/07/2018 Jacob
Laurie Hartke written comments
 154 KB 11/13/2018 Hartke

Proposal Development Documents:

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
DWR December 2018 Public Hearing Handout 194 KB 12/11/2018  DWR 
DWR Halstead Public Informational Meeting Summary
DWR, Wichita, and GMD2 Presentations (YouTube)
DWR Presentation
Wichita Presentation
GMD2 Presentation		 373 KB
NA 
958 KB
634 KB
2.5 MB		 06/28/2018  DWR


Wichita
GMD2 
Correspondence - DWR to GMD2, Response to Initial Review 1.2MB 06/01/2018  DWR 
Correspondence - Wichita to DWR, Response to Comments 125 KB 05/22/2018 Wichita 
Correspondence - Wichita to DWR, Process and Schedule
 108 KB 05/11/2018 Wichita
Correspondence - GMD2 to DWR, Process and Schedule
 150 KB 05/11/2018 GMD2
Correspondence - DWR to GMD 2 and Wichita, Process 51 KB 05/09/2018  DWR
Correspondence - GMD2 to DWR, Proposed Permit Modifications 845 KB 04/27/2018 GMD2 
Correspondence - Wichita to GMD2, Change in ASR Tactics 119 KB  04/26/2018  Wichita 
Correspondence - GMD2 to Wichita, Change in Operations 91 KB 04/06/2018  GMD2 
Wichita ASR Proposal Update for EW RAC
    (Video on YouTube)		 1 MB 03/26/2018 DWR
Correspondence - DWR to GMD2 and Wichita, Process for Draft Proposed Permit Approvals for Initial Review
 1 MB 03/22/2018 DWR

DWR presentation at special GMD2 Board Meeting

658 KB

12/20/2017

DWR
Correspondence - GMD2 to DWR, Request to Delegate Hearing 34 KB 12/11/2017  GMD2

Correspondence - DWR to Wichita, Project Process

638 KB

09/18/2017

DWR

Correspondence - Wichita to GMD2, Drought Modeling

66 KB

01/24/2017

Wichita

Correspondence - GMD2 to Wichita, Drought Modeling Review

3.9 MB

12/14/2016

GMD2

Correspondence - Wichita to GMD2, Permit Modifications

3.4 MB

11/15/2016

Wichita

Correspondence - Wichita to DWR, Requested Modification to Limitations

2.7 MB

05/24/2013

Wichita

Hearing Officer Notices, Orders, Etc.: 

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
Recommendations on the City of Wichita's Proposed ASR Phase II Modifications  679 KB
1/14/2022
Owen
Agreed Waiver of K.A.R. 5-12-3
 211 KB
12/30/2020
 DWR
Reaffirmed Delegation
432 KB
11/2/2020 DWR
Notice of Delegation (Acting Chief Engineer's Affirmation of Delegation to Constance M. Owen)
54 KB
03/02/2020
DWR
Notice of Continuation of Hearing 389 KB 01/09/2020  Owen
Prehearing Order on GMD2 Renewed Motion in Limine to Exclude Wichita Expert Testimony 1.9 MB 11/19/2019 Owen
Prehearing Order on GMD2 Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 547 KB 11/05/2019  Owen 
Prehearing Briefing Order on GMD2 Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 353 KB  10/15/2019  Owen
Prehearing Order on GMD2 Revised Motion for Summary Judgment Based on Supplemental Discovery Answer Received from Wichita 894 KB 10/09/2019  Owen
Notice of Hearing 368 KB 10/08/2019  Owen
Prehearing Status Conference Order 566 KB 10/02/2019  Owen 
Status Conference Order 1.0 MB 08/09/2019  Owen 
Notice of Deadline to Respond to Wichita Motion to Modify Order on Prehearing Motions 293 KB 08/02/2019  Owen 
Notice of Prehearing Status Conference 321 KB 07/30/2019  Owen 
Order on Prehearing Motions 581 KB 07/24/2019 Owen
Prehearing Order 85 KB 05/01/2019 Owen 
Notice of Prehearing Conference 54 KB 04/03/2019 Owen
Order of Delegation and Temporary Postponement 769 KB 03/19/2019  DWR 
Order Extending Deadline for Depositions 109 KB 03/01/2019  DWR
Order Extending Deadline for Expert Reports 35 KB 02/15/2019  DWR 
Notice of Hearing Location 
 40 KB 01/18/2019 DWR
Notice of Final Hearing Schedule 39 KB 12/21/2018  DWR
Notice of Deadlines and Scheduling Order 143 KB 11/19/2018  DWR 
Order Regarding Motion for Extension of Time and to Continue Hearing 371 KB 11/12/2018 DWR
Order Regarding Withdrawal of Parties for the Formal Phase of the Public Hearing 174 KB 11/05/2018 DWR 
Order Regarding Designation of Parties 150 KB 10/26/2018 DWR
Scheduling Order
 145 KB 10/05/2018 DWR
Order Modifying Hearing and Schedule 139 KB  09/27/2018  DWR 
Notice of Hearing on Scheduling and Withdrawal of Applications 113 KB 09/24/2018 DWR 
Hearing on Various Motions: Minutes 801 KB 09/18/2018 DWR
Notice of Hearing on Various Motions 106 KB 09/11/2018 DWR
Order to Provide Notice 105 KB 09/11/2018 DWR
Wichita ASR Phase II Modifications: Prehearing Conference Order 1.7 MB 07/23/2018 DWR
Notice of Pre-Hearing Conference 52 KB 07/02/2018 DWR

Formal Phase Public Hearing Transcript and Exhibits:

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
Formal Hearing Transcript - Complete  5 MB
02/19/2021
Recorder
City of Wichita Exhibits   513 KB
 02/05/2021
Wichita
Intervenor Exhibits 5 MB
 02/04/2021 Intervenors
GMD2 Exhibits
 180 MB
 03/06/2020 GMD2
DWR Exhibits  1 MB
02/11/2020 DWR
Transcript - Public Comment  189 KB
12/13/2019
 Recorder
Transcript - Oral Arguments 238 KB
 05/28/2019 Recorder

Parties' Motions, Etc. (Attachments May Be Included):

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
Wichita Comments on Hearing Officer's Recommendations
 172 KB
 02/11/2022
Wichita
DWR Comments on Hearing Officer's Recommendations
 331 KB
 02/11/2022
 DWR
Intervenors Comments on Hearing Officer's Recommendations
 147 KB
 02/11/2022 Intervenors
GMD2 Comments on Hearing Officer's Recommendations
 481 KB
 02/11/2022
GMD2
Wichita Reply to GMD2 Proposed Findings and Conclusions 
 140 KB
10/04/2021
Wichita
Wichita Reply to Intervenors Proposed Findings and Conclusions  134 KB
10/04/2021
Wichita
DWR Reply Brief  351 KB
10/04/2021
DWR
GMD2 Reply to Wichita Proposed Findings and Conclusions  265 KB
10/04/2021
GMD2
GMD2 Reply to DWR Proposed Findings and Conclusions  312 KB
10/04/2021
GMD2
GMD2 Reply to Intervenors Proposed Findings and Conclusions  260 KB
10/04/2021
GMD2
DWR Post-Hearing Brief  448 KB
07/30/2021
DWR
Wichita Proposed Findings and Conclusions  257 KB
07/30/2021
Wichita
DWR Proposed Findings and Conclusions  273 KB
07/30/2021
DWR
Intervenors Proposed Findings and Conclusions  855 KB
07/30/2021
Intervenors
GMD2 Proposed Findings and Conclusions and Post-Hearing Brief 
 860 KB
07/30/2021
GMD2
Notice of Withdrawal of Appearance (Aaron B. Oleen for DWR) 454 KB 06/30/2020 DWR
DWR Notice of Compliance with Prehearing Status Conference Order 1.2 KB  11/21/2019 DWR
Wichita Response to GMD2 Renewed Motion in Limine 98 KB  11/15/2019  Wichita 
DWR Response in Opposition to GMD2 Renewed Motion in Limine to Exclude Wichita Expert Testimony 1 MB  11/15/2019  DWR 
Wichita Response to Intervenor Brief Supporting GMD2 Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 153 KB  10/30/2019  Wichita 
DWR Response in Opposition to GMD2 & Intervenors Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time
Exhibit A
Exhibit B		 1.2 KB 10/30/2019 DWR 
Intervenors Brief in Support of GMD2 Motion for Reconsideration and Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 59 KB  10/30/2019  Intervenors 
GMD2 Brief on Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 804 KB 10/30/2019  GMD2 
Wichita Response to GMD2 Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 160 KB  10/29/2019  Wichita 
Renewed Motion in Limine to Exclude Wichita Expert Testimony 1.2 MB 10/10/2019  GMD2 
Motion for Reconsideration and for Leave to Have Additional Motions Considered Out of Time 1.3 MB  10/10/2019  GMD2 
DWR e-mail response to GMD2 Revised Motion for Summary Judgment 161 KB  09/27/2019  DWR 
Wichita e-mail response to GMD2 Revised Motion for Summary Judgment 98 KB 09/25/2019  Wichita 
Memo in Support of Revised Motion for Summary Judgment 832  09/25/2019  GMD2 
Revised Motion of Summary Judgement Based on Supplemental Discovery Answers Received from Wichita 434 KB 09/25/2019  GMD2
City of Wichita Amended Expert Reports
   Daniel Clement
   Don Henry
   Joe Pajor
   John Winchester
   Luca DeAngelis
   Paul McCormick
   Scott Macey		  
10 MB
15 MB
2.6 MB
38 MB
5.3 MB
30 MB
5.0 MB		 08/23/2019  Wichita 
GMD2 Response to Wichita and Motion for Continuance 252 KB 08/06/2019  GMD2 
Intervenors Motion for Continuance 51 KB  08/06/2019 Intervenors 
Wichita Motion to Modify Order on Prehearing Motions 48 KB 08/02/2019  Wichita 
DWR's Notice of Compliance with Order on Prehearing Motions 472 KB  07/26/2019 DWR 
DWR Response in Opposition to GMD2 Clarifications on Motions to Compel 180 KB 06/20/2019  DWR 
Wichita Response to Clarification on Motions to Compel
   Exhibit 1		 76 KB
215 KB		 06/13/2019  Wichita 
GMD2 Clarifications on Motions to Compel
   Wichita Responses to GMD2 1st Request for Admissions
   Wichita Responses to GMD2 1st Interrogatories to Wichita
   Wichita Responses to GMD2 2nd Request for Admissions
   Wichita Responses to GMD2 2nd Interrogatories to Wichita		 255 KB
4 MB
12 MB
5 MB
8 MB		 06/07/2019  GMD2 
Intervenors Response to Motion in Limine to Exclude Expert Testimony 1 MB 05/03/2019 DWR
GMD2 Reply and Clarifications to Various Responses of DWR and Wichita to GMD2 Motions
 55 KB 05/03/2019 GMD2
Wichita Response to Summary Judgment Motion 66 KB 04/01/2019  Wichita 
GMD2 Prehearing Brief 186 KB  03/18/2019  GMD2 
Intervenors Prehearing Brief 4.6 MB 03/18/2019 Intervenors
DWR Prehearing Brief 247 KB  03/18/2019  DWR 
DWR Response to GMD2 and Intervenors Motion to Dismiss 88 KB  03/18/2019  DWR 
DWR Response to Motions to Ensure Impartiality
   Exhibit A
   Exhibit B		 131 KB
1.0 MB
90 KB		 03/18/2019 DWR 
Wichita Response to Remaining Motions 41 KB 03/18/2019  Wichita 
Wichita Response to GMD Motion to Dismiss 45 KB  03/18/2019  Wichita 
Wichita Response to GMD Motion to Bar Experts 8 MB 03/18/2019  Wichita 
DWR Response to GMD2 Motion to Compel DWR 980 KB 03/18/2019 DWR 
GMD2 Response to Motion in Limine to Exclude Expert Testimony
 2.0 MB 03/18/2019 GMD2
DWR Response to Motion to Bar Agency Recommendations 115 KB 03/18/2019  DWR 
Wichita Response to GMD2 Motion to Compel 1.0 MB 03/12/2019  Wichita 
Intervenors Motion to support GMD2 Motions 166 KB 03/11/2019  Intervenors 
GMD2 Motion to Dismiss 836 KB 03/11/2019  Wichita 
GM2 Motion in Limine to Bar DWR Expert Reports 1.1 MB 03/11/2019  GMD2
GMD2 Motion to Ensure Impartiality of Hearing Officer
   Exhibit A
   Exhibit B		 489 KB
177 KB
1.2 MB		 03/11/2019  GMD2 
GMD2 Motion to Compel Wichita
   Exhibit A
   Exhibit B
   Exhibit C		 455 KB
10 MB
297 KB
94 KB		 03/11/2019  GMD2 
GMD2 Motion to Compel DWR
   Exhibit A
   Exhibit B
   Exhibit C		 450 KB
3.1 MB
727 KB
137 KB		 03/11/2019  GMD2 
GMD2 Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support 552 KB 03/11/2019  GMD2 
GMD2 Revised Witness and Exhibit List 148 KB 03/11/2019  GMD2 
GMD2 Witness and Exhibit List 510 KB 03/11/2019 GMD2 
Wichita Witness List 13 KB 03/11/2019  Wichita 
Wichita Exhibit List 18 KB 03/11/2019  Wichita 
Intervenors Witness and Exhibit List 364 KB 03/11/2019  Intervenors
DWR Witness and Exhibit List 94 KB 03/11/2019  DWR 
GMD2 Motion in Limine to Exclude Select Expert Reports 216 KB 03/11/2019  GMD2 
Wichita Motion in Limine to Exclude Select Expert Reports 40 KB 03/11/2019 Wichita
GMD2 Motion to Extend Deadline for Depositions 168 KB 02/27/2019  GMD2 
Intervenors Expert Reports 5.9 MB 02/18/2019  Intervenors
GMD2 Expert Reports 24 MB 02/18/2019  GMD2 
City of Wichita Expert Reports 334 KB  02/15/2019  Wichita 
Intervenors Motion in Support of GMD2 Motion for Extension 87 KB  02/14/2019  Interveners 
GMD2 Motion for Extension to Modify the Scheduling Order and Extend the Deadline to Submit an Expert Report 509 KB 02/14/2019  GMD2 
DWR Response in Opposition to Intervenors and GMD2 Motions for Extension of Time to Request Discovery, Designate Expert Witnesses and Exhibits, and Continue Hearing 105 KB  11/06/2018 DWR
Wichita Response to GMD2 Motion for Extension and Referenced Documents 11 MB  11/07/2018 Wichita 
GMD2 Motion in Support of Intervenors Motion for Extension of Time to Request Discovery, Designate Expert Witnesses and Exhibits, and Continue Hearing 232 KB 11/05/2018  GMD2 
Wichita Response to Intervenors Motion for Extension of Time 213 KB 11/05/2018  Wichita 
Motion for Extension of Time to Request Discovery, Designate Expert Witnesses and Exhibits, and Continue Hearing 137 KB 11/03/2018  Intervenors 
Motion to Withdraw as a Party 192 KB 11/03/2018  Intervenors 
Entry of Appearance (Tessa M. Wendling for Intervenors) 754 KB 10/15/2018 Intervenors
Wichita Confirmation of ASR Groundwater Modeling Data Submittal 302 KB 09/28/2018  Wichita 
ASR RRW Permit Applications (48704-48733) Correspondence 114 KB  09/20/2018  Wichita 
GMD2 Disclosure of Expert Witnesses 638 KB 09/18/2018  GMD2 
Wichita Preliminary Expert Disclosure 106 KB 09/18/2018  Wichita 
Wichita Experts 1.6 MB 09/18/2018  Wichita
DWR Notice of Compliance with Order to Provide Notice 78 KB  09/18/2018  DWR 
DWR Half-Mile Letter - Exhibit C 46 KB 09/18/2018  DWR 
DWR Motion to Suspend Discovery Deadline and the Obligation of DWR to Answer GMD2 Written Discovery 96 KB 09/17/2018 DWR 
Response to DWR Motion to Suspend Discovery Deadline and the Obligation of DWR to Answer GMD2 Written Discovery 344 KB  09/14/2018 GMD2 
DWR Half-Mile Letters - Exhibit B 2.6 MB 09/13/2018  DWR 
DWR Half-Mile Letters - Exhibit A 2.2 MB 09/12/2018  DWR 
Response to Wichita Response to Motion for Extension of Time 541 KB  09/12/2018  GMD2 
Notice and Order to Discuss Various Motions: Correspondence and Attachments 786 KB  09/11/2018  DWR 
DWR Summary of Issues: Correspondence and Attachments 737 KB  09/10/2018  DWR 
Administrative Hearing Notice Protocol: GMD2 Correspondence to DWR 421 KB 09/10/2018  GMD2
Wichita Response to Motion for Extension of Time 351 KB  09/07/2018 Wichita 
Motion to Extend Time: Correspondence to Wichita and GMD2 and Attachments, Resent 6.2 MB 09/07/2018 DWR 
Motion to Extend Time: Correspondence to Wichita and GMD2 and Attachments 1.9 MB  09/06/2018  DWR 
DWR Staff Response to GMD2 Reviews: Correspondence 51 KB 09/06/2018  DWR
Motion to Extend Time: Order, Correspondence, and Attachment 418 KB  09/05/2018 DWR 
Motion to Extend Time: Email Correspondence and Attachment 533 KB 09/05/2018  DWR 
Motion for Extension of Time to Answer Wichita Discovery Requests and to Designate Expert Witness 67 KB 09/04/2018 GMD2


Orders, Approvals, and Agreements Related to the Existing Project:

Description

File Size   

Document Date

Provided By
ASR Phase II Order Approving Additional Permits 719 KB 09/28/2010 DWR
ASR Phase II Approval 544 KB 09/18/2009  DWR 
ASR Phase II MOU 2 MB 11/19/2008  GMD2 & Wichita
ASR Phase I Order Modifying Conditions (II) 157 KB 12/21/2009 DWR
ASR Phase I Order Modifying Conditions (I) 5 MB 08/01/2006 DWR

ASR Phase I Approval

816 KB

08/02/2005

DWR
ASR Phase I MOU 2 MB  08/31/2004  GMD2 & Wichita

Rules and Regulations:
K.A.R. 5-12-1 through K.A.R. 5-12-4


Background Information:

Description

File Size

Document Date

Provided By
Wichita New Applications (File Nos. 48,704 through 48,733) Multiple Multiple DWR

Status of Groundwater Levels and Storage Volumes in the Equus Beds Aquifer near Wichita, KS, January 2016

5.4 MB

01/2016

USGS

Groundwater-Level and Storage-Volume Changes in the Equus Beds Aquifer near Wichita, Kansas, Predevelopment through January 2015

5.3 MB

01/2015

USGS

WichitaASR.org

NA

NA

Wichita




ASR Accounting Reports:

Description File Size Document Date Provided By
Wichita ASR 2016 Annual Accouting Report 24 MB 2018 Wichita
Wichita ASR 2015 Annual Accounting Report 13 MB 2018 Wichita

Wichita ASR 2014 Annual Accounting Report

8 MB

2015

 Wichita
Wichita ASR 2013 Annual Accounting Report 7.9 MB 2015 Wichita