Latest News: 
Pursuant to a Notice of Hearing issued in this matter by the Presiding Officer, the rescheduled public hearing in this matter will commence on December 10, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the First Mennonite Church, 427 W. 4th, Halstead, Kansas 67056. The formal phase of the hearing will be open to the public and will be scheduled to take place over three days, December 10, 11, and 12, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day and ending no later than 5:00 p.m. each day. The public and all interested parties are invited to submit oral or written comments during a time specifically reserved for this purpose: oral public comments will be received beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending no later than 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2019, at the same location as the formal phase of the hearing, the First Mennonite Church, 427 W. 4th, Halstead, Kansas 67056.

Written comments will be accepted until the record is closed, which will occur at midnight on Friday, January 17, 2020, unless extended by further order. Written comments may be submitted any of the following ways:
(1) by submitting them to KDA-DWR staff during the formal phase of the hearing;
(2) by submitting them to KDA-DWR staff or the presiding officer during the public comment phase of the hearing;
(3) by mailing a copy to Ronda Hutton, Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, Attn: Wichita ASR Project Testimony; or
(4) by sending an electronic copy via email to Ronda.Hutton@ks.gov.
Written comments already received regarding this matter will be considered and do not need to be resubmitted.

Background:

• The City of Wichita has the state's only active Aquifer Storage and Recovery 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 The City also submitted a series of new applications which have subsequently been withdrawn.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 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 raised. The resulting orders 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.

Orders, approvals, and agreements related to the existing project:

Rules and regulations:
K.A.R. 5-12-1 through K.A.R. 5-12-4
 
Background information:

ASR Accounting Reports: