Via e-mail from NDWR July 1, 2020
On June 30, 2020, the Division of Water Resources submitted draft administrative regulations to the Legislative Council Bureau (LCB) to secure a permanent regulation number for this regulation cycle. It is important for the Division to communicate to the public and those engaged in the process that the submission of these regulations to LCB is not an effort by the Division to rush the rulemaking process. The Division considered all of the comments provided prior to, during and subsequent to the June 24, 2020, public workshop and many revisions were made based upon those comments. Further, let it be noted that the official LCB-draft regulation does not constitute a final proposed regulation, but rather serves as a starting point for ongoing dialogue with interested persons.
The Division has been and continues to be committed to fully engaging with the public and providing multiple opportunities for public engagement, feedback and comment as the Division continues to work toward promulgation of administrative regulations. To this end, the Division is committed to, at a minimum, the following next steps:
- The Division has established an email listserv, ndwradminregs@listserv.state.nv.us, which is specific to communications relating to the adoption of administrative regulations. Instructions for subscribing to the listserv is available on the Division’s website and attached to this message.
- The Division will conduct a minimum of 3 additional public workshops between now and the beginning of the 2021 legislative session.
- The Division will provide bi-monthly updates as to the outcome of any public workshops held and specific plans for future public workshops and public input regarding the draft regulations.
(4) The Division does not intend to take the regulations to a public hearing until after the conclusion of the 2021 legislative session.
The next public workshop is anticipated to be scheduled in the month of August, pending receipt of the LCB draft of the Division’s submitted regulations. The Division recognizes that this is a unique path forward, but believes this process is important to ensure substantive and inclusive public participation during these unique times.