1. Board Directs Staff to Explore Legal Options—Including a Possible Moratorium—on Deep Aquifer Pumping The Board passed a motion directing staff and legal counsel to analyze whether the GSA has authority/options to impose an interim moratorium on new deep aquifer wells and/or caps/limits on extractions, and to report back within 90 days (by September), with one "no" vote (Director Bramers). Agricultural pumping in the deep aquifer has increased roughly 12-fold since 2009, and modeling shows ongoing undesirable results for groundwater levels. The Board considered a jointly prepared Deep Aquifers Management Memorandum but expressed frustration that it lacked firm near-term action, with multiple directors and public commenters calling the memo "soft" and urging the agency to stop "kicking the can." A subsequent motion to accept the memorandum passed (with one "no" vote: Director Bramers).
Already have an account? Sign In
