State House Approves Groundwater Bill

With no debate, the Oklahoma House has approved a bill amending the state’s Groundwater Quality Standards Act.

The house voted 83 to two in support of House Bill 3404 with opposition from Reps. George Faught of Muskogee and Jason Murphey of Guthrie.

As author Rep. Weldon Watson explained, it was a “request” bill from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the State Water Resources Board.

“It clears up some authority issues,” he told House members. The requests came after the legislature approved a change in law two years ago allowing the storage of surface water in underground aquifers.

The bill would become effective Nov. 1, 2018 if it is approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Fallin.