Oklahoma § 82-1B - Moratorium on sale or exportation of surface water and/or

§ 82-1B. Moratorium on sale or exportation of surface water and/or

groundwater.

A. In order to provide for the conservation, preservation,

protection and optimum development and utilization of surface water

and groundwater within Oklahoma, the Legislature hereby establishes

a moratorium on the sale or exportation of surface water and/or

groundwater outside this state pursuant to the provisions of this

section. Unless otherwise repealed or revoked by the Oklahoma

Legislature, the moratorium shall be in effect for a five-year

period beginning on the effective date of this act or until such

time as the State of Oklahoma conducts and completes a comprehensive

scientific hydrological study of the water resources of this state.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights

B. Subject to the moratorium set by subsection A of this

section, no state agency, authority, board, commission, committee,

department, trust or other instrumentality of this state or

political subdivision thereof, nor elected or appointed officer,

member of any governing body or other person designated to act for

an agency or on behalf of the state, or a political subdivision

thereof shall contract for the sale or exportation of surface water

or groundwater outside the state, or sell or export surface water or

groundwater outside the state without the consent of the Oklahoma

Legislature specifically authorizing such sale or export of water.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting or

intending to affect:

1. Any contract for the sale or exportation of surface water or

groundwater outside the state executed prior to the effective date

of this act which has received legislative approval or was executed

pursuant to law, provided such sale or exportation of surface water

or groundwater does not exceed eight million (8,000,000) gallons of

water per month; or

2. Water contained in agricultural crops, animal and dairy

products, beverages, or processed or manufactured products or to

products transported in cans, bottles, packages, kegs, or barrels.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 485, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2002. Amended

by Laws 2004, c. 392, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2004.