1. As soon as practicable, the State Engineer shall assemble all proofs related to the stream or stream system which have been filed with the State Engineer and prepare, certify and have printed an abstract of all such proofs of appropriation. The State Engineer shall also prepare from the proofs of appropriation and evidence taken or given before the State Engineer, or obtained by the State Engineer, a preliminary order of determination establishing the several rights of claimants to the waters of the stream.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, when the abstract of proofs of appropriation and the preliminary order of determination are completed:

(a) The State Engineer shall then prepare a notice fixing and setting a time and place when and where the evidence taken by or filed with the State Engineer and the proofs of claims must be open to the inspection of all interested persons, the period of inspection to be not less than 20 days. The notice shall be deemed an order of the State Engineer as to the matters contained therein.

(b) A copy of the notice, together with a printed copy of the preliminary order of determination and the abstract of proofs of appropriation, must be delivered by the State Engineer, or sent by registered or certified mail, at least 30 days before the first day of such period of inspection, to each person who has filed a proof of appropriation related to the stream or stream system.

(c) The State Engineer shall be present at the time and place designated in the notice and allow, during that period, any persons interested to inspect such evidence and proofs of appropriation as have been filed with the State Engineer in accordance with this chapter.

3. In lieu of sending or serving a copy of the preliminary order of determination and the abstract of proofs of appropriation pursuant to subsection 2, the State Engineer may:

(a) Make available a copy of the preliminary order of determination and the abstract of proofs of appropriation on the Internet website of the Office of the State Engineer; and

(b) Send by registered or certified mail or deliver in person to each person who has filed a proof of appropriation notice that the preliminary order of determination and the abstract of proofs of appropriation are available on the Internet website of the Office of the State Engineer.

[28:140:1913; A 1921, 171; NCL § 7915] — (NRS A 1967, 189; 1969, 1527; 1973, 1478; 1985, 467; 1993, 1700; 1997, 21; 2005, 1092; 2017, 710, 3558, effective January 1, 2028)