1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 533.0241, 533.345, 533.371, 533.372 and 533.503, the State Engineer shall approve an application submitted in proper form which contemplates the application of water to beneficial use if:

(a) The application is accompanied by the prescribed fees;

(b) The proposed use or change, if within an irrigation district, does not adversely affect the cost of water for other holders of water rights in the district or lessen the efficiency of the district in its delivery or use of water; and

(c) The applicant provides proof satisfactory to the State Engineer of the applicant’s:

(1) Intention in good faith to construct any work necessary to apply the water to the intended beneficial use with reasonable diligence; and

(2) Financial ability and reasonable expectation actually to construct the work and apply the water to the intended beneficial use with reasonable diligence.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 10, where there is no unappropriated water in the proposed source of supply, where the groundwater that has not been committed for use has been reserved pursuant to NRS 533.0241 or where its proposed use or change conflicts with existing rights or with protectable interests in existing domestic wells as set forth in NRS 533.024, or threatens to prove detrimental to the public interest, the State Engineer shall reject the application and refuse to issue the requested permit. If a previous application for a similar use of water within the same basin has been rejected on those grounds, the new application may be denied without publication.

3. In addition to the criteria set forth in subsections 1 and 2, in determining whether an application for an interbasin transfer of groundwater must be rejected pursuant to this section, the State Engineer shall consider:

(a) Whether the applicant has justified the need to import the water from another basin;

(b) If the State Engineer determines that a plan for conservation of water is advisable for the basin into which the water is to be imported, whether the applicant has demonstrated that such a plan has been adopted and is being effectively carried out;

(c) Whether the proposed action is environmentally sound as it relates to the basin from which the water is exported;

(d) Whether the proposed action is an appropriate long-term use which will not unduly limit the future growth and development in the basin from which the water is exported; and

(e) Any other factor the State Engineer determines to be relevant.

4. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsections 6 and 10 and NRS 533.365, the State Engineer shall approve or reject each application within 2 years after the final date for filing a protest. The State Engineer may postpone action:

(a) Upon written authorization to do so by the applicant.

(b) If an application is protested.

(c) If the purpose for which the application was made is municipal use.

(d) In areas where studies of water supplies have been determined to be necessary by the State Engineer pursuant to NRS 533.368.

(e) Where court actions or adjudications are pending, which may affect the outcome of the application.

(f) In areas in which adjudication of vested water rights is deemed necessary by the State Engineer.

(g) On an application for a permit to change a vested water right in a basin where vested water rights have not been adjudicated.

(h) Where authorized entry to any land needed to use the water for which the application is submitted is required from a governmental agency.

(i) On an application for which the State Engineer has required additional information pursuant to NRS 533.375.

5. If the State Engineer does not act upon an application in accordance with subsections 4 and 6, the application remains active until approved or rejected by the State Engineer.

6. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsection 10, the State Engineer shall approve or reject, within 6 months after the final date for filing a protest, an application filed to change the point of diversion of water already appropriated when the existing and proposed points of diversion are on the same property for which the water has already been appropriated under the existing water right or the proposed point of diversion is on real property that is proven to be owned by the applicant and is contiguous to the place of use of the existing water right. The State Engineer may postpone action on the application pursuant to subsection 4.

7. If the State Engineer has not approved, rejected or held a hearing on an application within 7 years after the final date for filing a protest, the State Engineer shall cause notice of the application to be republished pursuant to NRS 533.360 immediately preceding the time at which the State Engineer is ready to approve or reject the application. The cost of the republication must be paid by the applicant. After such republication, a protest may be filed in accordance with NRS 533.365.

8. If a hearing is held regarding an application, the decision of the State Engineer must be in writing and include findings of fact, conclusions of law and a statement of the underlying facts supporting the findings of fact. The written decision may take the form of a transcription of an oral ruling. The rejection or approval of an application must be endorsed on a copy of the original application, and a record must be made of the endorsement in the records of the State Engineer. The copy of the application so endorsed must be returned to the applicant. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 11, if the application is approved, the applicant may, on receipt thereof, proceed with the construction of the necessary works and take all steps required to apply the water to beneficial use and to perfect the proposed appropriation. If the application is rejected, the applicant may take no steps toward the prosecution of the proposed work or the diversion and use of the public water while the rejection continues in force.

9. If a person is the successor in interest of an owner of a water right or an owner of real property upon which a domestic well is located and if the former owner of the water right or real property on which a domestic well is located had previously filed a written protest against the granting of an application, the successor in interest must be allowed to pursue that protest in the same manner as if the successor in interest were the former owner whose interest he or she succeeded. If the successor in interest wishes to pursue the protest, the successor in interest must notify the State Engineer in a timely manner on a form provided by the State Engineer.

10. The provisions of subsections 1 to 9, inclusive, do not apply to an application for an environmental permit or a temporary permit issued pursuant to NRS 533.436 or 533.504.

11. The provisions of subsection 8 do not authorize the recipient of an approved application to use any state land administered by the Division of State Lands of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources without the appropriate authorization for that use from the State Land Registrar.

12. As used in this section, “domestic well” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 534.350.

[63:140:1913; A 1945, 87; 1947, 777; 1949, 102; 1943 NCL § 7948] — (NRS A 1959, 554; 1973, 865, 1603; 1977, 1171; 1981, 209, 359; 1989, 319; 1991, 759, 1369; 1993, 1459, 2082, 2349; 1995, 319, 697, 2523; 1999, 1045; 2001, 552; 2003, 2980; 2005, 2561; 2007, 2017; 2009, 597; 2011, 758, 1566; 2013, 499, 3679; 2019, 2516)