§ 14-208-102 - Right to acquire rural water service properties, facilities, and customers. - Arkansas Statutes

14-208-102. Right to acquire rural water service properties, facilities, and customers.

(a) (1) Unless otherwise agreed between a municipality that owns or operates a water service and a rural water service, the inclusion by annexation of any part of the assigned service area of a rural water service within the boundaries of any Arkansas municipality shall not in any respect impair or affect the rights of the rural water service to continue operations and extend water service throughout any part of its assigned service area unless a municipality that owns or operates a water service elects to purchase from the rural water service all customers, distribution properties, and facilities located within the municipality reasonably utilized or reasonably necessary to serve customers of the rural water service within the annexed areas under this chapter, excluding water sources, treatment plants, and storage serving customers outside the annexed areas.

(2) (A) Unless otherwise agreed between a municipality that owns or operates a water service and a rural water service, a municipality may not undertake or begin construction, operation, or extension of any equipment or facilities for the supplying of water service to the annexed areas without complying with this chapter .

(B) The affected rural water service is entitled to injunctive relief for any violation of this chapter.

(b) (1) The municipality shall give written notice to the rural water service prior to the municipality's acquiring from the rural water service all customers, distribution properties, and facilities reasonably utilized or reasonably necessary to serve customers of the rural water service within the annexed areas

(2) The municipality and the rural water service shall meet and negotiate in good faith the terms of the acquisition, including, as an alternative, granting the rural water service an agreement to serve the annexed area or portions of the annexed area.

(3) (A) Before an acquisition under this chapter by the municipality, the municipality shall receive approval from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission that the action complies with the Arkansas Water Plan under 15-22-503.

(B) The commission shall:

(i) Approve the application under the Arkansas Water Plan if it determines the requirements of 15-22-223(b)(2)(B) are satisfied, including costs derived from negotiation or appraisal;

(ii) Issue a letter to the municipality that the proposed action is exempt from review under the Arkansas Water Plan; or

(iii) Deny the application under the Arkansas Water Plan if it determines the requirements of 15-22-223(b)(2)(B) are not satisfied.

(c) An agreement reached under this chapter shall comply with 15-22-223.

(d) This chapter shall not limit applicable federal law, including without limitation 7 U.S.C. 1926(b).