Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 20 - Lands, Department of
Rule 20.03.04 - RULES FOR THE REGULATION OF BEDS, WATERS, AND AIRSPACE OVER NAVIGABLE LAKES IN THE STATE OF IDAHO
Section 20.03.04.030 - PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALL OTHER TYPES OF ENCROACHMENTS

Universal Citation: ID Admin Code 20.03.04.030

Current through August 31, 2023

01. Nonnavigational, Community, and Commercial Navigational Encroachments. Within ten (10) days of receiving a complete application for a nonnavigational encroachment, a community dock, a commercial navigational encroachment, or a navigational encroachment extending beyond the line of navigability, the Department will cause to be published a notice of application once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the encroachment is proposed. If, however, the Director orders a hearing on the application within the time for publication of the above notice, the Department will dispense with publication of the notice of the application and proceed instead to publish a notice of the public hearing as provided in Subsection 030.05. Applications for installation of buried or submerged water intake lines and utility lines are exempt from the newspaper publication process. (3-18-22)

02. Encroachments Not in Aid of Navigation. Encroachments not in aid of navigation in navigable lakes will normally not be approved by the Department and will be considered only in cases involving major environmental, economic, or social benefits to the general public. Approval under these circumstances is authorized only when consistent with the public trust doctrine and when there is no other feasible alternative with less impact on public trust values. (3-18-22)

03. Notifications. Upon request or when the Department deems it appropriate, the Department may furnish copies of the application and plans to federal, state and local agencies and to adjacent littoral owners, requesting comment on the likely effect of the proposed encroachment upon adjacent littoral property and public trust values such as navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic life, recreation, aesthetic beauty, water quality, etc. (3-18-22)

04. Written Comments or Objections. Within thirty (30) days of the first date of publication, an agency, adjacent littoral owner or lessee, or any resident of the state of Idaho may do one (1) of the following: (3-18-22)

a. Notify the Department of their opinions and recommendation, if any, for alternate plans they believe will be economically feasible and will accomplish the purpose of the proposed encroachment without unreasonably adversely affecting adjacent littoral property or public trust values; or (3-18-22)

b. File with the Department written objections to the proposed encroachment and request a public hearing on the application. The hearing must be specifically requested in writing. Any person or agency requesting a hearing on the application must deposit and pay to the Department an amount sufficient to cover the cost of publishing notice of hearing provided in Subsection 030.05. (3-18-22)

05. Hearing. Notice of the time and place of public hearing on the application will be published by the Director once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper in the county in which the encroachment is proposed, which hearing will be held within ninety (90) days from the date the application is accepted for filing. (3-18-22)

06. Hearing Participants. Any person may appear at the public hearing and present oral testimony. Written comments will also be received by the Department. (3-18-22)

07. Decision After Hearing. The Director will render a final decision within thirty (30) days after close of the public hearing. A copy of his final decision will be mailed to the applicant and to each person or agency appearing at the hearing and giving oral or written testimony in support of or in opposition to the proposed encroachment. (3-18-22)

08. Decision Where No Hearing. (3-18-22)

a. In the event no objection to the proposed encroachment is filed with the Department and no public hearing is requested under Subsection 030.04, or ordered by the Director under Subsection 030.01, the Department, based upon its investigation and considering the economics of the navigational necessity, justification or benefit, public or private, of such proposed encroachment as well as its detrimental effects, if any, upon adjacent real property and public trust values such as navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic life, recreation, aesthetic beauty, water quality, etc. will prepare and forward to the applicant its decision. (3-18-22)

b. The applicant, if dissatisfied with the Director's decision, has twenty (20) days from the date of the Director's decision to request reconsideration thereof. If reconsideration is required, the Director will set a time and place for a reconsideration hearing, not to exceed thirty (30) days from receipt of the request, at which time and place the applicant may appear in person or through an authorized representative and present briefing and oral argument. Upon conclusion of reconsideration, the Director will, by personal service or by registered or certified mail, notify the applicant of his final decision. (3-18-22)

09. Judicial Review. Any applicant aggrieved by the Director's final decision, or an aggrieved party who appeared at a hearing, has the right to have the proceedings and final decision of the Director reviewed by the district court in the county in which the encroachment is proposed by filing a notice of appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of the final decision. The applicant need post no bond with the court to prosecute an appeal. Any other aggrieved party is required to deposit an appeal bond with the court, in an amount to be determined by the court but not less than five hundred dollars ($500), insuring payment to the applicant of damages caused by delay and costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred on the appeal in the event the district court sustains the action of the Director. (3-18-22)

10. Factors in Decision. In recognition of continuing private property ownership of lands lying between the natural or ordinary high water mark and the artificial high water mark, if present, the Department will consider unreasonable adverse effect upon adjacent property and undue interference with navigation the most important factors to be considered in granting or denying an application for either a nonnavigational encroachment or a commercial navigational encroachment not extending below the natural or ordinary high water mark. If no objections have been filed to the application and no public hearing has been requested or ordered by the Director, or, if upon reconsideration of a decision disallowing a permit, or following a public hearing, the Department determines that the benefits, whether public or private, to be derived from allowing such encroachment exceed its detrimental effects, the permit will be granted. (3-18-22)

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Idaho may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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