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By MICHAEL MARTZ
Arundel Newspapers Staff Writer
RICHMOND — Eastern Shore and Tidewater farmers won the first skirmish last week in the dispute over state regulation of groundwater use, but bigger battles on the issue may loom ahead in the General Assembly next year.
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would require municipalities in groundwater management areas — where groundwater supplies are critically low — to obtain a permit to withdraw 300,000 gallons a month or more. But the Senate also approved a committee amendment that would continue to exempt farmers from the requirement, which the state already imposes on industries in those areas.
The bill requires farmers only to report their groundwater use to their extension agents, so that the state will know more about the amount of groundwater being used.
The vote to adopt the bill was 31-8. Sen. William A. Truban (R-Fauquier/Clarke/Warren/Shenandoah) voted for it. Sen. Kevin G. Miller (R-Fauquier/Rappahannock /Page/Rockingham) voted against it.
Although the measure would apply only to designated groundwater management areas, it foretells a de
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