If the secretary of state finds the petition, as required by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 82a-1335, to be sufficient as to form and the number and qualifications of the petitioners, the secretary shall prepare a certified copy of the petition and transmit the same to the chief engineer within five days from the date of such finding. Upon receipt of such certified copy, the chief engineer shall institute an investigation of the proposed district, its territory and purposes, and within 90 days after receipt of the copy shall transmit a written report of the findings on the petition, together with the chief engineer’s written approval or disapproval of the petition, to the secretary of state and the acting chairperson of the steering committee named in the petition.

The chief engineer shall approve such petition if the chief engineer finds:

(a) That the proposed district would not include water rights in any existing water assurance district; and

(b) that the statement of purposes contained in the petition conforms with the intents and purposes of this act.

If the chief engineer approves such petition, the chief engineer shall transmit a certified copy of the report containing all findings to the secretary of state and to the chairperson of the steering committee of the district.