SNAE0220 Converted WP Minutes

Link to Zipped WordPerfect Minutes 7K bytes

MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Utah State Capitol, Room C415

Members Present:        Sen. Darin Peterson, Chair
                Sen. Allen Christensen
                Sen. Margaret Dayton
                Sen. Fred Fife
                Sen. Dennis Stowell
                Sen. Michael Waddoups

Member Excused:        Sen. Gene Davis

Staff Present:            J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
                 Emily Brown, Associate General Counsel
                Saundra Maeser, Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Jim Karpowitz, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources
                LeGrand Bitter, Executive Director, Utah Association of Special Districts
                Jerry Olds, State Engineer, Division of Water Rights
                Ed Kent, Utah Wildlife and Habitat Coalition and Utah Anglers Coalition
                Martin Bushman, Assistant Attorney General, Wildlife Resources
                Dale Pierson, Director, Rural Water Association of Utah
                Dick Buehler, Department of Natural Resources, Forestry, Fire and State Lands
                David Austin, Fire Chief, Weber Fire District
                Kyle Stephens, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food
                Todd Bingham, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation
                David Spatafore, Utah Fire Chiefs Association
                Lincoln Shurtz, Utah League of Cities and Towns
                Rep. Michael Noel
                Lee Peacock, President, Utah Petroleum Association
                David Litvin, President, Utah Mining Association
                Steven Bloch, Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Committee Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 8:06 a.m.

1.    Approval of Minutes

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to approve the minutes of February 18, 2008. The motion     passed unanimously with Sen. Fife and Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote

2.    S.B. 238 Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Act (Sen. J. Greiner)

    Sen. Jon Greiner introduced the bill. Jim Karpowitz, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, assisted in the presentation. A handout was distributed.

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.    Page 5, Line 135 :

             135          (a) the division,

port-of-entry agent, or peace officer:

The motion passed unanimously.

LeGrand Bitter, Utah Association of Special Districts; Jerry Olds, State Engineer, Division of Water Rights; Ed Kent, Utah Wildlife and Habitat Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.

Martin Bushman, Assistant Attorney General, Wildlife Resources, answered questions from the Committee.

MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass S.B. 238, Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Act (Sen. J. Greiner) , out favorably, as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

3.    S.B. 228 Regulation of Wells (Sen. M. Dayton)

    Sen. Margaret Dayton introduced the bill. Jerry Olds, State Engineer, Division of Water Rights, assisted in the presentation.

    Dale Pierson, Director, Rural Water Association of Utah, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass S.B. 228, Regulation of Wells, out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.

    MOTION: Sen. Stowell moved to place S.B. 228 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.

4.    S.B. 251 Task Force Studying Funding for Fighting Forest Fires (Sen. D. Stowell)

    Sen. Dennis Stowell introduced the bill.

    Dick Buehler, Department of Natural Resources, Forestry, Fire and State Lands; and Davis Austin, Fire Chief, Weber Fire District, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Fife moved to pass S.B. 251,Task Force Studying Funding for Fighting Forest Fires, out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.

5.    1st Sub. H.B. 323 Eminent Domain Amendments (Rep. A. Tilton) (Sen. D. Peterson)

    Rep. Aaron Tilton introduced the bill.

    Lincoln Shurtz, Utah League of Cities and Towns; Todd Bingham Utah Farm Bureau Federation; and David Spatafore, Utah Fire Chiefs Association, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass 1st Sub. H.B. 323, Eminent Domain Amendments , out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Stowell absent for the vote.

6.     H.B. 137 State Facility Water Conservation Program (Rep. L. Wiley) (Sen. P. Knudson)

    Rep. Larry Wiley introduced the bill.

    Dale Pierson, Director, Rural Water Association of Utah, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Waddoups moved to pass H.B. 137, State Facility Water Conservation Program, out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stowell absent for the vote.

7.    1st Sub. H.B. 148 Aquaculture Revitalization Act (Rep. M. Noel) (Sen. D. Peterson)

    Rep. Michael Noel introduced the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Waddoups moved to replace 1st Sub. H.B. 148 with 2nd Sub. H.B. 148, Aquaculture Revitalization Act. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stowell absent for the vote.

    Ed Kent, Utah Anglers Coalition; Jim Karpowitz, Division of Wildlife Resources; Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau; and Kyle Stephens, Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in support of the bill.

    MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass 2nd Sub. H.B. 148, Aquaculture Revitalization Act., out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stowell absent for the vote.

8.     H.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Opposing Designation of Public Lands Currently Urged by Congress and the Bureau of Land Management (Rep. A. Tilton) (Sen. M. Dmitrich)

    Rep. Aaron Tilton introduced the bill. Rep. Michael Noel assisted in the presentation.

    Lee Peacock, President, Utah Petroleum Association; David Litvin, President, Utah Mining Association; and Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in support of the bill.

    Steven Bloch, Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to pass H.J.R. 10, Joint Resolution Opposing Designation of Public Lands Currently Urged by Congress and the Bureau of Land Management, out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

     Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m.

    Minutes reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary

                 ______________________________
                 Darin G. Peterson, Committee Chair