MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 445, State Capitol

February 3, 2015

Members Present:    Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair

                                    Rep. Douglas V. Sagers, Vice Chair

                                    Rep. Joel K. Briscoe

                                    Rep. Melvin R. Brown

                                    Rep. Scott H. Chew

                                    Rep. Jack R. Draxler

                                    Rep. Susan Duckworth

                                    Rep. Steve G. Handy

                                    Rep. Timothy D. Hawkes

                                    Rep. Mike K. McKell

                                    Rep. Michael E. Noel

                                    Rep. Kraig Powell

                                    Rep. Scott D. Sandall

                                    Rep. Mike Schultz      

Staff Present:            Mr. J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst

Ms. An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

NOTE:     A list of visitors and handouts are filed with committee minutes

Vice Chair Sagers called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2015 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Noel, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

H.B. 132         Interstate Compact on Transfer of Public Lands Amendments (Rep. K. Stratton)

Rep. Stratton explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Noel, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Perry absent for the vote.

H.B. 159         Off-highway Husbandry Vehicle Amendments (Rep. S. Sandall)

Rep. Sandall explained the bill to the committee. Sterling Brown, Utah Farm Bureau, answered questions from the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Perry absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Duckworth moved to place H.B. 159 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Perry absent for the vote.

H.B. 140         Sovereign Lands Around Bear Lake (Rep. R. C. Webb)

Rep. Webb explained the bill to the committee. Brian Cottam, State Forester and Director, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, and Dale Stacey, Sheriff, Rich County, answered questions from the committee.

Spoke for the bill:                   Dan Bradshaw, citizen

                                                Claudia Cottle, Bear Lake Watch,"Thoughts on HB140" and "Bear                                                 Lake Annual Maximum and Minimum Elevations From 1915 to                                                 Aug 2013" were distributed to the committee

                                                Todd Bingham, citizen

                                                Candace Daly, citizen

                                                Richard Plumb, citizen

                                                David Cottle, Bear Lake Watch

                                                Paul Rasmussen, citizen

Spoke to the bill:                    Greg Sheehan, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources

Spoke against the bill:            John Spuhler, Mayor, Garden City, distributed a letter to the                                                 committee

                                                Steve Arnold, Ideal Beach Resort

                                                Robert Gardner, citizen

                                                Darin Pugmire, citizen

                                                Joe Sargetakis, citizen

                                                Sarah Sandberg, citizen 

MOTION:     Rep. Noel moved to hold the bill. the motion passed with Rep. Brown, Rep. Duckworth, Rep. Sandall, and Rep. Perry voting in opposition and Rep. McKell and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.

H.B. 44           Surface Leases Procedure Amendments (Rep. M. McKell)

This bill was not heard

H.B. 15           Clean Fuel Amendments and Rebates (Rep. S. Handy)

This bill was not heard.

MOTION:     Rep. Noel moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. McKell and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Sagers adjourned the meeting at 3:48 p.m.  

Lee B. Perry, Chair