MINUTES OF THE

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 415, Utah State Capitol

March 4, 2015

Members Present: Sen. Scott K. Jenkins, Chair

Sen. Allen M. Christensen

Sen. Jani Iwamoto

Sen. Peter C. Knudson

Sen. Brian E. Shiozawa

Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Members Absent: Sen. Margaret Dayton

Staff Present: Brian Allred, Policy Analyst

Brooke Parrish, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Jenkins called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.

MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Knudson and Sen. Shiozawa absent for the vote.

S.R. 3 Senate Resolution Encouraging Congress to Pass Recommended Legislation on National Parks (Sen. J. Dabakis)

Sen. Dabakis explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke against the bill: Mr. Redge Johnson

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Knudson and Sen. Shiozawa absent for the vote.

S.B. 281 Water Infrastructure Funding (Sen. J. S. Adams)

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Mr. Richard Bay, General Manager, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District

Mr. Redge Johnson

Mr. Tage Flint, General Manager, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District

Spoke against the bill: Mr. Gabriel Lozada, Economics Professor, University of Utah

Mr. Paul Van Dam, citizen

Ms. Lisa Rutherford, citizen

Mr. Steve Erickson, Great Basin Water Network

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Iwamoto voting in opposition.

S.B. 280 Utah Energy Act Amendments (Sen. D. Hinkins)

Sen. Hinkins explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Mr. Jeffrey Barrett, Deputy Director, Office of Energy

Mr. Mark Compton, President, Utah Mining Association

Mr. Matt Pacenza, Executive Director, HEAL Utah

Mr. Mason Baker, General Council, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems

Mr. Redge Johnson

Sen. Jenkins relinquished the Chair to Sen. Christensen.

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

H.C.R. 8 Concurrent Resolution on Carbon Sequestration on Rangelands (Rep. M. Noel)

Sen. Hinkins explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 23 Join Resolution Regarding Agritourism (Rep. L. Perry)

Rep. Perry explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION: Sen. Shiozawa moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Shiozawa moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

H.B. 58 Change Application Modifications (Rep. K. Grover)

Rep. Grover explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Mr. Kent Jones, Utah State Engineer, Water Rights

Mr. John Mabey, Attorney

Mr. Sterling Brown, Utah Farm Bureau

Mr. Craig Peterson, representing local municipalities and Provo River water users

MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.

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

Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting at 9:26 a.m.

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Sen. Scott K. Jenkins, Chair