MINUTES OF THE

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Thursday, February 2, 2017 • 4:16 pm • 210 Senate Building

Note: A list of others present, a copy of related materials, and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at le.utah.gov.

Chair Dayton called the meeting to order at 4:16 p.m.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to approve the minutes for 1/25/2017 and 1/30 /2017. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Iwamoto J, Knudson P, Shiozawa B, Vickers E

Absent or not voting was:

Hinkins D

1. H.B. 67 Wildlife Amendments (McKell, M.)

Sen. McKell presented the bill with the assistance of Greg Sheehan, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to pass H.B. 67 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Iwamoto J, Knudson P, Shiozawa B, Vickers E

Absent or not voting was:

Hinkins D

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to place H.B. 67 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Iwamoto J, Knudson P, Shiozawa B, Vickers E

Absent or not voting was:

Hinkins D

2. H.C.R. 11 Concurrent Resolution Urging the President to Rescind the Bears Ears National Monument Designation (Hughes, G.)

President Niederhauser and Speaker Gregory Hughes presented the bill.

 Bruce Adams, County Commissioner, San Juan County, spoke in favor of the bill. 

Leland Pollock, County Commissioner, Garfield, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ty Markham, Chair, Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance (MESA), spoke in opposition of the bill.

 Mike Mckee, Commissioner, Uintah County, spoke in favor of the bill.

Lindsey Corum, representing public landowners, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Matt Andersen, Policy Analyst, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.

Cynthia Wilson, resident of San Juan County, representing Utah Diné Bikéyah , spoke in opposition to the bill.

Suzanne Stensaas, Citizen, Salt Lake County, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Gerald Elias, constituent,  spoke in opposition to the bill.

Bill Christiansen, teacher, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Rebecca Hardenbrook, student, University of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Shawn Milne, Commissioner, Tooele County, spoke in favor of the bill.

Scott Fisher, resident, Holladay, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Frank Nederhand, American Alpine Club, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Stephen Trimble, self, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Carol Surveyor, citizen, Utah League of Native American Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Gavin Noyes, Executive Director, Dine Bikeyah, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Moroni Benally, Co-founder Utah League of Native American Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill.

John Williams, citizen, Paiute County, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Nizhone Meza, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Steve Knox, citizen, volunteer, Sierra Club, spoke in opposition to the bill. .

John Sargent, resident,Salt Lake City, owner of property in Garfield County,  spoke in opposition to the bill.

Samantha Eldredge, member of Navajo Nation, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Eric Hobday, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

 Bruce Adams, Commissioner, San Juan County, responded to Sen Vicker's question about number of National Parks in San Juan County.

Speaker Hughes responded to questions and spoke in summation. 

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to pass H.C.R. 11 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-2-0.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Hinkins D, Knudson P, Vickers E

Voting in the negative were:

Iwamoto J, Shiozawa B

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to adjourn at 5:44 PM.