MINUTES OF THE

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Thursday, February 9, 2017 • 3:16 pm • 415 State Capitol

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 3:18 p.m.

1. S.B. 189 Oil and Gas Operations Amendments (Hinkins, D.)

Sen. Hinkins explained the bill.

Lee Peacock, President, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in favor of the bill.

John Baza, Director, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, spoke in favor of the bill.

Lincoln Schurtz, Government Affairs Director, Utah Association of Counties, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ron Winterton, County Commissio Chair, Duchesne County, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ruland Gill, Chair, Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to pass S.B. 189 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Hinkins D, Iwamoto J, Knudson P

Absent or not voting were:

Shiozawa B, Vickers E

2. S.B. 191 Oil and Gas Amendments (Okerlund, R.)

Sen. Okerlund explained the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to replace S.B. 191 with 1st Substitute S.B. 191. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.

Voting in the affirmative were:

Dayton M, Christensen A, Hinkins D, Iwamoto J, Knudson P

Absent or not voting were:

Shiozawa B, Vickers E

Ruland Gill, Chair, Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, spoke in favor of the bill.

John Baza, Director, Oil, Gas, and Mining, spoke in favor of the bill.

Lee Peacock, President, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 191 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

3. H.B. 65 Air Conservation Act Amendments (Schultz, M.)

Rep. Schultz explained the bill.

Ashley Soltysiak, Policy Director, Heal Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Ashley Miller, Program Director, Breathe Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Lincoln Schurtz, Representing Traeger Grills, spoke in favor of the bill.

Bryce Bird, Air Quality Director,  Division of Environmental Quality, spoke to the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 65 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.

Voting in the affirmative were:

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

Voting in the negative was:

Iwamoto J

Absent or not voting was:

Hinkins D

Discussion of American Fork River Sediment Spill

Mark Allen, Representing, Protect and Preserve American Fork Canyon, presented information.

Walt Baker, Director, Division of Water Quality, spoke about elements of the Tibble Fork spill.

John Baza, Director, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining concurred with the Division of Water Quality spoke to the issue. 

James Owen, Legislative Liason, Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, spoke to the issue.

Sherrie Ohrn, representing Nathan Ivie, Utah County Commissioner, spoke to the issue.

Mr Allen continued to speak to the issue. 

Chair Dayton adjourned the meeting at 4:42 PM

_________________________________

        Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair