MINUTES OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Friday, February 15, 2019 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. David P. Hinkins, Senate Chair
Rep. Stewart E. Barlow, House Chair
Rep. Scott H. Chew, House Vice Chair
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Ralph Okerlund
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher
Sen. Ronald Winterton
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht
Rep. Kay J. Christofferson
Rep. Stephen G. Handy
Rep. Suzanne Harrison
Rep. Karen Kwan
Rep. Phil Lyman
Rep. Lee B. Perry
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Keven J. Stratton
Rep. Logan Wilde

Members Absent:
Sen. Scott D. Sandall

Staff Present:
Mr. Steve Benard, Session Secretary
Mr. Timothy G. Dinehart, Fiscal Analyst
Mr. Ivan D. Djambov, Fiscal Analyst

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

House Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 8:06 am.
1. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of Feb. 11, 2019, and Feb. 13, 2019. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-8.
Yeas - 11Nays-0Abs-8
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Barlow
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. K. Christofferson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. P. Lyman
Sen. R. Okerlund
Rep. C. Snider
Sen. R. Winterton
Rep. S. Handy
Rep. S. Harrison
Sen. D. Ipson
Rep. L. Perry
Sen. S. Sandall
Rep. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Rep. L. Wilde
2. School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
2-SITLA, Agency Presentation
Mr. Kim Christy, Deputy Director, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) presented, with the assistance Ms. Deborah Memmott, Finance Director, SITLA.
Rep. Chew asked a question about revenue, and Mr. Christy answered.
3. RFA - Wolf Delisting, Rep. Albrecht
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht presented the funding with the assistance of Ryan Benson, attorney.
Rep. Snider asked a question about how the current US House may affect legislation. Mr. Benson answered.
Rep. Harrison asked for information regarding past funding, and Mr. Christy answered.
4. RFA - Utah County Government, Rep. Gibson
Rep. Gibson presented the funding request, with the assistance of Commissioner Bill Lee of Utah County.
5. RFA - The Rural Policy and Public Lands Institute (RPPL), Rep. Brooks
Rep. Brooks presented the funding request, assisted by Celeste Maloy, Chair, Rural Public Policy and Lands.
Sen. Ipson asked a question.
Rep. Lyman commented, agreed with Sen. Ipson, and expressed support.
Rep. Perry presented, with the assistance of Jack Leavitt, Brigham City.
6. 8:44 a.m. RFA - Brigham City Trail Bridges, Rep. Perry
Vice hair Chew asked a question, and Mr. Leavitt answered.
Sen. Okerlund asked a question
Chair Barlow asked how much Brigham City has contributed to the project.
7. RFA - R.S. 2477 Litigation Cost Sharing, Rep. Stratton
Rep. Stratton presented the funding request, assisted by Kathleen Clarke, Director, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, and Andy Gant, Commissioner, Kane County.
8. RFA - Wild Horse and Burro Management, Rep. Stratton
Rep. Stratton presented the funding request.
Rep. Lyman asked a question about a mining accident and roads, and Rep Stratton answered.
Rep Kwan asked about performance measures.
9. RFA - Specialty Utah Carbon Products - Commercial Demonstration, Rep. Watkins
Rep. Watkins presented the funding request, with assistance from David Detton, Carbon Eco Global Corporation.
10. RFA - Reimbursement for Cougar and Bear Livestock Damages, Rep. Wilde
Rep. Wilde presented the request with the assistance of Tom Boyer, Utah Wool Growers, and Bret Selman.
Rep. Kwan asked a question regarding county reimbursements, and Rep. Wilde explained.
11. RFA - SITLA Environmental Mitigation, Rep. Wilde
Rep. Wilde presented the request, with the assistance of Stan Summers, Commissioner of Box Elder County.
Rep. Barlow asked about SITLA.
Rep. Harrison asked about funding use, and Mr. Summers answered.
Sen. Hinkins asked a question, and Mr. Summers answered.
12. RFA - Avian Sanctuary and Protection, Sen. Davis and Rep. Hutchings
Sen. Davis explained the funding request.
Mr. Ivan Djambov asked a clarifying question about the funding request, and Sen. Davis explained.
13. RFA - Utah's Hogle Zoo, Rep. Handy
Rep. Handy presented the funding request, with assistance from Doug Lund, Chief Operating Officer at Hogle Zoo, and Patrick Hogle, Vice Chair, Hogle Zoo Board of Directors.
Rep. Kwan expressed support for the Zoo.
14. RFA - Utah Zoological Society - Wild Utah Exhibit, Sen. Fillmore
Sen. Fillmore presented the funding request, with assistance from Doug Lund and Patrick Hogle of the Hogle Zoo.
15. RFA - Carbon Canal Liner, Sen. Hinkins
Sen. Hinkins introduced the funding request, with assistance from Kevin Cotner, Carbon Canal Company, and Val Oveson, Consultant.
16. RFA - Muddy Creek Irrigation Company Pipeline, Sen. Hinkins
Sen. Hinkins introduced the funding request, assisted by Alexander Tarbet, of Bennett Group DC, and Jim Fauver, Board of Directors, Independent Canal Company.
17. RFA - Utah Coal to High-Value Products, Sen. Hinkins
Sen. Hinkins introduced the funding request, with the assistance of Jeremiah Riley, attorney, and Eric Eddings, Associate Dean for Research, University of Utah.
Sen. Hinkins commented on identifying different uses for coal.
Rep. Albrecht commented on the use of coal.
18. RFA - Transmission Line Study, Sen. Okerlund
Rep. Okerlund introduced the funding request with the assistance of Mr. Ryan Evans, Utah Solar Energy Association.
Rep. Albrecht asked various questions, and Sen. Okerlund and Mr. Evans explained.
19. RFA - Strategic and Targeted Forest Fire Treatment and Mitigation, Sen. Winterton
Sen. Winterton introduced the funding request with the help of Mike Superas, 106 Reforestation.
Rep. Hutchings discussed a model of wildfire best practices.
Rep. Handy asked about aspen plantings, and Mr. Superas explained.
Rep. Snider asked a series of questions, and Mr. Superas explained.
20. RFA - 4-H Initiative, Sen. Hillyard
Sen. Hillyard presented the funding request, with the assistance of Dr. Ken White, Dean at Utah State University, Dave Francis, and Craig Dart.
Chair Barlow explained that details regarding the next meeting schedule will be forthcoming later today.
Rep. Christofferson asked about funding amounts and budget limits.
MOTION: Rep. Handy moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5.
Yeas - 14Nays-0Abs-5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Barlow
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. K. Christofferson
Rep. S. Handy
Rep. S. Harrison
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Rep. K. Kwan
Sen. R. Okerlund
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Ipson
Rep. P. Lyman
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Rep. L. Wilde
Chair Barlow adjourned the meeting at 10:29 am.