| Members Present: Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Michael L. Kohler Rep. Steven J. Lund | Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Mike Schultz Rep. Casey Snider Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Finn Andrew Rose, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Brooks called the meeting to order. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to approve the September 18, 2023, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-10. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 10 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. D. Owens Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| 2.Performance Audit of the Intermountain Power Agency |
| 2a. OLAG IPA Audit Presentation |
| 2b. A Performance Audit of the Intermountain Power Agency (Report #2023-13) |
| 2c. Letter to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee - Review Committee Referral (Report #2023-13) |
| Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Legislative Auditor, and Matthias Boone, Senior Audit Supervisor, Office of the Legislative Auditor, presented on the performance audit of the Intermountain Power Agency. |
| The committee asked questions of Matthias Boone and Brian Dean. |
| Cameron Cowan, General Manager, Intermountain Power Agency, gave a response to the performance audit of the Intermountain Power Agency. |
| The committee discussed the audit further. |
| 3.Big Game Population Management |
| 3a. Division of Wildlife Resources Deer Management Presentation |
| Rep. Shipp, J Shirley, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, and Dax Mangus, Big Game Program Coordinator, Division of Wildlife Resources, presented on the management of big game populations within the state. Need Slides. |
| The committee asked questions of J Shirley and Dax Mangus. |
| 4.Private Landowner Involvement in Wildlife Programs |
| Rep. Chew, J Shirley, and Justin Shannon, Deputy Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, presented on private landowner rules and involvement in wildlife programs. |
| The committee asked questions of J Shirley and Justin Shannon. |
| 5.Meningeal Worm Study |
| Charley Hart gave a brief overview of elk related legislation and the meningeal worm study. |
| Daniel Christensen, State Veterinarian, Department of Agriculture and Food, and Virginia Stout, Wildlife Veterinarian, Division of Wildlife Resources, presented on what meningeal worms are, how they are spread, and the risk they pose to big game in the state. |
| 5a. UDAF Meningeal Worm Presentation |
| The committee asked questions of Dan Christensen and Virginia Stout. |
| 6.Earthquake Early Warning Feasibility Study |
| 6a. UGS Earthquake Early Warning Feasibility Study Presentation |
| Bill Keach, State Geologist and Director, Utah Geological Survey, and Steve Bowman, Geologic Manager, Utah Geological Survey, presented on an earthquake early warning feasibility study and gave recommendations. |
| The committee asked questions of Bill Keach and Steve Bowman. Bill Keach and Steve Bowman continued to present. |
| 7.Mining Permitting Processes |
| Rep. Lund, John Baza, Director, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, Dana Dean, Deputy Director, Mining, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, and Elizabeth Harris, Assistant Attorney General, Utah Attorney General's Office, presented on the progress of the draft legislation dealing with mining permitting processes. |
| 8.Statewide Water Marketing Strategy Overview |
| 8a. Water Marketing Save the Date Event Flyer |
| 8b. Water Marketing Strategies Webpage |
| Candice Hasenyager, Director, Division of Water Resources, and Emily Lewis, Attorney, Clyde Snow, presented on the statewide water marketing strategy and progress made with implementing the strategy. |
| The committee asked questions of Candice Hasenyager and Emily Lewis. |
| 9.Draft Legislation: Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments |
| Julie Humberstone gave a brief introduction on draft legislation, "Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments." |
| 9a. Draft Legislation, Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments |
| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to favorably recommend draft legislation, "Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments" to the full Legislature for further consideration during the 2024 General Session.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. Kohler Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. T. Peterson Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| 10.Cloud Seeding Symposium |
| 10a. Cloud Seeding Symposium Presentation |
| Rep. Bennion and Candice Hasenyager gave a presentation and review of the Cloud Seeding Symposium. |
| The committee asked questions of Candice Hasenyager. |
| 11.Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. Kohler Rep. S. Lund Rep. D. Owens Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. T. Jimenez Sen. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| Chair Brooks adjourned the meeting. |