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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Room 131, State Capitol Building


Members Present:        Sen. Beverly Ann Evans, Chair
                Sen. Gene Davis
                Sen. Thomas Hatch
                Sen. Parley G. Hellewell
                Sen. Scott K. Jenkins
                Sen. Paula F. Julander
                Sen. Bill Wright

Members Excused:        Sen. Leonard M. Blackham

Staff Present:            J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
                Norda Shepard, Secretary

Public Speakers Present:        Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire
                Rep. Bradley T. Johnson
                Rep. J. Morgan Philpot
                Rep. D. Gregg Buxton
                Rep. Michael R. Styler
                Rep. Roger E. Barrus
                Joel Frandsen, State Forrester
                Debbie Goodman, Utah Audubon Council
                Jessie Walthers, Citizen
                Eric Millis, Assistant Director, Utah Division of Water Resources
                Erica Thoen, Conservation Coordinator, Utah Rivers Council
                Brian Poulsen, Citizen
                Dr. Earl Rogers, Assistant State Veterinarian
                Sterling Brown, Associate Director, Utah Farm Bureau
                Fred W. Finlinson, Utah Water Coalition
                Alan Matheson, Director, Trout Unlimited
                Craig Peterson, Sandy City and South Valley Coalition of Municipalities

A list of visitors is filed with the committee minutes.

The meeting was called to order by Acting Chair Hatch at 8:19 a.m.

1. Approval of Minutes

MOTION:
Sen. Jenkins moved to approve the minutes of 2-16-04.

The motion passed with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hellewell and Sen. Wright absent at the time of the vote.

2. S.B. 229, Task Force Study of Wildfires in Utah (Sen. B. Evans)

Sen. Evans presented the bill. Joel Frandsen, State Forester, spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass S.B. 229, Task Force Study of Wildfires in Utah out with a favorable recommendation.




The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

Sen. Evans resumed the chair.

3. 1st Sub H.B. 71, Water Conservation Plans (Rep. J. Buffmire)


Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire presented the bill. Debbie Goodman, Utah Audubon Council; Jessie Walthers, Citizen; Eric Millis, Assistant Director, Utah Division of Water Resources; Erica Thoen, Conservation Coordinator, Utah River Council; and Brian Poulsen, Citizen spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Wright moved to amend 1st Sub. H. B. 71 on Page 2, Line 51 by deleting 500 and inserting 1000.

Sen. Wright withdrew the motion and asked the sponsor to provide more information.

MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass 1st Sub. H. B. 71, Water Conservation Plans out with a favorable
recommendation.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

4. 1st Sub. H.B. 92, Brucellosis Vaccination Amendments (Rep. B. Johnson)

Rep. Bradley T. Johnson presented the bill. Dr. Earl Rogers, Assistant State Veterinarian, answered committee questions and spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to pass 1st Sub. H. B. 92, Brucellosis Vaccination Amendments out with a favorable recommendation.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

Sen. Julander said she would like to explain her vote, stating she does not have full confidence in the bill but felt it needed further discussion so she would vote yes to send it to the floor.

5. 1st Sub. H. B. 211, Renewal of Fishing License (J.M. Philpot)

Rep. J. Morgan Philpot presented the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to pass 1st Sub. H. B. 211, Renewal of Fishing License out with a favorable recommendation.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to place 1st Sub. H. B. 211, Renewal of Fishing License on the Consent Calendar.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

6. H.B. 235, Turkey Hunting Permits (Rep. D. G. Buxton)

Rep. D. Gregg Buxton presented the bill.




MOTION:
Rep. Hatch moved to pass H. B. 235, Turkey Hunting Permits out with a favorable recommendation.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to place H. B. 235, Turkey Hunting Permits on the Consent Calendar.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hellewell absent at the time of the vote.

7. H. B. 255, Wildlife Restitution Amendments (R, Barrus)

Rep. Roger E. Barrus presented the bill. Debbie Goodman, Utah Audubon Council spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved the following amendments to H. B. 255, Wildlife Restitution Amendments:

1.    Page 2, Lines 42 through 50 :    

             42          (c) $500 per animal for:
             43          
[[   (i) cougar;   ]]

             44          
[[   (ii)   ]]        (i)       golden eagle;

             45          
[[   (iii)   ]]        (ii)       river otter; or

             46          
[[   (iv)   ]]        (iii)       gila monster;

             47          (d) $400 per animal for:
             48          (i) pronghorn antelope; or
             49          (ii) deer;
             50          (e) $350 per animal for
  :

    (i) cougar; or
    (ii)  
bobcat;


The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hellewell and Sen. Julander absent at the time of the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass H. B. 255, Wildlife Restitution Amendments out with a favorable recommendation as amended.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hellewell and Sen. Julander absent at the time of the vote.

8. H. B, 247, Task Force Studying Water Issues (M, Styler)

Rep. Michael R. Styler presented the bill. Sterling Brown, Associate Director, Utah Farm Bureau; Fred W. Finlinson, representing the Utah Water Coalition and the Special Districts Association; Debbie Goodman, Utah
Audubon Council; Alan Matheson, Director, Trout Unlimited; and Craig Peterson, representing Sandy City and
South Valley Coalition of Municipalities spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to pass H. B. 255, Task Force Studying Water Issues out with a favorable recommendation.





The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Julander absent at the time of the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Hellewell moved to adjourn.

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Julander absent at the time of the vote.

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 a.m.

Minutes recorded by Norda Shepard, Secretary





                 ______________________________
                    Beverly Ann Evans, Committee Chair