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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 13, 2006
Utah State Capitol Complex, West Office Building, Suite W015
Sen. Thomas Hatch
Sen. Darin Peterson
Members Excused: Sen. Beverly Evans
Sen. Fred Fife
Sen. Scott McCoy
Staff Present: J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Gordon Younker, Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Jerry Olds, State Engineer
Fred Finlinson, Attorney, Utah Water Coalition
David Litvin, President, Utah Mining Association
Todd Bingham, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau
A list of visitors is filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Waddoups called the meeting to order at 4:27 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of February 10, 2006.
The motion passed unanimously.
2. H.B. 296 Governor's Budget - Wage and Benefit Increases to Be Considered for Soil Conservation District (Rep. K. Gibson)
Rep. Kerry Gibson introduced the bill. Gordon Younker, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, assisted in the presentation.
MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to pass H.B. 296, Governor's Budget - Wage and Benefit Increases to Be Considered for Soil Conservation District, out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. H.B. 228 Groundwater Management Plan (Rep. D. Ure)
Rep. David Ure introduced the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to adopt the following amendment:
1. Page 9, Lines 250 through 254 :
(14) A groundwater management plan adopted in accordance with this
section may not apply to the dewatering of a mine.
250
[[
(14)
]]
(15)
(a) A groundwater management plan adopted by the state
engineer before May 1,
251 2006, remains in force and has the same legal effect as it had on the day on which it was
252 adopted by the state engineer.
253 (b) If a groundwater management plan that existed before May 1, 2006, is amended on
254 or after May 1, 2006, the amendment is subject to this section's provisions.
The motion passed unanimously
Jerry Olds, State Engineer answered questions from the committee.
Fred Finlinson, Attorney, Utah Water Coalition; David Litvin, President, Utah Mining Association and Todd Bingham, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hatch moved to pass H.B. 228, Groundwater Management Plan, out favorably as amended.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn.
The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Waddoups adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
Minutes reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary
______________________________
Michael Waddoups, Committee Chair