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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


Members Present:        Sen. Michael Waddoups, Chair        
                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