H.B. 120 Enrolled

1

SNAKE VALLEY AQUIFER RESEARCH TEAM
2 AND ADVISORY COUNCIL
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Bradley A. Winn
6 Senate Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill creates the Snake Valley Aquifer Research Team and Advisory Council.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . creates the Snake Valley Aquifer Research Team;
14 . creates the Snake Valley Aquifer Advisory Council;
15 . establishes council duties; and
16 . establishes research team data and information collection and reporting duties.
17 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 63J-4-603, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 381 and renumbered and
24 amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
25 ENACTS:
26 63C-12-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27 63C-12-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
28 63C-12-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 63C-12-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953

30 63C-12-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 63C-12-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 63C-12-107, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 63C-12-108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34
35 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36 Section 1. Section 63C-12-101 is enacted to read:
37 CHAPTER 12. SNAKE VALLEY AQUIFER ADVISORY COUNCIL
38 63C-12-101. Title.
39 This chapter is known as the "Snake Valley Aquifer Advisory Council."
40 Section 2. Section 63C-12-102 is enacted to read:
41 63C-12-102. Definitions.
42 As used in this chapter:
43 (1) "Council" means the Snake Valley Aquifer Advisory Council created in Section
44 63C-12-103 .
45 (2) "Research team" means the Snake Valley Research Team created in Section
46 63C-12-107 .
47 Section 3. Section 63C-12-103 is enacted to read:
48 63C-12-103. Council creation -- Members -- Terms.
49 (1) There is created a state advisory council known as the "Snake Valley Aquifer
50 Advisory Council."
51 (2) The advisory council is composed of the following seven members:
52 (a) the governor or the governor's designee; and
53 (b) six members appointed by the governor as follows:
54 (i) two county commissioners, from individuals recommended by an organization that
55 represents counties in the state, who are residents of:
56 (A) Tooele County;
57 (B) Juab County;

58 (C) Millard County; or
59 (D) Beaver County;
60 (ii) one elected representative of Salt Lake County government, from individuals
61 recommended by an organization that represents counties in the state;
62 (iii) two residents of:
63 (A) Tooele County;
64 (B) Juab County;
65 (C) Millard County; or
66 (D) Beaver County; and
67 (iv) a representative of the Confederate Tribes of Goshute Reservation.
68 (3) A member appointed under Subsection (2)(b) is appointed to a two-year term.
69 (4) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3), the governor shall, at the time
70 of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of council
71 members appointed under Subsection (2)(b) are staggered so that approximately half of the
72 council is appointed every two years.
73 (5) The governor shall appoint a chairperson.
74 (6) If a vacancy occurs in council membership for any reason the replacement shall be
75 appointed for the unexpired term in the same manner as the vacated member was appointed.
76 Section 4. Section 63C-12-104 is enacted to read:
77 63C-12-104. Advisory council duties -- Meetings.
78 (1) The council shall:
79 (a) meet at least annually but may also meet at the call of:
80 (i) the chair; or
81 (ii) at least two council members;
82 (b) provide advice to the research team, including recommendations concerning the
83 type of data and information gathered by the research team;
84 (c) review the data and information gathered and reported by the research team,
85 including baseline data and changes from baseline data; and

86 (d) act as liaison between the research team and the persons represented by the
87 council.
88 (2) A majority of the council members constitute a quorum for the transaction of
89 council business.
90 (3) The council may advise the governor and the Legislature on any issue relating to
91 its review under Subsection (1)(c).
92 Section 5. Section 63C-12-105 is enacted to read:
93 63C-12-105. Compensation of members -- Expenses.
94 (1) This section applies to members of the council.
95 (2) (a) A member who is not a government employee may not receive compensation or
96 benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the
97 performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance
98 under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
99 (b) A member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for the member's service.
100 (3) (a) A state government officer and employee member who does not receive salary,
101 per diem, or expenses from the agency the member represents for the member's service may
102 receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at
103 the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
104 (b) A state government officer and employee member may decline to receive per diem
105 and expenses for the member's service.
106 (4) (a) A local government member who does not receive salary, per diem, or expenses
107 from the entity that the member represents for the member's service may receive per diem and
108 expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by
109 the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
110 (b) A local government member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for the
111 member's service.
112 Section 6. Section 63C-12-106 is enacted to read:
113 63C-12-106. Staff.

114 The director of the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office shall provide staff services
115 to the council.
116 Section 7. Section 63C-12-107 is enacted to read:
117 63C-12-107. Research team.
118 (1) There is created a Snake Valley Aquifer Research Team composed of the following
119 four members:
120 (a) a representative of the Division of Air Quality, appointed by the executive director
121 of the Department of Environmental Quality;
122 (b) a representative of the Department of Agriculture and Food, appointed by the
123 commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food;
124 (c) the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources or the executive
125 director's designee; and
126 (d) the director of the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office.
127 (2) The director of the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office shall coordinate and
128 direct the research team's data and information compilation and reporting required by Section
129 63C-12-108 .
130 Section 8. Section 63C-12-108 is enacted to read:
131 63C-12-108. Research team duties.
132 The research team shall:
133 (1) compile existing scientific research baseline data on the potential impact of the use
134 of water resources in the interstate groundwater flow system specified in the Lincoln County
135 Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-424, including the
136 impact on:
137 (a) surface water and groundwater;
138 (b) vegetation, including invasive species;
139 (c) agriculture;
140 (d) soils;
141 (e) air quality;

142 (f) wildlife;
143 (g) the geologic integrity of the aquifer; and
144 (h) socioeconomic conditions;
145 (2) compile changes to the baseline data compiled under Subsection (1);
146 (3) seek to enter into cooperative agreements with governmental entities to share
147 relevant data and information;
148 (4) provide an annual data and information report to the council; and
149 (5) seek the voluntary participation of experts in academia and the private sector in the
150 activities of the research team.
151 Section 9. Section 63J-4-603 is amended to read:
152 63J-4-603. Powers and duties of coordinator and office.
153 (1) The coordinator and the office shall:
154 (a) assist the state planning coordinator in fulfilling the duties outlined in Section
155 63J-4-401 as those duties relate to the development of public lands policies by:
156 (i) developing cooperative contracts and agreements between the state, political
157 subdivisions, and agencies of the federal government for involvement in the development of
158 public lands policies;
159 (ii) producing research, documents, maps, studies, analysis, or other information that
160 supports the state's participation in the development of public lands policy;
161 (iii) preparing comments to ensure that the positions of the state and political
162 subdivisions are considered in the development of public lands policy;
163 (iv) partnering with state agencies and political subdivisions in an effort to:
164 (A) prepare coordinated public lands policies;
165 (B) develop consistency reviews and responses to public lands policies;
166 (C) develop management plans that relate to public lands policies; and
167 (D) develop and maintain a statewide land use plan that is based on cooperation and in
168 conjunction with political subdivisions; and
169 (v) providing other information or services related to public lands policies as requested

170 by the state planning coordinator; [and]
171 (b) facilitate and coordinate the exchange of information, comments, and
172 recommendations on public lands policies between and among:
173 (i) state agencies;
174 (ii) political subdivisions;
175 (iii) the Office of Rural Development created under Section 63M-1-1602 ;
176 (iv) the Resource Development Coordinating Committee created under Section
177 63J-4-501 ;
178 (v) School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration created under Section
179 53C-1-201 ;
180 (vi) the committee created under Section 63F-1-508 to award grants to counties to
181 inventory and map R.S. 2477 rights-of-way, associated structures, and other features; and
182 (vii) the Constitutional Defense Council created under Section 63C-4-101 ;
183 (c) perform the duties established in Title 9, Chapter 8, Part 3, Antiquities, and Title 9,
184 Chapter 8, Part 4, Historic Sites; [and]
185 (d) consistent with other statutory duties, encourage agencies to responsibly preserve
186 archaeological resources[.];
187 (e) provide staff services to the Snake Valley Aquifer Advisory Council created in
188 Section 63C-12-103 ; and
189 (f) coordinate and direct the Snake Valley Aquifer Research Team created in Section
190 63C-12-107 .
191 (2) In providing assistance to the state planning coordinator under Subsection (1)(a),
192 the coordinator and office shall take into consideration the:
193 (a) findings provided under Subsections 63J-4-401 (6) and (7); and
194 (b) recommendations of the council.