Link to Zipped WordPerfect Minutes 7K bytes

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE

Room C445, State Capitol, State Capitol Complex

February 26, 2009


Members Present:    Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair
    Rep. John Mathis, Vice Chair
    Rep. Mel Brown
    Rep. Jack Draxler
    Rep. Kerry Gibson
    Rep. James Gowans
    Rep. Neal Hendrickson
    Rep. Mike Noel
    Rep. Patrick Painter
    Rep. Phil Riesen
    Rep. Christine Watkins
    Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox
    Rep. Brad Winn

Members Excused:    Rep. Brad Dee

Staff Present:    Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
            Carrie Griffith, Committee Secretary
    
Note:        List of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes

Rep. Barrus called the meeting to order at 8:11 a.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Hendrickson moved to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2009 and January 24, 2009 meetings. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Brown, Rep. Gibson, Rep. Gowans, Rep. Noel and Rep. Winn absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 16    Resolution Amending Provision on Municipal Water Rights (Rep. K. McIff)

MOTION:    Rep. Painter moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 1 :    

             1     
  JOINT       RESOLUTION AMENDING PROVISION ON


The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Brown, Rep. Gibson, Rep. Gowans, Rep. Noel and Rep. Winn absent for the vote.

Rep. McIff explained the resolution to the committee.



Spoke for the bill:    Fred Finlinson, Utah Water Coalition

Spoke to the bill:    Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau

MOTION:    Rep. Riesen moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Draxler and Rep. Barrus voting in opposition. Rep. Gowans and Rep. Hendrickson were absent for the vote.

S.J.R. 17    Hydraulic Fracturing Joint Resolution (Sen. D. Hinkins) (Rep. M. Noel)

Rep. Hinkins, assisted by Lee Peacock, Utah Petroleum Association, explained the resolution to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    John Baza, Director, Utah Division Oil, Gas and Mining
            Rey Butcher, Questar Gas Corp.

MOTION:    Rep. Mathis moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Gowans absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Draxler moved to place the resolution on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Gowans absent for the vote.

H.B. 420    Carbon Emission Reduction Provisions Amendments (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Hendrickson moved to hold the bill in committee, in the possession of the Chair, and work with leadership to place it in Interim Study. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 183    National Animal Identification System (Rep. M. Brown)

Rep. Brown explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Brown moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 37 through 39 :    

             37          (a) require a person to participate in
{   :   }

             38          
{   (i)   } the national animal identification system      {   ; or   }

             39          
{   (ii) a system   } that requires livestock premise registration, identification, or tracking;



2.    Page 2, Line 50 :    

             50      identification system
{   or any other similar system   } that regulates livestock or poultry, including


The motion passed unanimously.

Spoke for the bill:    Terry Menlove, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
            Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau
            Grant Kohler, Dairy Farmers of Utah

MOTION:    Rep. Gowans moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

S.B. 38    Severance Tax Amendments (Sen. J. Valentine) (Rep. J. Dougall)

At the request of the sponsor, this bill was not heard.

Rep. Painter informed committee members that he's been working with the State Engineer on H.B. 389, "Applications For a Small Amount of Water," which will be coming to the Natural Resources Standing Committee next week. He invited anyone to contact him if there are questions or concerns.

Rep. Gowans asked that H.B. 383, "Water Rights Adjudication Amendments" be put on the Monday, March 2, 2009 agenda.

MOTION:    Rep. Wilcox moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.

Rep. Barrus adjourned the meeting at 9:14 a.m.



    
                    _________________________
    Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair