September 10, 11 and 12, 2007
McKibben Cafeteria Building
Wyoming State Fair Park
Douglas, Wyoming
Senator Gerald E. Geis, Co-Chairman
Representative Doug Samuelson, Co-Chairman
Senator Eli Bebout
Senator Wayne H. Johnson
Senator Drew Perkins
Senator Bill Vasey
Representative Stan Blake
Representative Bob Brechtel
Representative Ross Diercks
Representative Amy Edmonds
Representative Mark Semlek
Representative Matt Teeters
Representative Sue Wallis
Representative Dan Zwonitzer
Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney
Please refer to
Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
The Committee participated in the Governor's Natural Resource Tour on Monday and toured sites of interest to the Committee on Tuesday. The Committee received the report from the Animal Damage Management Board, recommendations from the Coalbed Methane Task Force and an update on rules for the classification of grey wolves from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
The Committee voted to sponsor: state trust land management account, federal grazing permits, farm loan program, state engineer rulemaking authority, water well drilling and pump installation licensure, animal damage management program and nursery stock.
The Committee voted not to sponsor: brand inspections fees and veterinarian student loan repayment program.
The Committee went on the Governor's Natural Resource tour in Converse County, including Glenrock, the Duncan Ranch, Boxelder Canyon and Esterbrook. Appendix 2 provides a schedule of Monday's tour.
The Committee toured areas of interest in Converse and Natrona County, including the State Fair facilities, the Duncan Ranch, the Bureau of Reclamation and Casper Mountain. Appendix 3 provides a schedule of Tuesday's tour.
Co-Chairman Geis called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic. The order of the meeting generally followed the prepared agenda [Appendix 4].
Senator Bebout moved that the minutes from the April Committee meeting be approved. Senator Johnson seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Lynne Boomgaarden, Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments provided background on the state land preservation and enhancement account [Appendix 5] and presented the draft bill 08LSO-0019.W4 - State trust land management account [Appendix 6].
Senator Vasey moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Senator Johnson. Representative Teeters moved to amend the bill to put a sunset date of 2013 on the new provisions. The amendment was seconded and passed. The bill passed 7-6-1 with Senator Bebout, Representatives Brechtel, Edmonds, Semlek Teeters and Wallis voting no and Senator Perkins excused. The bill will be a senate file.
Jim Magagna, Executive Vice-President of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association presented draft legislation on 08LSO-0061.W4 Federal grazing permits [Appendix 7].
Representative Semlek moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Representative Brechtel. Following discussion with no amendments, the motion passed 12-1-1 with Representative Zwonitzer voting no and Senator Perkins excused. The bill will be a house bill.
Mr. Magagna then provided background on the farm loan program [Appendix 8] and discussed the draft bill, 08LSO-0062.W3 Farm loan program [Appendix 9].
Senator Bebout moved to sponsor the draft bill. Representative Brechtel seconded the motion. Following discussion with no amendments, the motion passed 13-1 with Senator Perkins excused. The bill will be a senate file.
Bill Haagenson, Assistant State Forester provided updates on forest health, fire equipment, fire season preparedness and expressed concern over cutbacks in federal budgets. Mr. Haagenson will schedule a forest health meeting to be held at the start of the budget legislative session.
Mike Purcell, Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office updated the Committee on various irrigation projects, the status on various rehabilitation projects and the effects of the drought on irrigation and municipalities around the state [Appendix 10].
Phil Hartman and Roy Schatz discussed their dissatisfaction with the State Engineers Office [Appendices 11 through 14].
Pat Tyrrell, State Engineer, Harry Labonde, Deputy State Engineer, Lisa Lindeman, Groundwater Administrator and Loren Smith, Water Division III, responded to the allegations presented by Mr. Hartman and Mr. Schatz. Mr. Tyrrell then explained the draft legislation on 08LSO-0020.W2 - State engineer rulemaking authority [Appendix 15].
Senator Vasey moved to sponsor the draft bill seconded by Representative Blake. Representative Samuelson moved to amend the bill to add amendments that had been introduced in the house at the last session [Appendix 16]. Senator Bebout seconded the motion and the amendment passed.
Doug Chamberlain representing Madden Brothers at Torrington and Roger Huckfeldt spoke against the draft bill [Appendix 17].
Representative Teeters moved to amend the draft by striking section 2. Representative Brechtel seconded the motion. The Teeters amendment failed. Senator Bebout moved to amend the bill on Page 2, Section 2 to change the date from 2008 to 2006. Senator Vasey seconded the motion and the Bebout amendment passed. The bill passed 9-4-1. [Appendix 18].
Mr. Tyrrell, Mr. LaBonde and Ms. Lindeman explained draft bill 08LSO-0021.W5 - Water well drilling and pump installation licensure [Appendix 19].
Representative Zwonitzer moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Representative Blake. Senator Bebout moved to amend the draft bill on page 4 to allow reciprocity if the other state offers reciprocity. Senator Johnson seconded the amendment and the amendment passed. The bill passed 11-2-1 with Representatives Semlek and Wallis voting no and Senator Perkins excused [Appendix 20].
Representative Pat Childers and Aaron Clark with the Governors office presented the recommendations from the Coalbed Methane Task Force [Appendix 21]. Co-Chairman Samuelson moved to have LSO draft a bill based on the recommendations from the Task Force, seconded by Representative Semlek. The motion passed.
John Etchepare, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Hank Uhden, Technical Services Manager submitted Report #543 on the Animal Damage Management Program [Appendix 22]. Mr. Uhden discussed proposed Legislation 08LSO-0017.W1 Animal damage management program-amendment [Appendix 23].
Senator Vasey moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Representative Brechtel. Senator Vasey moved to amend the draft bill to repeal section 313 rather than to amend the section, seconded by Representative Brechtel. The amendment passed and the bill passed 14-0. It will be a Senate File [Appendix 24].
Mr. Uhden presented proposed legislation 08LSO-0018.W1 - Nursery stock [Appendix 25]. Representative Zwonitzer moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Representative Brechtel. With no amendments, the motion passed 13-1 with Senator Bebout excused. This will be a house bill.
Senator Jim Anderson, John Etchepare, Director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) and James Goodrich, State Fair Manager discussed the state fair facilities, their current usage and expectations for future usage [Appendices 26 and 27].
Mike and Norleen Cheser presented information and discussed their concerns with animal identification programs [Appendix 28].
The Committee welcomed new State Veterinarian Dr. Walter Cook and new Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Logan. Dr. Cook and Dr. Logan updated the Committee on livestock and wildlife diseases, including brucellosis, scrapies, bovine tuberculosis and trichomoniasis. Dr. Cook explained the trend in decreasing number of food animal veterinarians and urged the committee to consider a veterinarian student loan repayment program [Appendix 29].
Representative Zwonitzer moved to draft a bill for the veterinarian student loan repayment program. Representative Wallis seconded the motion. Following discussion, the motion failed 7-7 with Co-Chairman Geis, Senators Bebout and Johnson and Representatives Brechtel, Edmonds, Semlek and Teeters voting no.
Jim Schwartz, Director of the Livestock Board and Lee Romsa, State Brand Commissioner updated the Committee on animal welfare, brands, animal identification, premise identification and the bio-security laboratory. Mr. Schwartz presented background information and discussed the proposed Legislation 08LSO-0063.W3 Brand inspection fees [Appendices 30 and 31].
Senator Johnson moved to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Representative Edmonds.
Bryce Reece, Executive Vice-President of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, spoke against the draft legislation. Mr. Magagna and Brett Moline with the Wyoming Farm Bureau asked questions regarding the draft bill. The motion failed 3-11 with Senator Johnson and Representatives Edmonds and Teeters voting for the motion.
Scott Talbott, Division Chief at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department discussed the current status of the rules for classification of grey wolves and [Appendices 32 through 35].
Following the last meeting, the Committee received information from the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts [Appendix 36 ] and updated lists of reports due to the Committee [Appendices 37 and 38].
There being no further business, Co-Chairman Samuelson moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Representative Wallis and the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Senator Gerald Geis, Co-Chairman
Appendix |
|
Appendix Topic |
|
Appendix Description |
|
Appendix Provider |
1 |
|
Committee Sign-In Sheet |
|
Lists meeting attendees |
|
Legislative Service Office (LSO) |
2 |
|
Governor's Tour |
|
Provides a list of tour sites |
|
Department of Agriculture |
3 |
|
Committee Tour |
|
Provides a list of tour sites |
|
LSO |
4 |
|
Committee Meeting Agenda |
|
Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting |
|
LSO |
5 |
|
Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) |
|
State Trust Land Preservation and Enhancement Account |
|
OSLI |
6 |
|
OSLI |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0019.W4 - State trust land management account.
|
|
OSLI |
7 |
|
OSLI |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0061.W4 Federal grazing permits.
|
|
Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) |
8 |
|
OSLI |
|
Proposed Legislative Changes Farm Loan Program |
|
WSGA |
9 |
|
OSLI |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0062.W3 Farm loan program. |
|
WSGA |
10 |
|
Water Development |
|
Wyoming Water Development Accounts-Status Report |
|
Wyoming Water Development |
11 |
|
Irrigation Issues |
|
August 27, 2007 Letter |
|
Phil Hartman and Roy Schatz |
12 |
|
Irrigation Issues |
|
September 12, 2007 Letter |
|
Phil Hartman and Roy Schatz |
13 |
|
Irrigation Issues |
|
Ditch rights |
|
Phil Hartman and Roy Schatz |
14 |
|
Irrigation Issues |
|
Complaint/Appeal |
|
Phil Hartman and Roy Schatz |
15 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0020.W2 - State engineer rulemaking authority. |
|
State Engineer's Office |
16 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Proposed Amendments |
|
State Engineer |
17 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Spread Sheet |
|
Doug Chamberlain |
18 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0020.C1 - State engineer rulemaking authority. |
|
State Engineer's Office |
19 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0021.W5 - Water well drilling and pump installation licensure. |
|
LSO |
20 |
|
State Engineer |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0021.C1 - Water well drilling and pump installation licensure. |
|
LSO |
21 |
|
Coalbed Methane |
|
Recommendations |
|
LSO |
22 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
Report #543 Animal Damage Management Board |
|
Department of Agriculture |
23 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0017.W1 Animal damage management program-amendment. |
|
LSO |
24 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0017.C1 Animal damage management program-amendment. |
|
LSO |
25 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0018.W1 - Nursery stock. |
|
LSO |
26 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
August 21, 2007 Letter |
|
State Fair Manager |
27 |
|
Department of Agriculture |
|
State Fair Packet |
|
State Fair Manager |
28 |
|
Livestock Board |
|
Packet |
|
Norleen and Mike Cheser |
29 |
|
Livestock Board |
|
Veterinarian loan repayment program |
|
Livestock Board |
30 |
|
Livestock Board |
|
August 27, 2007 Memorandum |
|
Livestock Board |
31 |
|
Livestock Board |
|
Proposed Legislation 08LSO-0063.W3 Brand inspection fees. |
|
LSO |
32 |
|
Wolf Management |
|
Report #565 - Report on Rules for Classification of Grey Wolves |
|
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (G&F) |
33 |
|
Wolf Management |
|
Draft Chapter 21 Rules |
|
G&F |
34 |
|
Wolf Management |
|
Draft Chapter 28 Rules |
|
G&F |
35 |
|
Wolf Management |
|
Draft Chapter 47 Rules |
|
G&F |
36 |
|
Reports and Updates |
|
August 9, 2007 Letter |
|
Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts |
37 |
|
Reports and Updates |
|
September 7, 2007 Reports Due List |
|
LSO |
38 |
|
Reports and Updates |
|
September 7, 2007 Reports to Agriculture Committee |
|
LSO |