Committee Meeting Information

April 28 and 29, 2008

Riviera Lodge

Saratoga, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

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

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

Call To Order (April 28, 2008)

Co-Chairman Samuelson 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 2].  For the 2008 approved interim Committee studies see Appendix 3 and for the list of reports due to the Committee see Appendix 4.

 

Executive Summary

The Committee voted to draft the following legislation for discussion at the fall meeting:  state engineer rulemaking authority for electronic permitting, discharge water management, irrigation districts relating to subdivisions, state trust land management account, agricultural producer development program, weights and measures, fuel quality and blends, fertilizers, the cottage food industry, feral goats and anti-trust in agriculture.

 

The Committee received reports and updates on water litigation, water development projects, forest health, state trust lands, livestock and wildlife diseases, animal welfare, the brand inspection program, value added for agricultural products, sustainable agriculture and unfair trade practices.

 

Water and Water Management

State Engineer's Office

Deputy State Engineer Harry LaBonde updated the Committee on the current and potential litigation issues and rulemaking statues [Appendix 5].  Loren Smith, Superintendent of Water Division III explained how stream gaging is done in certain water basins and how the equipment is used in water management [Appendix 6].  Mr. LaBonde discussed coal-bed methane water management and walked the Committee through the 2008 introduced bill [Appendix 7]. 

 

Co-Chairman Geis moved to draft a bill for the September meeting to allow the state engineer's office to conduct electronic permitting for surface water.  Senator Bebout seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Co-Chairman Geis moved to draft a bill for the September meeting seconded by Representative Wallis. 

 

John Robitaille with the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Bryce Reece, Executive Vice-President of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, Margo Sabec representing Devon Energy, Jill Morrison representing the Powder River Basin Resource Council, Lynne Boomgaarden, Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioner and Pat O’Toole, rancher spoke generally in favor of the draft bill.  Most discussion favored as a starting point the senate version including the Senate Standing Committee amendments.

 

Following the discussion, the motion passed.

 

Water Development

Mike Purcell, Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office provided an update on proposed changes to the program criteria and discussed storage development strategy, construction, development and rehabilitation projects [Appendices 8 and 9].  Mr. Purcell also responded to issues relating to irrigation districts and subdivison pressures.  Mr. Reece presented a letter on behalf of Hageman & Brighton regarding irrigation districts and subdivisions [Appendix 10].

 

Co-Chairman Geis moved to draft a bill for the fall meeting dealing with the liability issues of irrigation districts relating to subdivisions. 

 

Forest Health

Assistant State Forester Bill Haagenson provided background on the statewide forest assessment, forest fragmentation, wildfire risk, fish and wildlife habitat, economic potential and community forestry [Appendix 11]. 

 

Mr. Reece expressed concerns regarding a specific rural fire response in Campbell County.  Co-chairman Samuelson asked for research for the fall meeting on landowner rights in fighting fire on their own property and the duty of fire districts to respond, including any hierarchy of response to a rural fire.

 

Office of State Lands and Investments

Director Lynne Boomgaarden, Deputy Director Susan Child, Appraisal Supervisor Fred Pannell and Surface Assistant Director Jim Arnold with the Office of State Lands and Investments submitted information on trust land management objectives, real estate updates, trust lands affected by encroaching municipalities and updates on the Duncan Ranch, the X Bar Ranch exchange and forestry projects [Appendices 12 through 17].

 

Ms. Boomgaarden explained draft language on the state trust land management account [Appendix 18].  Co-Chairman Geis moved to draft a bill for the September meeting seconded by Representative Wallis.  The motion passed.

 

Cindy Garretson-Weibel, Agribusiness Director with the Wyoming Business Council and Richard Lengel, Loan Representative with the Colorado Rural Rehabilitation Corporation discussed the agriculture programs under the Wyoming Business Council and beginning agriculture producer loan activity [Appendices 19 through 23].

 

Representative Wallis moved to draft a bill for the fall meeting for an agricultural producer development program.  The motion was seconded by Representative Edmonds and passed.

 

 

 

Department of Agriculture

Director John Etchepare, Deputy Director Jason Fearneyhough, Technical Services Manager Hank Uhden, Consumer Health Services Manager Dean Finkenbinder and Analytical Laboratory Manager Mike Leath with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture updated the Committee on the progress of country of origin labeling, meat inspections, research laboratories, state fair issues and natural resource plans.

 

Mr. Uhden explained the need for revisions to the weights and measures statutes and presented draft language [Appendices 24 through 27] to the Committee.  Mr. Leath presented proposed changes to fuel quality and blends [Appendix 28]. 

 

Mr. Uhden and Keith Kennedy with the Wyoming Crop Improvement Association briefed federal issues relating to pesticides and fertilizers.  Mr. Finkenbinder presented an issues paper on the cottage food industry [Appendix 29]. 

 

Senator Bebout moved to draft bills for the fall meeting on weights and measures, fuel quality and blends, fertilizers and the cottage food industry.  Representative Wallis seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Meeting Recess

The Committee recessed until 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

 

 

 

Call To Order (April 29, 2008)

Co-Chairman Samuelson, called the meeting back to order at 8:00 a.m. 

 

Livestock Board

Update on Livestock and Wildlife Diseases

Dr. Walter Cook, State Veterinarian and Dr. Jim Logan, Assistant State Veterinarian updated the Committee on livestock and wildlife diseases, including trichomoniasis, brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, rabies, Blue Tongue and wildlife issues related to feral goats.

 

Co-Chairman Geis moved to have a bill drafted for discussion at the fall meeting on the feral goat issue.  The motion was seconded by Representative Wallis and passed. 

 

Jim Schwartz, Director of the Livestock Board, Phil Marton, Chairman of the Livestock Board and Lee Romsa, State Brand Commissioner presented information on animal welfare and an update on the brand inspection program [Appendices 30 through 38].

 

Wyoming Business Council

Ms. Garretson-Weibel and Jim Henn, Meat Marketing Manager with the Wyoming Business Council discussed value added for agricultural products, agricultural businesses and sustainable agriculture [Appendices 39 through 43].

 

Unfair Trade Practices

Randy Stevenson, Board of Directors and Vice President of Organization for Competitive Markets and Terry Stevenson presented information on unfair competitive markets in agriculture and the effects on small businesses in Wyoming [Appendices 44 through 47].

 

Scott Zimmerman with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union related experiences with the JBS merger on the Swift Plant in Greeley, Colorado.

 

Representative Edmonds moved to draft a bill for the fall meeting regarding antitrust in agriculture.  The motion was seconded by Senator Perkins and passed.  The chairs will draft a letter to the Attorney General regarding the JBS merger.

 

Meeting Adjournment

The fall meeting will be in Green River, Wyoming on September 29 and 30, 2008.  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at noon. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Representative Doug Samuelson, Co-Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office
2		Committee Meeting Agenda		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting		Legislative Service Office (LSO)
3		Executive Summary		2008 Approved Interim Committee Studies		LSO
4		Executive Summary		April 10, 2008 Reports Due List		LSO
5		State Engineer		May 8, 2008 Status Report on Montana v. Wyoming		State Engineer's Office
6		State Engineer		PowerPoint – Stream Gaging and River Management Update		State Engineer's Office
7		State Engineer		Proposed Legislation – 2008 SF0046 - Discharged water management.		LSO
8		Water Development Office		Wyoming Water Development Program Update		Water Development Office
9		Water Development Office		Example – Benefits and Effects – Storage Project		Water Development Office
10		Water Development Office		April 9, 2008 Letter		Hageman & Brighton
11		Forest Health Update		Packet from Forest Service		State Forester
12		Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI)		Office of State Lands and Investments Mission Statement		OSLI
13		OSLI		Duncan Ranch Overview		OSLI
14		OSLI		X Bar Ranch Overview		OSLI
15		OSLI		Trust Land Preservation and Enhancement Account Projects		OSLI
16		OSLI		Preservation and Enhancement Account Project Status		OSLI
17		OSLI		Trust Land Preservation and Enhancement Account – Forestry Division Potential FY08 Projects		OSLI
18		OSLI		Proposed Legislation – 2008 SF0058 - State trust land management account.		LSO
19		OSLI		Farm Loan Overview		OSLI
20		OSLI		Guaranteed Farm Loan Programs		Wyoming Business Council (WBC)
21		OSLI		Talking Points for Beginning agricultural producer development bonds		WBC
22		OSLI		Livestock Loans brochure		Colorado Rural Rehabilitation Corporation (CRRC)
23		OSLI		Real Estate Loans brochure		CRRC
24		Department of Agriculture		Wyoming Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Survey 2007		Department of Agriculture
25		Department of Agriculture		Comments from Working Meetings		Department of Agriculture
26		Department of Agriculture		Issue paper – Weights and Measures		Department of Agriculture
27		Department of Agriculture		Chapter X – Wyoming weights and measures law		Department of Agriculture
28		Department of Agriculture		Chapter 7 – Standards for antifreeze and petroleum products		Department of Agriculture
29		Department of Agriculture		Briefing Paper – Cottage Food Industry		Department of Agriculture
30		Livestock Board		Total Brand Inspections 2000-2007		Livestock Board
31		Livestock Board		Memorandum – Inspection Fee Revenue Estimates		Livestock Board
32		Livestock Board		2009 Brand Renewal		Livestock Board
33		Livestock Board		Form B - 115302		Livestock Board
34		Livestock Board		Form B - 115301		Livestock Board
35		Livestock Board		Form B - 115124		Livestock Board
36		Livestock Board		Form B - 42711		Livestock Board
37		Livestock Board		Form B - 114600		Livestock Board
38		Livestock Board		Potential Animal Welfare Legislation Considerations		Livestock Board
39		Wyoming Business Council (WBC)		Talking Points Power Point		WBC
40		WBC		Activities Packet		WBC
41		WBC		Wyoming First Products Catalog – Made in Wyoming		WBC
42		WBC		Wyoming Agricultural Statistics 2007		WBC
43		WBC		Farm, Ranch & Agribusiness Directory – 4th Edition		WBC
44		Unfair Trade Practices		The Elements of a Competitive Market		Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM)
45		Unfair Trade Practices		Making Wyoming Small Business Friendly		OCM
46		Unfair Trade Practices		Balance of Power Flowchart		OCM
47		Unfair Trade Practices		April 9, 2008 R-CALF Letter		OCM