Committee Meeting Information

June 5, 2008

Wyoming Water Development Office

Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Gerald E. Geis, CoChairman

Representative Rodney “Pete” Anderson, CoChairman

 

Senator Rae Lynn Job

Senator Drew Perkins

Senator Chuck Townsend

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Stanley Blake

Representative Ross Diercks

Representative Owen Petersen

Representative Lorraine Quarberg

 

 

Committee Members Absent

Senator Pat Aullman

Representative Frank Philp

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Mark Quiner, Assistant Director

 

Others Present at Meeting

Wyoming Water Development Office: Mike Purcell, Director

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

 

A joint meeting of the Select Water Committee and the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) was held on June 5, 2008.  The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.  The order of the meeting generally followed the prepared agenda, Appendix 2.  The purpose of the meeting for the Select Water Committee was to begin its approved interim work including the oversight and approval of certain water project documents.

 

Approval of Minutes

Representative Quarberg moved the minutes of the January 15, 2008 meeting of the Select Water Committee be approved.  The motion passed.

 

Planning Contract Approval

Following explanation by Mr. Jon Wade of the Wyoming Water Development Office, the Committee approved the following planning division contract documents:

 

 

 

University of Wyoming - MOUs

Mr. Jon Wade and Mr. Greg Kerr of the University of Wyoming explained the two proposed Memoranda of Understanding with the University of Wyoming Office of Water Programs and the Water Research Program.

 

As for the Office of Water Programs, the Legislature appropriated $165,000 for the biennium to fund the office.  Water Development relies upon the office to conduct research for certain water-related issues.

 

Mr. Kerr explained that the Water Research Program is authorized $300,000 in matching money with the U.S. Geological Survey to fund specific research projects.  Mr. Kerr explained how the projects are selected.

 

Following discussion, CoChairman Anderson moved the MOUs be approved.  The motion passed.

 

Operating Criteria for the Wyoming Water Development Program

Mr. Purcell explained the proposed changes to the rules and the comments received by interested parties on the rules.

 

Following discussion, Representative Quarberg moved the rules be approved.  The motion passed.

 

Small Water Project Program

Mr. Purcell explained the proposed criteria for the small water project program (SWPP).  The Commission approved a motion to conditionally approve the criteria following a coordinating meeting with certain state agencies including the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Game and Fish as well as the Wyoming Conservation Districts and representatives from the Select Natural Resource Fund Committee and consider their recommendations at the August meeting of the Commission and the Select Water Committee.

 

Following discussion, Representative Quarberg moved the Committee adopt the same motion.  The motion failed on a tie vote.

 

Small Water Project Application Variance

Mr. Purcell explained that given the revised criteria of small water projects above, future applications for the projects should be received by January 1 of each year to be considered by the WWDC at its March meeting.  WWDC will consider applications for small water project funding during its meeting in August of 2008.

 

Corps of Engineers Board of Appeals as proposed by Senator John Barrasso

Mr. Purcell explained the letter of support from the WWDC interested members establishing a Corps of Engineers Board of Appeals for applicants for permits under the Clean Water Act.  This board would give applicants the opportunity to present evidence to an independent third party to resolve issues relating to a proposed project's purpose and the need for a record of decision.

 

Following discussion, CoChairman Anderson moved that a similar letter of support be drafted for the signatures of interested Committee members.  The motion passed.

 

Next meeting

Mr. Purcell announced the next joint meeting of the WWDC and the Select Water Committee will be August 20 – 22, 2008 in Alpine, Wyoming.  A workshop will be held on August 20, tour on August 21, and meeting on August 22.

 

Intended Use Plan – Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program

Mr. Wade Verplancke of the WWDO explained the proposed Intended Use Plan (IUP) for the safe drinking water program for 2009.  The plan is generally presented in December for implementation the following year, but the EPA has recently mandated that the IUP will follow a state's fiscal year schedule.  The plan also included recommendations for project funding for the upcoming year.

 

No action was needed from the Committee, the plan was submitted for their review and comment. 

 

Request for Additional Funding to Attend Workshops

CoChairman Anderson moved that the Committee ask the Management Council for additional funding for interested Committee members to attend a Workshop on the subject of water storage project opportunities in the Green River Basin in this state.  The motion passed.

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Geis adjourned the meeting at 11 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Gerald E. Geis, 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

 

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