December 3 and 4, 2007
University of Wyoming Outreach Center
951 North Poplar
Casper, Wyoming
Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman
Senator Eli Bebout
Senator Stan Cooper
Senator Bob Fecht
Senator Bill Vasey
Representative Bob Brechtel
Representative Floyd Esquibel
Representative Debbie Hammons
Representative Elaine Harvey
Representative Saundra Meyer
Representative Lorraine Quarberg
Representative William "Jeb" Steward
Senator Grant C. Larson, Co-Chairman
Representative Amy Edmonds
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 heard from the Office of State Lands and Investments, the Wyoming Business Council, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Workforce Services. The Committee had discussions on coalbed methane, received background information regarding Wyoming's energy assets and had a presentation on Global Warming by the Shoshoni FFA Chapter.
The Committee accepted reports on the state water pollution revolving account, the workforce housing infrastructure program, the effectiveness of the investment program, the effects of tax exemptions for manufacturing equipment, the effects of tax exemptions on railroad rolling stock, the effects of tax exemptions for coal gasification and coal liquefaction facilities, air quality permit fees, water quality NPDES fees and hazardous waste fees.
The Committee will sponsor legislation on the state water pollution revolving account, an amendment to the economic development account, coalbed methane water management, natural gas export incentives and additional funding for landfill planning.
Co-Chairman Lockhart called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic. Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.
Representative Brechtel moved that the minutes from the September 26 and 27, 2007 meeting be approved. The motion was seconded and passed.
Lynne Boomgaarden, Director, Robert Tompkins, Grant and Loan Program Administrator and Debbie Dickson, Loan Coordinator with the Office of State Lands and Investments and Kevin Frank, Senior Analyst with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) provided background information and Report #592 on the state water pollution revolving account [Appendices 3 and 4]. The Committee accepted the report.
Ms. Boomgaarden presented the proposed legislation, 08LSO-0065.W4, – Revolving loan fund accounts [Appendix 5]. Senator Cooper moved for the Committee to sponsor the bill, seconded by Representative Brechtel. After discussion and several failed amendments, Senator Bebout moved on page 4, line 12 to delete "may" and insert "shall". The motion was seconded and passed. The Committee voted 10-2-2 to sponsor the bill. Senator Bebout and Representative Quarberg voted no and Senator Larson and Representative Edmonds were absent.
Mike Martin and Steve Achter with the Wyoming Business Council updated the Committee on the status of the Wyoming workforce housing rules. Mr. Achter presented Report #566 on the workforce housing infrastructure program [Appendix 6] and explained some corrections since submittal of the report. The Committee accepted the report as corrected.
Ben Avery, Director of Business and Industry discussed Report #205 & 228 on the effectiveness of investment program from [Appendix 7]. The Committee accepted the report.
Mr. Avery and Dan Noble, Excise Tax Administrator, Department of Revenue submitted Report # 354 on the effects of tax exemptions for manufacturing equipment [Appendices 8 and 9]. The Committee accepted the report.
Mr. Noble provided a report on railroad rolling stock [Appendix 10] which was accepted by the Committee.
Regarding Report #482 on the effects of sales and use tax exemption for coal gasification and coal liquefaction facilities, Mr. Noble reported that no facilities have been built. Co-Chairman Lockhart asked Mr. Noble to submit a letter to the Committee for a record of the report.
Mr. Avery presented background information on the challenge loan program [Appendix 11] and the proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0134.W2 – Economic development account [Appendix 12]. Senator Vasey moved to sponsor the bill with an amount of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000.00). Senator Bebout seconded the motion. The motion passed 12-2 with Co-Chairman Larson and Representative Edmonds being absent.
Pat Tyrrell, State Engineer and John Corra, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality provided background information [Appendices 13 and 14] and walked the Committee through the proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0108.W6 – Coalbed methane water management [Appendix 15]. Senator Vasey moved for the Committee to sponsor the bill, seconded by Senator Bebout. The bill was then held back until Tuesday afternoon, but will be recorded here for ease of tracking documents.
As the committee took the bill back up, Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Corra submitted a strike and underline version of the bill that captured discussions from the day before [Appendix 16]. Bruce Hinchey, with the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, explained additional amendments from other members of the public [Appendix 17]. After working approximately 30 amendments, the Committee voted 12-2 to sponsor the bill as amended [Appendix 18]. Co-Chairman Larson and Representative Edmonds were absent.
The Committee recessed until 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Co-Chairman Lockhart called the meeting back to order at 8:00 a.m.
Mark Doelger, Chairman and Brian Jefferies, Executive Director with the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, discussed price compression and provided an update on pipeline capacity and potential pipeline projects [Appendices 19 through 22]. The Equality State Policy Center had previously provided a letter for the Committee [Appendix 23]. Rather than ask the Committee to consider the proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0175.W5 – Natural gas export incentive [Appendix 24], Mr. Doelger asked the Committee to consider an alternative concept. The Committee agreed to table the draft bill and asked LSO to draft a bill reflecting the alternative position. The new bill draft will be routed to the Committee for postcard ballot.
John Dushinske, Vice-President of Marketing and Regulatory Affairs with Kern River Gas Transmission Company briefed the Committee on upcoming expansions to the Kern River pipeline system [Appendices 25 and 26].
Robert Tarantola representing Spectra Energy explained the proposed Bronco line [Appendix 27].
J. Paul Matheny and Shane Shultz with Questar summarized the Pinedale Anticline Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and discussed other issues in the Pinedale area [Appendix 28].
Mr. Corra, LeRoy Feusner, Solid and Hazardous Waste Administrator and Bob Doctor, Program Principal with Solid and Hazardous Waste Division updated the Committee on the regional landfills and the status of the landfill planning program [Appendices 29 through 31].
Representative Hammons moved to draft a letter of support of additional funding of $1.3 million to the Joint Appropriations Committee to be signed by the chairmen. Representative Esquibel seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Representative Hammons moved to draft a bill for the additional $1.3 million for landfill planning. The motion was seconded by Senator Fecht and passed unanimously. Representative Harvey volunteered to help work on the draft. The bill will be routed to the Committee for postcard ballot.
Mr. Corra and Rick Chancellor, AML Administrator explained the current status of AML funding and the current proposals from the Office of Surface Mining [Appendices 32 and 33]. The City of Rock Springs had submitted a letter requesting some of the AML funds [Appendix 34].
Mr. Corra and Dave Finley, Air Quality Administrator presented Report #266 on the air quality permit fees [Appendix 35]. Following discussion, the Committee accepted the report.
Mr. Corra submitted Report #358 on water quality NPDES fees [Appendix 36] and Report #593 on hazardous waste fees [Appendix 37]. The Committee accepted both reports following discussion.
Topic – Global Warming: Is it the cause of weather and climate changes worldwide?
One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation by the Shoshoni FFA Chapter on their FFA Agricultural Issues topic on global warming. The team won the competition at national competition this fall in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Shoshoni FFA team was represented by Oaklee Anderson, Chapter President; Ty McNamee, Chapter Vice President; Johnee Jo Campbell, Chapter Secretary; Nick Pince, Chapter Sentinel; Russell Goff, Chapter Reporter, Chase McNamee, Chapter Member and Crystal Woehlecke, Chapter Advisor.
Co-Chairman Lockhart, Senator Bebout and Representative Hammons briefed the Committee on the carbon sequestration discussions from the Joint Judiciary Committee meetings.
Co-Chairman Lockhart summarized the NCSL meeting regarding coal fired generation plants that he and Co-Chairman Larson attended.
Joan Evans, Director of Workforce Services updated the Committee on and initiatives of the agency, including workforce awareness, career readiness partnership, workforce development training fund, Wyoming workforce development council, sector strategies, corrections partnership, job assist and job corps [Appendix 38].
The Committee had information on all reports due to the Committee and some of the reports due to the Legislature [Appendices 39 through 42]. The Committee did not take any action on the reports.
Additional information from the Clean Coal Task Force and the School of Energy Resources were provided after requests at the September meeting. [Appendices 43 and 44].
There being no further business, Co-Chairman Larson adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman
Appendix |
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Appendix Topic |
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Appendix Description |
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Appendix Provider |
1 |
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Committee Sign-In Sheet |
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Lists meeting attendees |
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Legislative Service Office (LSO) |
2 |
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Committee Meeting Agenda |
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Provides an outline of the topics the Committee addressed at the meeting |
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LSO |
3 |
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Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) |
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Report #592 – Clean water revolving account |
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OSLI/Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) |
4 |
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OSLI |
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10-31-07 CWSRF Administration |
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OSLI |
5 |
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OLSI |
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Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0065.W4 - Revolving loan fund accounts. |
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LSO |
6 |
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Wyoming Business Council (WBC) |
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Report #566 – Workforce housing infrastructure program |
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WBC |
7 |
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WBC |
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Report #205 & 228 – Effectiveness of Investment Program |
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WBC/Treasurer |
8 |
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WBC |
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Report #354 – Exemptions for manufacturing equipment |
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WBC/Revenue |
9 |
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WBC |
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2006 Mean Earnings by Age, Gender, and Industry |
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WBC |
10 |
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WBC |
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Report – Exemptions for Railroad Rolling Stock |
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Revenue |
11 |
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WBC |
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10-3-07 Challenge Loan Funding Request |
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WBC |
12 |
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WBC |
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Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0134.W2 – Economic development account. |
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LSO |
13 |
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Coalbed Methane Water Management (CBM) |
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10-30-07 Letter on CBM watershed based permits |
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DEQ |
14 |
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CBM |
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11-8-2007 Letter on CBM water |
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DEQ |
15 |
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CBM |
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Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0108.W6 – Coalbed methane water management. |
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LSO |
16 |
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CBM |
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Strike and Underline amendments from floor discussions |
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SEQ/DEQ |
17 |
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CBM |
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Proposed Amendments |
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Petroleum Association of Wyoming |
18 |
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CBM |
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Legislation – 08LSO-0108 – Coalbed methane water management. |
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LSO |
19 |
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Wyoming Pipeline Authority (WPA) |
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Proposed natural gas pipeline export capacity incentive |
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WPA |
20 |
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WPA |
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Proposed natural gas pipeline export capacity incentive - alternative |
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WPA |
21 |
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WPA |
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September 20, 2007 Letter from the Governor |
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WPA |
22 |
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WPA |
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Chart – Who owns the natural gas export capacity out of the Rockies? |
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WPA |
23 |
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WPA |
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9-23-2007 E-Mail |
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Equality State Policy Center |
24 |
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WPA |
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Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0175.W5 – Natural gas export incentive. |
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LSO |
25 |
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Wyoming Energy Assets |
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Energizing the West – Positioned to Expand Brochure |
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Kern River Gas Transmission Company |
26 |
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Wyoming Energy Assets |
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Energizing the West |
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Kern River Gas Transmission Company |
27 |
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Wyoming Energy Assets |
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Packet |
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Spectra Energy |
28 |
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Wyoming Energy Assets |
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Pinedale SEIS |
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Questar |
29 |
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DEQ |
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11-1-07 Letter on landfill planning |
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DEQ |
30 |
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DEQ |
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Map – Solid waste management planning areas |
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DEQ |
31 |
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DEQ |
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Spreadsheet – on planning areas |
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DEQ |
32 |
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DEQ |
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10-30-07 Letter on status of AML funding |
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DEQ |
33 |
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DEQ |
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10-30-07 Letter on excess AML funds |
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DEQ |
34 |
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DEQ |
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11-9-07 Letter from Rock Springs |
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City of Rock Springs |
35 |
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DEQ |
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Report #266 – Air Quality fees |
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DEQ |
36 |
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DEQ |
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Report #358 – WYPDES program fees |
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DEQ |
37 |
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DEQ |
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Report #593 – Hazardous Waste facility fees |
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DEQ |
38 |
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Workforce Services |
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Packet |
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Department of Workforce Services |
39 |
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Reports and Updates |
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November 30, 2007 Report Due List |
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LSO |
40 |
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Reports and Updates |
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11-21-07 Reports due to Committee |
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LSO |
41 |
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Reports and Updates |
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Reports to Legislature |
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LSO |
42 |
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Reports and Updates |
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11-21-07 Reports due to Legislature |
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LSO |
43 |
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Reports and Updates |
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9-26-2007 Report of the Clean Coal Task Force |
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University of Wyoming |
44 |
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Reports and Updates |
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9-28-2007 Appendix A – School of Energy Resources |
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University of Wyoming |
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