MINUTES OF THE

SENATE Committee on Natural Resources

 

Seventy-second Session

March 17, 2003

 

 

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 1:49 p.m., on Monday, March 17, 2003, in Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman

Senator Mike McGinness, Vice Chairman

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Mark Amodei

Senator Bob Coffin

Senator Michael Schneider

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Maggie Carlton (Excused)

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Fred Welden, Committee Policy Analyst

Gina Rasner, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Hugh Ricci, P.E., State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Don Henderson, Acting Director, State Department of Agriculture

 

Chairman Rhoads announced to the committee the work session on Senate Bill (S.B.) 67 and Senate Bill (S.B.) 127 would be postponed until a later date.

 

 

SENATE BlLL 67: Makes various changes to provisions governing regulation of highly hazardous substances and explosives.

 

SENATE BILL 127: Make various changes to provisions governing hazardous materials.

 

Chairman Rhoads stated Senator Joseph (Joe) M. Neal, Jr., Clark County Senatorial District No. 4, introduced S.B. 294 at the Senate floor meeting held on March 16, 2003. Chairman Rhoads said it should be re-referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

 

SENATE BILL 294: Makes various changes to enforce sovereign rights of State of Nevada. (BDR 15-713)

 

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO RE-REFER TO SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY S.B. 294.

 

SENATOR SCHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR CARLTON WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the hearing with Assembly Bill (A.B.) 90.

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 90: Increases limit on assessment for water distribution expenses incurred by State Engineer. (BDR 48-520)

 

Hugh Ricci, P.E., State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said A.B. 90 would increase the limitation of assessment for any stream system that has more than 200,000 acres of land under irrigation. This applies to the Humboldt River. Due to increasing expenses, it is necessary to have an increased limit on assessment for water distribution. The latest increase was in 1993. Mr. Ricci said there would be an impact on State and local governments who hold water rights under this particular stream system. On June 5, 2002, Mr. Ricci met with the Pershing County Water Conservation Board to seek their support A.B. 90. He said the Pershing County board members chose to be impartial because they were not comfortable with increasing assessment fees. Mr. Ricci also met with the Humboldt River Basin Water Authority Board on July 12, 2002, and the commission voted unanimously to support  A.B. 90.

 

Chairman Rhoads asked how much revenue a 5-cent assessment raises. Mr. Ricci replied for every 1 cent of assessment, approximately $6500 is raised. Chairman Rhoads asked if this was in the General Fund. Mr. Ricci replied this is in a separate account. The only time money may be expended from this account is for water commissioners’ expense dealing with the administration of the distribution of water from the Humboldt River.

 

Chairman Rhoads closed the hearing on A.B. 90 and opened the work session on S.B. 172.

 

SENATE BILL 172: Makes various changes concerning control of pests and plant diseases. (BDR 49-571)

 

Don Henderson, Acting Director, State Department of Agriculture, gave a brief overview of the proposed amendment (Exhibit C).

 

SENATOR MCGINNESS MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 172.

 

SENATOR AMODEI SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR CARLTON WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads closed the hearing on S.B. 172 and opened the hearing on A.B. 129.

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 129: Makes various changes concerning money deposited in certain accounts and funds for use by State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (BDR 40-519)

 

Chairman Rhoads told the committee there were no amendments to A.B. 129 and asked for a motion.

 

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO DO PASS A.B. 129.

 

SENATOR MCGINNESS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR CARLTON WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

*****

 

There being no further business, Chairman Rhoads adjourned the meeting at 2:01 p.m.

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                                                           

Gina Rasner,

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                                                                                         

Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman

 

 

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