MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

10:00 a.m.

Erik Jonsson Public Library, 1st Floor Auditorium

Dallas, Texas

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in the Erik Jonsson Public Library, 1st Floor Auditorium, Dallas, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Kim Brimer

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Kel Seliger

 

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Chairman Averitt delivered opening remarks.

 

The following witnesses testified before the committee:

 

On implementation of the State Water Plan

Carolyn Brittin, Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Planning and Information Resources, Texas Water Development Board

 

On reservoirs designated in Senate Bill 3

Bill Mullican, Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Science and Conservation, Texas Water Development Board

 

 

 

On regional water supply and conservation

Testifying as a panel:

Jody Puckett, Water Utilities Director, Dallas Water Utilities

Jim Parks, General Manager, North Texas Municipal Water District

Jim Oliver, General Manager, Tarrant Regional Water District

 

On the Region C Study Commission

Testifying as a panel:

Jim Parks, General Manager, North Texas Municipal Water District

Tom Duckert, Regional EHS Manager, International Paper

 

The chair temporarily opened public testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee on the Region C Study Commission:

 

David A. Nabors, landowner

George Frost, Region D

 

Senator Estes assumed the Chair.

 

John D McConnell, Public

Mark Newhouser, Bois d' Arc MUD

Nancy Clements, Clements Tree Farm

Red Birdsong, Self

Gary Cheatwood, Sr., Self

Gary Cheatwood, Jr., Self

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair.

 

The chair resumed invited testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee:

 

On Surface Water Salinity

Testifying as a panel:

Herman Settemeyer, Interstate Compacts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Supply Division

Matt Phillips, Government and Customer Relations Manager, Brazos River Authority

J.W. Thrasher, Commissioner, Pecos River Interstate Compact Commission

Allan Jones, Director, Texas Water Resources Institute

Alan Plummer, Chairman of the Board, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc.

Sonny Kretzschmar, Project Manager, HDR Engineering, Inc.

 

On the Dam Safety Audit Report

Testifying as a panel:

Michael Stiernberg, Assistant Project Manager, State Auditor's Office

John Young, Audit Manager, State Auditor's Office

 

On an overview of Dam Safety

Warren Samuelson, Dam Safety Program Coordinator, Field Operations Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

John Sadlier, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

 

On Dam Safety

Testifying as a panel:

Rex Isom, Executive Director, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

John Foster, Statewide Programs Officer, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

Mark Jordan, Manager, River Management Services, Lower Colorado River Authority

Louie Verreault, Dam Safety Engineer, Tarrant Regional Water District

Dean Robbins, Assistant General Manager, TWCA

Steve Bednarz, United State Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

The chair reopened public testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee:

 

Kathy Pedroso, Self

 

The following witnesses did not testify before the committee, but provided written testimony:

Tamara S. Trail, Texas Wildlife Association

 

The following witnesses registered but did not testify before the committee:

Glenda Callaway, Galveston Bay Foundation

Doug Wadley, International Paper

Tommy Spruill, Titus County FWSD

Michael Banks, Friends of the Neches River

Molly Clements Berridge, Landowner, Tree Farmer

 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Teddy Carter, Clerk