MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
8:30 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.012
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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 Wednesday, September 22, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman Senator Bob Deuell Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Robert Nichols Senator Kel Seliger |
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Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair Senator Robert Duncan Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Mike Jackson Senator Carlos Uresti |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. The following business was transacted:
Chairman Fraser made opening remarks regarding Charge #2 on joint planning process for management of groundwater resources and monitor the progress of groundwater conservation districts' efforts to establish, before the statutory deadline, desired future conditions for aquifers.
The following invited witnesses testified before the committee on Charge #2:
Kevin Ward, Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board
Dr. Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Administrator of the Water Science and Conservation Division, Texas Water Development Board
L'Oreal Stepney, P.E., Deputy Director, Office of Water, TCEQ
Billy Howe, State Legislative Director, Texas Farm Bureau
Russell Johnson, McGinnis, Lochridge, and Kilgore
Luanna Buckner, Chair of the Groundwater Committee Texas Water Conservation Association
Jim Conkwright, Acting Executive Director, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Ken Kramer, Chapter Director, Lonestar Chapter Sierra Club
Senator Seliger assumed the chair.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair.
Chairman Fraser made opening remarks regarding Charge #1 comparing and analyzing differences in cost between immediate implementation of the State Water Plan compared to staged development over time.
The following invited witnesses testified before the committee on Charge #1:
Kevin Ward, Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board
Tommy O'Brien, Director of Water Utilities, City of Abilene
Tom Taylor, Executive Director, Upper Trinity Regional Water District
Chairman Fraser made opening remarks regarding Charge #4 studying the need for the state to regulate the drilling of new wells within proscribed depths and distances of Texas rivers, in order to prevent the draining of surface water from alluvial plains of river basins.
The following invited witness testified before the committee on Charge #4:
Caroline Runge, General Manager, Menard County Underground Water District & Hickory Underground Water Conservation District
Chairman Fraser opened public testimony on Charge #1, #2, and #4.
Chairman Fraser moved that there be a 3 minute time limit on public testimony. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The following public testimony on Charge #2 was heard before the committee:
Steve Kosub, San Antonio Water System
L.G. Raun, Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group
Alan Cockerell, Schertz Seguin Local Government Corp
Marvin W. Jones, Mesa Water
Bryan Gentsch, PhD., Texas Seed Trade Association
Senator Seliger assumed the chair.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair.
The following public testimony on groundwater was heard before the committee:
Jimmy Gaines, Texas Landowners Council
The following public testimony on Charge #1 was heard before the committee:
Stephen Box, Executive Director, Environmental Stewardship
The following public testimony on Charge #4 was heard before the committee:
Stephen Box, Executive Director, Environmental Stewardship
Sonya Klein, Real Edward's Conservation and Reclamation District
Chairman Fraser closed public testimony on Charge #1, #2, and #4. Without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 12:28 p.m. Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair
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Tatum Reagan, Clerk