S_AGR_2017A 03/09/2017 02:00 PM Committee Summary

02:02 PM -- Confirmation of Department Of Natural Resources Executive Director



Senator Randy Baumgardner announced that he would chair this meeting and that Senator Jack Tate will replace Senator Jerry Sonnenberg on the committee for this meeting only.



02:02 PM



Lauren Lambert, Deputy Legislative Director for Governor Hickenlooper, introduced Robert Randall, the Governor's appointment to be the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.



02:06 PM



Robert W. Randall of Denver, appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mike King, discussed his experience and interest in serving as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (Attachment A). He also responded to questions from the committee about natural resources challenges facing the state, the need for additional fee revenue for the Division of Parks and Wildlife, the regulation of oil and gas development, and other issues.



170309 AttachA.pdf

02:48 PM -- SB 17-202



Senator Coram, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-202 concerning the Species Conservation Trust Fund. The bill appropriates $1.5 million from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for programs submitted by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that are designed to conserve native species that have been listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law, or are likely to become candidate species as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The funds appropriated are available in FY 2017-18 and remain available for the designated purposes until they are fully expended.



The following persons testified on the bill:



02:49 PM -- Carlee Brown, Colorado Water Conservation Board, identified CWCB programs that will receive funding under the bill including the Platte River Endangered Species Recovery Program.



02:51 PM -- Emily Brummit, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.



02:52 PM -- Doug Krieger, Division of Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the Species Conservation Trust Fund helps the keep species from being listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.







02:54 PM -- David Klute, Division of Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the bill will help the division manage plague in prairie dog populations.



02:57 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram closed his remarks on the bill.

02:58 PM -- HB 17-1148



Senator Cook, prime sponsor, described the provisions of House Bill 17-1148 concerning the registration of industrial hemp cultivators. The bill requires applications for registration to cultivate industrial hemp for commercial purposes to identify by name each officer, director, member, partner or owner of at least 10 percent of the entity applying for registration and any other person who has managing or controlling authority over the entity. The Commissioner of Agriculture can deny an application for registration if any individual associated with the application violated the Colorado Industrial Hemp Act for up to three years before the application.



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:01 PM -- Duane Sinning, Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about the bill and enforcement of current regulations by the department.



03:14 PM -- Samantha Walsh, National Hemp Association, explained her organization is neutral on the bill and expressed concern about the lack of privacy protections for hemp producers.



03:21 PM -- Emily Ibach, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.











03:22 PM -- Kara Miller, Marijuana Industry Group, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the public availability of information about the identity of marijuana producers and business owners.



03:25 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Cooke closed his remarks on the bill.

03:28 PM -- HB 17-1076



Senator Coram and Senator Fenberg, co-prime sponsors, described the provisions of House Bill 17-1076 concerning artificial recharge of nontributary aquifer rules. Under current law, the State Engineer in the Department of Natural Resources, is required to promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. This bill adds the requirement that the State Engineer promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into a nontributary groundwater aquifer by July 1, 2018.



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:29 PM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the growing need for water and water storage in Colorado.



03:33 PM -- Courtney Hemenway, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the Centennial Water and Sanitation District uses aquifer storage and recovery to manage its water supply. He also discussed the cost of the permitting process for aquifer storage compared with surface water storage facilities.





03:37 PM -- Ralf Topper, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and identified water districts and municipal water providers that use aquifer storage and recovery to manage their water supplies.



03:41 PM -- Kevin Rein, Deputy State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, spoke in support of the bill and explained the difference between aquifer storage and recovery and aquifer recharge. He also discussed the advantages of storing water in nontributary aquifers and described the rule making process.



03:48 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram and Senator Fenberrg closed their remarks on the bill.

03:50 PM



The committee adjourned.



02:21 PM -- Confirmation of Parks And Wildlife Commission



Robert William Bray of Redvale, reappointed for a term expiring July 1, 2020, and as a representative of agriculture and west of the Continental Divide discussed his experience and interest in serving another term on the Parks and Wildlife Commission (Attachment B).



170309 AttachB.pdf















02:23 PM



Michelle Zimmerman of Breckenridge, reappointed for a term expiring July 1, 2020, and as a representative of a non-profit organization that promotes conservation and recognizes non-consumptive wildlife use, and west of the Continental Divide, discussed her experience and interest in serving another term on the Parks and Wildlife Commission (Attachment B).



02:27 PM



James "Jim" Vigil of Trinidad, reappointed for a term expiring July 1, 2020, and as a representative of agriculture, discussed his experience and interest in serving another term on the Parks and Wildlife Commission (Attachment B).



02:28 PM



The appointees responded to questions from the committee about recent Parks and Wildlife Commission policies concerning predator and big game management.