MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Sixty-seventh Session
February 3, 1993
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman R. Hal Smith, at 8:45 a.m., on Wednesday, February 3, 1993, in Room 224 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Vice Chairman
Senator Ernest E. Adler
Senator Thomas J. Hickey
Senator Mark A. James
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
Senator Dina Titus
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst
OTHERS PRESENT:
R. Michael Turnipseed, State Engineer, Division of Water Resources
Terry Crawforth, Deputy Director, Department of Wildlife
Mr. Turnipseed gave a presentation regarding the Division of Water Resources (Exhibit C).
Senator Rhoads asked what was involved in filing a protest to an application for water, was a water engineer needed.
Mr. Turnipseed said a water engineer was not needed. A protest form must be accompanied with a $10 filing fee.
Senator Hickey asked what water quality standards had to be met when a mining company returned water to the river from which it had been drawn.
Mr. Turnipseed said those rules are governed by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the mines cannot return the water in a poorer quality than when it was drawn out. This rule stands the same for reinjection into the ground water.
Senator Neal asked what the purpose was for "monitoring wells." Were they supposed to suggest there is a level that cannot be exceeded or are there regulations governing the water level?
Mr. Turnipseed replied there were several uses for monitoring wells. It indicates when dewatering has been done or not and if there is any interference with anyone's water rights. Monitoring also indicates when the amount of water being pumped may decrease and how long it may take to recover the water once the mining company leaves.
Senator Hickey asked where the water comes from for mining use.
Mr. Turnipseed said high capacity wells are drilled into fracture systems into underground lakes or storage water.
Mr. Turnipseed said the legislature needs to clarify the law that was enacted in 1907 allowing changes of existing water rights in order to put some stability into the present water rights system.
Mr. Turnipseed's presentation to the committee was concluded.
* * * * *
Chairman Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 113 (S.B. 113).
SENATE BILL 113: Clarifies period of validity for certain hunting or fishing licenses.
Terry Crawforth, Deputy Director, Department of Wildlife, said S.B. 113 is a provision to clean up a conflict with Nevada Revised Statutes 502.015.
SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 113.
SENATOR RHOADS SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 113.
* * * * *
Senator Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 120 (S.B. 120).
SENATE BILL 120: Increases amount of change account used by department of wildlife.
Mr. Crawforth said this is a request to increase the department's change account from $300 to $500.
SENATOR RHOADS MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 120.
SENATOR TITUS SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 120.
* * * * *
Senator Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 131 (S.B. 131).
SENATE BILL 131: Defines phrase "to take" for purposes of certain statutory provisions relating to wildlife.
Mr. Crawforth said the word "take" needed a broader definition to stay in keeping with methods of hunting and fishing at the present time such as the commercial collection of reptiles.
Senator Smith asked what the difference was between netting and seining.
Mr. Crawforth replied seining was commonly used to collect minnows by dragging a large net through the water versus a dip net for landing a fish.
SENATOR HICKEY MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 131.
SENATOR JAMES SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 131.
* * * * *
Senator Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 134 (S.B. 134).
SENATE BILL 134: Expands definition of "to fish" to include catching of game amphibians.
Mr. Crawforth said this bill would include bullfrogs being caught, the only game amphibian in Nevada, under a fishing license.
SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 134.
SENATOR HICKEY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 134.
* * * * *
Senator Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 135 (S.B. 135).
SENATE BILL 135: Makes various changes to provisions unlawful sale of game fish.
Mr. Crawforth said S.B. 135 was primarily to do with commercial live wildlife that are imported and sold in Nevada. He said their concern is the protection of Nevada's wildlife resources from importations of other species that could jeopardize live game fish but would not prohibit the importation of dead game fish such as those sold commercially.
SENATOR HICKEY MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 135.
SENATOR NEAL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 135.
* * * * *
Senator Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill 136 (S.B. 136).
SENATE BILL 136: Authorizes director of department of wildlife to enter certain cooperative or reciprocal agreements with states not adjoining Nevada.
Mr. Crawforth said S.B. 136 is an expansion of the department's efforts in cooperative management of the state's wildlife with other agencies that do not adjoin Nevada, Colorado, Washington, etc.
SENATOR RHOADS MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 136.
SENATOR NEAL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Senator Smith closed the hearing on S.B. 136.
* * * * *
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Jane King,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Natural Resources
February 3, 1993
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