MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Sixty-seventh Session
February 4, 1993
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman R. Hal Smith, at 8:35 a.m., on Thursday, February 4, 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 Dina Titus
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst
Rayanne Francis, Senate Committee Secretary
Susanna Martin, Reproduction Operator
OTHERS PRESENT:
Stan Warren, Lobbyist, Sierra Pacific Resources
Susan Oldham, Director, Government Relations, Sierra Pacific
Power Company (Reno, Nevada)
Thomas H. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Summit Engineering Corporation
John B. Hester, Director, Washoe County Department of
Comprehensive Planning
David R. Roundtree, Manager, Washoe County Regional Water
Management Agency
Terry Reynolds, City Manager, City of Sparks
* * * * *
Stan Warren, Lobbyist, Sierra Pacific Resources (and its subsidiaries), introduced himself to members of the committee. Mr. Warren commented his presentation would describe the negotiated settlement which was enacted and authorized by Congress regarding water coming out of the Tahoe Basin into Pyramid Lake. He also mentioned his presentation would include a brief overview on Chalk Bluff (a new water treatment plant being constructed in Reno, Nevada), and Eco-Vision.
Mr. Warren introduced Susan Oldham, Director, Government Relations, Sierra Pacific Power Company (Reno, Nevada) to members of the committee. He commented Ms. Oldham was also a water attorney and played a significant part in developing and resolving the negotiated settlement on the Truckee River.
Ms. Oldham briefly reviewed a handout she had provided to committee members, entitled "Pioneering New solutions: Directing Our Destiny" (Exhibit C). She outlined a section of this publication (page 25), by describing a regional water management innovation in Park City, Utah.
At this point, Ms. Oldham presented a slide show to members of the committee. Her slide presentation addressed four different areas of concern: 1) the Truckee River negotiated settlement; 2) Environmental Protection Agency regulations; 3) regional drought reserves; and 4) the Chalk Bluff water treatment plant.
Thomas H. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Summit Engineering Corporation, introduced himself to members of the committee. He also presented a brief slide show addressing the current status of the Eco-Vision project, its mission and projected benefits to northern Nevada.
Senator Rhoads inquired if Mr. Gallagher felt the new presiden-tial administration had a more positive attitude on financing water projects than the previous administration. Mr. Gallagher anticipated several changes could take place, but admitted he had not kept up on current events. Senator Rhoads asked if water project financing would come, primarily, from the federal government. Mr. Gallagher agreed and explained federal funding was currently available for the de-watering of Fallon, Nevada.
Senator James asked if Summit Engineering was attempting to determine whether or not water in the fractured rock systems migrate to and recharge the hydrologic basins in the alluvium. Mr. Gallagher responded by saying Summit Engineering was attempting to determine whether or not this was the case. He continued by saying, in many cases, the water in the fractured rock will be a recharge mechanism to basin-fill alluviums. Mr. Gallagher said one of the major areas of concern related to the water discharge taking place in large salt flats due to the fact water is capable of evaporating from depths of as much as 30' underground.
Senator Hickey asked Mr. Gallagher to describe the time frame involved in completing the Eco-Vision project. Mr. Gallagher said Phase 1, involving the project's design, is complete. He explained Phase 2, which identifies target areas for further water exploration, should be complete by mid-April, 1993. Upon completion of this phase, he said a determination would be made on whether adequate water resources are available (in large enough quantities) to make Eco-Vision an economically feasible project. If Phase 2 results are positive, Phase 3 will commence and involve conducting detailed geophysical analyses of the target areas.
Chairman Smith encouraged Mr. Warren, Ms. Oldham and Mr. Gallagher to keep members of the committee informed of Eco-Vision's progress.
John B. Hester, Director, Washoe County Department of Comprehen-sive Planning, introduced himself to members of the committee. Mr. Hester's testimony was derived from a handout, entitled "Washoe County Water Resources" (Exhibit D).
David R. Roundtree, Manager, Washoe County Regional Water Management Agency, introduced himself to members of the committee. Mr. Roundtree utilized reference material from Exhibit D by summarizing Washoe County's Regional Water Supply and Quality Study.
Terry Reynolds, City Manager, City of Sparks, introduced himself to members of the committee. Mr. Reynolds testified on Washoe County's Consolidated Approach to Water Quality, described in Exhibit D.
Chairman Smith thanked the presenters for their time and complimented them on the content and quality of information supplied to members of the committee.
* * * * *
There being no further business before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Smith adjourned the hearing at 10:00 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Rayanne J. Francis,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Natural Resources
February 4, 1993
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