MINUTES OF THE

      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      February 12, 1993

 

 

 

 

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman R. Hal Smith, at 8:40 a.m., on Friday, February 12, 1993, in Room 205/206 at Cashman Field Center, Las Vegas, 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 Mark A. James

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Senator Thomas J. Hickey

Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.

Senator Dina Titus

 

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

Assemblyman Stephanie S. Smith

 

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst

Rayanne Francis, Senate Committee Secretary

Caroline Allen, Senate Committee Secretary

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Robert S. Hadfield, Executive Director, Nevada Association of

  Counties

Michael Winters, General Manager, Mesquite Farmstead Water

  Association

Bill Lee, Mayor, City of Mesquite

Sam Reber, Secretary of Board, Mesquite Farmstead Water

  Association

Larry Brown, Representative of the Las Vegas Valley Water

  District

      * * * * *

 

SENATE BILL (S.B.) 138:Expands requirement for obtaining permit from state engineer to drill well for domestic use.

 

Chairman Smith opened the meeting and invited Robert S. Hadfield, Executive Director, Nevada Association of Counties (NACO), to present testimony relating to S.B. 138.

 

Mr. Hadfield apologized to members of the committee, as well as  others in attendance, for inconveniencing them by hearing this bill.  As result of recent meetings with the state water engi-neer and a large representation of rural Nevadans, he requested that S.B. 138 be indefinitely postponed.

 

Mr. Hadfield explained it was never the NACO's intent to place an undue burden on Nevadans attempting to develop individual water wells in rural areas.  He explained the original intent of the bill was to address the difficulty in tracking water well drilling activity in the controlled basins of Nevada.

 

Mr. Hadfield explained the NACO would not support the language currently contained in S.B. 138 and asked members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to withdraw the bill from further consideration.

 

Senator Adler recommended S.B. 138 be indefinitely postponed based on the letters and telegrams he had received in opposition to the bill.

 

Chairman Smith thanked Mr. Hadfield for his honesty and advised those in attendance further action on S.B. 138 would take place when the legislature reconvened in Carson City, Nevada.

 

      * * * * *

 

SENATE BILL 50:   Creates Virgin Valley Water District.

 

Chairman Smith called attention to the fact the committee would be working off of an alternate version of the bill (Exhibit C). 

Michael Winters, General Manager, Mesquite Farmstead Water Association (MFWA), introduced himself to members of the committee.  Further comments and testimony by Mr. Winters is contained in Exhibit D.

 

Senator Adler inquired if Mr. Winters believed the agricultural interests would be adequately protected within the proposed Virgin Valley Water District.  Mr. Winters said there should not be any problems regarding this issue.

 

Bill Lee, Mayor, City of Mesquite, introduced himself to members of the committee.  He explained he, and other members of the Mesquite City Council, fully supported passage of S.B. 50.

 

Sam Reber, Secretary, Board of Directors, Mesquite Farmstead Water Association, introduced himself to members of the committee.  He explained he was also a board member of the Mesquite Irrigation Company.  Mr. Reber emphasized he was an advocate of S.B. 50 and encouraged members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to support its passage.

 

Larry Brown, Representative of the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), introduced himself to members of the committee.  Mr. Brown pointed out the version of S.B. 50 currently being reviewed by members of the committee was slightly different than what the LVVWD had reviewed.  Chairman Smith asked Mr. Brown if he could be more specific on what differences he had noticed.  Mr. Brown responded by saying he did not anticipate any changes to the bill would change the LVVWD's position.  Chairman Smith assured all parties concerned that he and Assemblyman Stephanie S. Smith would represent the interests of those testifiers supporting passage of S.B. 50.

 

Chairman Smith reminded members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources they were prohibited from taking formal action on any bill during the 2-week adjournment period.  He concluded by saying it was his intention to bring S.B. 50 before the committee during a work session when the legislature reconvened in Carson City, Nevada.

 

      * * * * *

 

There being no further business before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Smith adjourned the hearing at 8:56 a.m.

 

 

 

            RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                                    

            Rayanne J. Francis,

            Committee Secretary

 

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

                                

Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman

 

 

DATE:                           

??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

February 12, 1993

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