The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 1:48 p.m., on Monday, February 15, 1999, in Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Vice Chairman

Senator Mike McGinness

Senator Mark A. James

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Bob Coffin

Senator Maggie Carlton

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Fred Welden, Committee Policy Analyst

Scott Corbett, Committee Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:

Chairman Rhoads asked for a motion for introduction of Bill Draft Request (BDR) R-920.

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Chairman Rhoads opened the hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Robert S. Hadfield, Lobbyist, Nevada Association of Counties, referred to a copy of the BLM News (Exhibit C) which contained a list of the 1998 Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for each county in Nevada. Mr. Hadfield pointed out, since the initiation of this program in 1977 it has been continuously underfunded. Mr. Hadfield drew attention to the fact that Lincoln County, which is composed of 98 percent public land, only received a portion of the funds that Lyon County received, which is smaller in size and contains a much smaller percentage of public lands. According to Mr. Hadfield the PILT payments have not kept up with inflation or the intent of the law, and the formula for dispersing funds to counties does not provide payments based on the unique needs of each of these counties. Mr. Hadfield continued by saying he was pleased to see this resolution contained language that allows the federal government to reimburse counties for underpayments with land transfers of an equal dollar value and he stated he is in full support of this legislation.

Chairman Rhoads asked Mr. Hadfield if exchanging land for money has been attempted before. Mr. Hadfield responded by saying not to his knowledge.

Douglas N. Bierman, Lobbyist, Lincoln, Lander and Eureka counties, talked in support of S.J.R. 1 and concurred with Mr. Hadfield’s remarks. Mr. Bierman also referred to a map (Exhibit D) that shows the problem with the amount of private land compared to the amount of public land in Lincoln County.

Chairman Rhoads closed the hearing on S.J.R. 1.

Naomi Smith Duerr, State Water Planner, Division of Water Planning, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, gave a slide presentation on the contents of the state water plan (Exhibit E. Original is on file in the Research Library.). She stated the state water plan must be approved by the Legislature before implementation.

Chairman Rhoads expressed concern with the time constraints involved in receiving the final draft, which consists of six volumes, of the state water plan on April 1 and then having to pass it through this committee by April 8. Ms. Smith Duerr responded by saying the summary could be used and the data portion of the water plan would not be changing before the end of the public comment period. Ms. Smith Duerr continued her presentation by explaining the state water plan serves as an educational tool, as a guide for water management and a forum for public input, but does not change existing law or water rights.

Chairman Rhoads requested a motion on S.J.R. 1.

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Chairman Rhoads adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Scott Corbett,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman

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