MINUTES OF THE

SENATE Committee on Natural Resources

 

Seventy-First Session

April 16, 2001

 

 

The Senate Committee on Natural Resourceswas called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 2:15 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2001, 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 W. Welden, Committee Policy Analyst

Heather Miller, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Daryl E. Capurro, Lobbyist, Nevada Motor Transport Association

Verne Rosse, Deputy Administrator, Corrective Actions, Federal Facilities and Waste Management Programs, Division of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Helen A. Foley, Lobbyist, Clark County Health District

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on Senate Bill (S.B.) 90.  Fred W. Welden, Committee Policy Analyst, distributed the proposed amendments for each bill heard (Exhibit C).

 

SENATE BILL 90:  Exempts certain persons who hold operating permits for certain sources of emissions of air contaminants from imposition of certain penalties under certain circumstances. (BDR 40-883)

 

Senator James explained the subcommittee recommended S.B. 90 be indefinitely postponed until more appropriate language could be agreed upon. 

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE S.B. 90.

 

SENATOR MCGINNESS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 211.

 

SENATE BILL 211:  Expands authority of Colorado River commission to provide electric services to political subdivisions. (BDR 58-633)

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 211.

 

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED.  (SENATOR MCGINNESS VOTED NO.) 

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 327.

 

SENATE BILL 327:  Revises provisions relating to certain hazardous materials. (BDR 40-164)

 

Daryl E. Capurro, Lobbyist, Nevada Motor Transport Association, testified in support of S.B. 327, then went into detail about his concerns prior to the current amendments.  He explained all the parties involved, including the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Nevada Highway Patrol Division had met to discuss the amendments to S.B. 327. 

 

Chairman Rhoads asked Verne Rosse, Deputy Administrator, Corrective Actions, Federal Facilities and Waste Management Programs, Division of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, if these proposed amendments were acceptable.  Mr. Rosse affirmed they were.

 

Chairman Rhoads asked the committee for a motion.

 

SENATOR JACOBSEN MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 327.

 

SENATOR SHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 357.

 

 SENATE BILL 357:  Revises provisions governing disbursement of money from pollution control account. (BDR 40-1180)

 

Senator James informed the committee the subcommittee recommended to amend and do pass S.B. 357.  Senator James went into a brief explanation of proposed amendments. 

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 357.

 

SENATOR CARLTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 533.

 

 SENATE BILL 533:  Authorizes control officer of local air pollution control board to request initiation of certain proceedings regarding enforcement of certain laws pertaining to control of air pollution. (BDR 40-1296)

 

Senator James stated the subcommittee recommended to amend and do pass S.B. 533.

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 533.

 

SENATOR CARLTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 534.

 

 SENATE BILL 534:  Makes various changes relating to control of air pollution. (BDR 40-794)

 

Senator James explained the proposed amendments to S.B. 534, and that the subcommittee recommended S.B. 534 be amended, passed, and re-referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND, DO PASS, AND RE-REFER S.B. 534 TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.

 

SENATOR CARLTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 535.

 

 SENATE BILL 535:  Authorizes local air pollution control agency in certain counties to establish program to reduce and control air pollution. (BDR 40-791)

 

Senator James explained there was bit of controversy in the subcommittee regarding S.B. 535.  He said other amendments had been provided by Mr. Welden (Exhibit D).  Senator James explained the subcommittee had approved the Steve Hill amendments.

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 535. 

 

SENATOR CARLTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads opened the work session on S.B. 536. 

 

SENATE BILL 536:  Authorizes creation, by cooperative agreement, of separate entity to establish and administer program for control of air pollution in certain counties. (BDR 40-1116)

 

Helen A. Foley, Lobbyist, Clark County Health District, testified to help clarify what the health district wished to accomplish with S.B. 536.  She distributed projections of revenue (Exhibit E) and a projected timeline of the clean air agency, once it was created (Exhibit F). 

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 536.

 

SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads then opened the work session on Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.R.) 12.

 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 12:  Urges Congress to require Bureau of Land Management of United States Department of the Interior and United States Environmental Protection Agency to take certain actions to prevent and reduce air pollution. (BDR R-792)

 

Senator James explained the ramifications of S.J.R. 12.  Senator Coffin voiced his concerns about the committee approving legislation that disapproves off-road recreation when the Senate Committee on Natural Resources usually supports the multiple uses of dirt roads and off-road areas.  Chairman Rhoads asked Senator Coffin if he believed S.J.R. 12 might return to haunt the committee if it is passed.  Senator Coffin responded the dust problem is important, but the committee would be wholly supporting the Bureau of Land Management and its activities in this area with this resolution. 

 

Chairman Rhoads suggested certain amendments be made to the language.  Senator James concurred.

 

Ms. Foley suggested the phrase, “within the non-attainment area,” be added to the paragraph regarding desert racing. 

 

SENATOR JAMES MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.J.R. 12. 

 

SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman Rhoads adjourned the work session at 2:47 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                        RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

Heather Miller,

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                       

Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman

 

 

DATE: