I_WRRC_2018A 06/19/2018 09:02:23 AM Committee Summary

Kevin Rein, State Engineer, presented several issues related to the Republican River Basin.  A copy of the presentation can be found at:  http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.  Mr. Rein discussed potential legislation related to the modification of the Republican River Water Conservation District boundaries, as well as the need for rulemaking related to the basin.

Mr. Rein responded to committee questions regarding compact compliance in the basin, as well as recent discussions with Kansas and Nebraska about compact compliance.

Larson Silbaugh, Legislative Council Staff, presented an overview of severance tax revenue in Colorado.  The presentation can be found at:  http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Mr. Silbaugh responded to committee questions regarding the recent Supreme Court decision resulting from the BP America Production Co. court case, and its impact on state severance tax revenue.

Bill Levine, Department of Natural Resources, presented an overview of how severance tax collections are spent in the state.  A copy of the presentation can be found at: http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Carly Jacobs, Department of Natural Resources, discussed how the Severance Tax Operational Fund is spent within the department.

Mr. Levine responded to committee questions regarding recent severance tax collections and other potential revenue sources to fund large water projects in the state.

Lauren Ris, Colorado Water Conservation Board, presented an overview of the first year of grant funding under the Colorado Water Plan.  A copy of the presentation can be found at:  http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Ms. Ris responded to a committee question regarding deadlines for the grant application process.

Ms. Ris discussed the Homestake Arkansas River Diversion Improvements project and the Florida Canal Diversion Structure Rehabilitation project, which were funded by a Colorado Water Plan grant.

Ms. Ris responded to committee questions regarding conservation projects funded by Colorado Water Plan grants.

Matt Kondratieff, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, presented success stories of projects funded from the Species Conservation Trust Fund.  A copy of the presentation can be found at  http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Don Ament, Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Governance Committee, discussed recent activities of the program.  Committee members received a handout about the program from Mr. Ament [Attachment A].

Mr. Ament responded to committee questions regarding the program.

John Rehring, Water Reuse Colorado, and Ron Falco, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), presented an overview of ongoing work regarding the potential for direct potable reuse in Colorado.  A copy of the presentation can be found at: http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Mr. Rehring and Mr. Falco responded to committee questions regarding reuse in Colorado.

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened. Joe Frank, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, and Mary Presecan, Leonard Rice Engineers, presented the South Platte Storage Study pursuant to House Bill 16-1256. A copy of the presentation can be found at: http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Mr. Frank and Ms. Presecan responded to committee questions about the study.

Mr. Frank discussed on-going work by the South Platte Regional Opportunities Working Group (SPROWG).  A presentation about SPROWG can be found at: http://leg.colorado.gov/node/1221201/.

Jennifer Opila, Radiation Program Manager, CDPHE, presented an overview of the regulation of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM) in Colorado.  Ms. Opila also discussed Senate Bill 18-245, which concerns TENORM.

Ms. Opila responded to committee questions related to TENORM.

Patrick Pfaltzgraff, Director, Water Quality Control Division, and Nicole Rowan, Clean Water Program Manager, both representing CDPHE, presented the Refinance Water Pollution Control Program Act report, as required by House Bill 17-1285.  Committee members received a copy of the presentation  [Attachment B].

Mr. Pfaltzgraff and Ms. Rowan responded to committee questions regarding its Clean Water Program and Safe Drinking Water Program.

Bill Skewes, representing the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, testified about the report required by House Bill 17-1285.

Jennifer Berman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, discussed interim committee deadlines and presented a handout to the committee [Attachment D].

Clare Pramuk, Legislative Council Staff, discussed the fiscal note process for the committee.