S_AGR_2016A 05/04/2016 11:25:29 AM Committee Summary

11:26 AM -- SB 16-200



Senator Sonnenberg, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of Senate Bill 16-200 that creates the position of Director of Water Project Permitting in the Governor's Office. He also distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and Amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The director is charged with coordinating the federal, state, and local government permitting of raw water diversion, storage, or delivery projects, including associated hydroelectric facilities and both consumptive and nonconsumptive uses of water. The director is also charged with coordinating water projects that are either assessed a water quality certification fee or are eligible for financing from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Construction Fund. The direct and indirect costs of the position are funded from the newly created Water Permitting Coordination Fund, which consists of equal amounts of money transferred from the Water Quality Certification Sector Fund in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the CWCB Construction Fund in the Department of Natural Resources. By January 1, 2017, the Water Quality Control Division in the CDPHE and the CWCB must establish one or more specific points of contact and lines of communication with the Director of Water Project Permitting.



160504 AttachA.pdf160504 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



11:29 AM -- Rob Harris, Western Resource Advocates, spoke in opposition to the bill.



11:34 AM -- James Eklund, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), spoke in support of the bill and discussed a review of the permit process being conducted by the CWCB and several other state and federal permitting agencies, called the LEEN process. He also responded to questions from the committee about the bill.









11:39 AM -- Chad Vorthman, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.



11:40 AM -- Julie McKenna, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, spoke in support of the bill.



Linda Andes-Georges submitted a letter of opposition to the bill (Attachment C).



160504 AttachC.pdf



11:42 AM



The chair closed testimony and Senator Sonnenberg closed his remarks on the bill.

11:50 AM



The committee adjourned.