S_AGR_2018A 03/22/2018 01:30:10 PM Committee Summary

Ginny Brannon, Director, Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, introduced the Governor's appointment to the Mined Land Reclamation Board.

Lauren Duncan, MS of Littleton, appointed for a term expiring March 1, 2020, and to serve as an individual with substantial experience in conservation, discussed her experience and interest in serving on the board [Attachment A].

Lt. Colonel Barry Bratt, Colorado State Patrol, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the challenge of detecting unsafe vehicles and illegal materials being transported across the state line. He also responded to questions from the committee about his concerns with the bill and the requirements for obtaining a PrePass for commercial vehicles.

Andy Karsian, Legislative Liaison, Colorado Department of Transportation, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed an annual report concerning vehicle inspections prepared by the department that is submitted to the federal government.

Terry Fankhauser, Colorado Cattlemens' Association, Colorado Corn Growers Association, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the challenge of transporting commodities.

Rod Pelton, Colorado Counties, Inc., spoke in support of the bill.

Rick Robbins, Colorado Mills, spoke in support of the bill.

Gary Melcher, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.

Senator Marble, prime sponsor, closed her remarks on Senate Bill 18-192 concerning local government liability for fracking bans and oil and gas moratoriums.  Testimony on this bill occurred on March 15, 2018.

 

Tim Gordon, Colorado Hemp Industry Association, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a letter of support for the bill [Attachment D]..

Senator Marble, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of
House Bill 18-1098 concerning the balance of the Environmental Response
Fund.  Under current law, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
(COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources  uses funds from the
environmental response account of the Oil and Gas Conservation and Environmental
Response Fund to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of oil and
gas operations.  This bill specifies that the year-end balance of
the account remains in the account and does not transfer to the fund.

There was no testimony.

Senator Coram, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of House Bill18-1093 concerning reclaimed water use for edible crops.This bill codifies rules promulgated by the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) related to the allowable uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater, and expands allowable uses to include irrigation of food crops. In addition, the bill defines three categories of water quality standards. The bill clarifies that a food crop is a crop produced for direct human consumption or a tree that produces nuts or fruit intended for human consumption. Food crops do not include those produced for animal consumption only, unless they are produced where lactating dairy animals forage. Reclaimed wastewater may only be used for food crop irrigation if it meets the water quality standards for commercial crops under the federal Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act. The WQCC may promulgate rules related to reclaimed wastewater on or before December 31, 2019.

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

Tim Craft, Craft Companies, spoke in support of the bill and discussed a water reclamation project his company is working on in Elbert County.

Bid Midcap, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.

Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University, spoke in support of the bill and discussed educational outreach the university provides to Colorado farmers.

Chris Piper, Denver Water, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.

Alex Funk, National Young Farmers Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.

Carlyle Currier, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.

Julie George, Livewell Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Pat Ratliff, South Metro Water Supply Authority, spoke in support of the bill.

Kathy Kitzmann, City of Aurora, spoke in support of the bill.

Tracey Kosloff, Division of Water Resources, spoke in support of the bill.

Richard Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.

Laura Pottorff, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill.

Brant Harrison, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.

Matt Edmunson, Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Brett Moore, Colorado Weed Management Association, spoke in support of the bill.