The House Committee on Natural Resources 
         78th Legislature 
         March 24, 2004 
         1:30 p.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E2.010 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on March 17, 2004, the House  
         Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was  
         called to order by the chair, Representative Puente, at 1:38  
         p.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Puente; Callegari; Hope; Campbell;  
                   Cook, Robby; Geren; Hamilton; Hardcastle; Wolens (9). 
          
         Absent:   None (0). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Contract Review  
         Authority  
         (Charge 2) 
               
         The committee considered testimony related to the authority of  
         the TCEQ to amend, impair, interpret or modify the terms of  
         water contracts. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         State Water Resources 
          
         General Land Office (GLO) Commissioner, Jerry Patterson,  
         provided an update to the committee on GLO groundwater leasing. 
          
         Brackish Groundwater and Surface Water Use and Seawater  
         Desalination 
         (Charge 3) 
          
         The committee considered testimony related to the availability  
         and cost effectiveness of using brackish groundwater and surface  
         water and desalination as an alternative source of water supply. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         At 4:50 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Puente, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Jennifer Modgling, Clerk