MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Erik Jonsson Public Library, 1st Floor Auditorium
Dallas, Texas
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in the Erik Jonsson Public Library, 1st Floor Auditorium, Dallas, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Kip Averitt Senator Craig Estes Senator Kim Brimer Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Kel Seliger |
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Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Mike Jackson Senator Carlos Uresti |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Averitt delivered opening remarks.
The following witnesses testified before the committee:
On implementation of the State Water Plan
Carolyn Brittin, Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Planning and Information Resources, Texas Water Development Board
On reservoirs designated in Senate Bill 3
Bill Mullican, Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Science and Conservation, Texas Water Development Board
On regional water supply and conservation
Testifying as a panel:
Jody Puckett, Water Utilities Director, Dallas Water Utilities
Jim Parks, General Manager, North Texas Municipal Water District
Jim Oliver, General Manager, Tarrant Regional Water District
On the Region C Study Commission
Testifying as a panel:
Jim Parks, General Manager, North Texas Municipal Water District
Tom Duckert, Regional EHS Manager, International Paper
The chair temporarily opened public testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee on the Region C Study Commission:
David A. Nabors, landowner
George Frost, Region D
Senator Estes assumed the Chair.
John D McConnell, Public
Mark Newhouser, Bois d' Arc MUD
Nancy Clements, Clements Tree Farm
Red Birdsong, Self
Gary Cheatwood, Sr., Self
Gary Cheatwood, Jr., Self
Senator Averitt resumed the chair.
The chair resumed invited testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee:
On Surface Water Salinity
Testifying as a panel:
Herman Settemeyer, Interstate Compacts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Supply Division
Matt Phillips, Government and Customer Relations Manager, Brazos River Authority
J.W. Thrasher, Commissioner, Pecos River Interstate Compact Commission
Allan Jones, Director, Texas Water Resources Institute
Alan Plummer, Chairman of the Board, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc.
Sonny Kretzschmar, Project Manager, HDR Engineering, Inc.
On the Dam Safety Audit Report
Testifying as a panel:
Michael Stiernberg, Assistant Project Manager, State Auditor's Office
John Young, Audit Manager, State Auditor's Office
On an overview of Dam Safety
Warren Samuelson, Dam Safety Program Coordinator, Field Operations Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
John Sadlier, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
On Dam Safety
Testifying as a panel:
Rex Isom, Executive Director, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
John Foster, Statewide Programs Officer, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Mark Jordan, Manager, River Management Services, Lower Colorado River Authority
Louie Verreault, Dam Safety Engineer, Tarrant Regional Water District
Dean Robbins, Assistant General Manager, TWCA
Steve Bednarz, United State Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
The chair reopened public testimony, the following witnesses testified before the committee:
Kathy Pedroso, Self
The following witnesses did not testify before the committee, but provided written testimony:
Tamara S. Trail, Texas Wildlife Association
The following witnesses registered but did not testify before the committee:
Glenda Callaway, Galveston Bay Foundation
Doug Wadley, International Paper
Tommy Spruill, Titus County FWSD
Michael Banks, Friends of the Neches River
Molly Clements Berridge, Landowner, Tree Farmer
There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair
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Teddy Carter, Clerk