Bill No.: HB0121                     Drafter:  DKG

 

LSO No.:   12LSO-0311                 Effective Date:  March 8, 2012

 

Enrolled Act No.:    HEA0025

 

Chapter No.:         CH0027

 

Prime Sponsor:       Joint Appropriations Interim Committee

 

Catch Title:         Abandoned mine land funds.

 

Summary/Major Elements:

 

·         This act provides for the submittal of grant applications by DEQ to the Federal Office of Surface Mining for both future Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funds and redirection of prior AML fund authorizations.  Following is a comprehensive list of redirected and future AML application authorizations by amount and receiving agency or entity.  Unless specified, the reversion date for each project funding is June 30, 2014.

 

·         Future AML Funds:

 

o   $2,200,000 to DEQ for the Solid Waste Orphaned Site Program;

o   $1,475,000 to DEQ Air Quality Division for addressing statewide energy impacts;

o   $1,856,724 to DEQ Air Quality Division for expenditure on operations and maintenance of ambient air monitors;

o   $350,000 to UW for Level II planning for renovation and addition to the facilities of the College of Engineering and Applied Science;

o   $10,000,000 to UW for athletics facilities matching funds for the renovation of the AA.  Reverts June 30, 2017 [Also provided a private fund matching requirement and grants specific bonding authority for the project];

o   $5,000,000 to UW School of Energy Resources (SER) for implementation of strategic areas of concentration for SER. Reverts June 30, 2018 [Requires nonstate matching funds for expenditure];

o   $6,000,000 to the Wyoming wildlife and natural resources trust income account for project funding.  These funds shall not be used to purchase or acquire conservation easements or other development rights;

o   $3,500,000 to UW for an agriculture building in Sheridan. Reverts June 30, 2016;

o   $23,025,000 to the Wyoming Water Development Commission for the Gillette Madison water project;

o   $30,000,000.00 to the Highway Fund for highway projects.

 

·         Revokes the following Prior AML Fund Authorizations:

 

o   $4,250,154 authorized for Clean Coal Research Funds under the 2008 budget bill, as amended by the 2009 budget bill;

o   $40,000,000 authorized for Carbon Sequestration Research and Demonstration Project (WYCUSP) under the 2010 budget bill;

o   $1,000,000 authorized for Clean Coal Technology Research Funds under the 2010 budget bill.

 


·         Redirects Prior AML Fund Authorizations to the following Projects:

 

o   $10,000,000 to UW SER for implementation of strategic areas of concentration for SER. Reverts June 30, 2016;

o   $10,000,000 to UW SER for implementation of strategic areas of concentration for SER. Reverts June 30, 2018 [Requires nonstate matching funds for expenditure];

o   $1,000,000 to WyDoT for construction of a compressed natural gas filling station at UW as specified;

o   $750,154.00 to UW for Level II planning for renovation and addition to the facilities of the College of Engineering and Applied Science;

o   $10,000,000 to UW SER for the continuation of clean coal research as recommended by the Clean Coal Research Task Force. Reverts June 30, 2016;

o   $500,000 to UW SER to provide grants to conduct studies to determine the feasibility of constructing a commercial scale minerals to value added products facility in Wyoming as specified in the act.

o   $9,000,000 to the Governor's office for the purpose of supporting the construction and operation of a commercial scale facility which converts minerals to value added products.  The Joint Minerals Committee shall provide recommendations to the Governor on appropriate grant levels based on applications received by the Clean Coal Research Task Force and the study conducted on the feasibility of constructing a value added products facility in Wyoming. Reverts June 30, 2016 [The act provides extensive requirements for expenditure of funds from this authorization].

o   $2,000,000 to the Wyoming pipeline authority to develop and implement a permitting process to further a carbon dioxide pipeline network across federal lands in Wyoming. Reverts June 30, 2016;

o   $1,000,000 to UW SER to continue research related to carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery. Reverts June 30, 2016;

o   $700,000 to UW College of Engineering to conduct research into rare earth materials as specified;

o   $100,000 to UW SER to provide grants to conduct studies to evaluate the feasibility of using Wyoming natural resources to manufacture glass and glass products in Wyoming;

o   $200,000.00 to the Wyoming geological survey to conduct geological analysis on potential rare earth material deposits.

 

·         Provides for substitution of other UW block grant funds for funds authorized in this act when necessary to satisfy federal requirements of the AML program or where use of AML funds would be impractical or would delay a project.

 

·         Provides for a swap of funds appropriated to the highway fund in the 2012 budget bill for projects funded with AML funds in this act to expedite expenditure of AML funds as the Governor finds appropriate or necessary.

 

·         Provides that the Joint Minerals Committee shall assist in the development of the parameters for the renovation and reconstruction of the UW College of Engineering as specified.

 

·         The 2012 budget bill section 300(c)  appropriates fiscal year 2012 Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund earnings in excess of the amount projected for the earnings in the CREG's January 13, 2012 report, not to exceed $30,000,000 and places them in the newly created AML Fund Balancing Account to fund:

 

o   $14,200,000 to UW for the performing arts building. Grants specific bonding authority for the project;

o   $15,800,000 to an account created by the state treasurer for distribution to UW for reconstruction and renovation of the College of Engineering Building upon authorization of the legislature.

 

·         Extends the reversion date for funds appropriated in the 2008 budget bill to Carbon County for road and bridge construction to support a coal to liquid fuels conversion facility to June 30, 2016.

 

Comments: 

 

 

 

NOTE:  The Governor line item vetoed a provision of the bill requiring any proceeds from the sale of a natural gas filling station to be deposited to the general fund, due to concerns with federal limitations on the disposition of items funded with AML funds.