Projects funded by abandoned mine land funds.

13LSO-0401.C1

FISCAL NOTE

This bill contains appropriations of $43,000,000 from ABANDONED MINE LAND FUNDS which have been previously appropriated and are redirected to the University of Wyoming.  These appropriations are effective immediately.

DETAIL OF APPROPRIATION

Agency #:  067     Agency Name:  University of Wyoming

Unit:  none provided

EXPENDITURE BY SERIES AND YEAR       FY 2013         FY 2014         FY 2015

0600  Grant & Aid Payments                           $3,000,000                

0700  Capital Expenditures                                           $40,000,000

Total Expenditure Per Year:                          $3,000,000      $40,000,000

Grand Total Expenditure:           $43,000,000

Total Appropriated to Agency:      $43,000,000

Total Appropriated by Fund

ABANDONED MINE LAND FUNDS:         $43,000,000

Description of appropriation:

$40,000,000 in prior appropriations for the High Plains Gasification project is redirected to a possible swap for General Funds in the University of Wyoming (UW) agency 067 budget. A like amount in General Funds are to be directed to the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences capital construction project set-aside in the Treasurer's Office, and cannot be expended without further legislative approval. The bill also reduces the matching requirement to $800,000 for the $15.8 million in AML funds appropriated in Ch. 27 of 2012 Session Laws for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences construction project at UW.

$3,000,000 is redirected from the High Plains Gasification Project for a Powder River Coal Characterization study, possibly in partnership with a private entity.

This bill also extends the appropriation for a total of $8.05 million of the original appropriation for the High Plains gasification project.  This $8.05 million total is expected to cover the University of Wyoming's obligations under the joint agreement with General Electric for the High Plains Gasification project, which is currently on hold. The project has not been cancelled, but the legislation authorizes diversion of the $43 million balance of the total appropriation for the project.

The bill also eliminates the requirement for $10 million in UW bonding for the Arena Auditorium renovation project authorized in Ch. 27 of 2012 session laws. $10 million in state funds and $10 million in privately-raised funds would still remain in the project authorization. It should be noted that the AML appropriation for the Arena Auditorium was substituted with General Funds from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) appropriation, and the AML funds were appropriated to WYDOT for highway construction in B-11 11762 dated 05/31/12.

Prepared by:   Dean Temte, LSO       Phone: 777-7881

(Info. provided by Chris Boswell, UW; 307-766-2238: Jim Uzzell, DEQ; 777-7198)