61^ST WYOMING LEGISLATURE

INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2012 INTERIM

JOINT MINERALS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Standard Budget: $47,500.00

Additional Budget: $16,000.00 for Priority #1; $4,500.00 for Priority #3

Priority #: 1 Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management Issues.

A Joint Subcommittee, consisting of the Co-Chairmen of the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee and the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee, the Senate Minority Leader and the House of Representatives Minority Floor Leader, or their designees, shall meet as necessary to review existing or proposed federal policies or action which may impact the management, development or use of the state's natural resources. The Joint Subcommittee shall develop and forward to the Governor and the appropriate legislative committees recommended legislative responses to federal policies and actions necessary to protect the interests of the State of Wyoming.

Additional Budget Request: It is anticipated that the Joint Subcommittee will hold four (4) one (1) day meetings and will require an additional $16,000.00 for salaries, travel, per diem and expenses associated with the Joint Subcommittee meetings.

The authority of the subcommittee shall only be to make recommendations to the appropriate standing committee. The appropriate standing committee may then consider developing legislation. [Added by Management Council]

Priority #: 2 State Energy Issues

The Committee shall take testimony and development legislation concerning issues relating to energy production, transmission, consumption and value added industries in Wyoming. The Committee will consider a state energy policy, advanced conversion technologies, impacts to local communities from mineral and energy development, hybrid energy systems, natural gas as a transportation fuel, pipeline corridors, possible new coal markets, small renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, enhanced oil recovery, trona and related products and other issues facing the Wyoming energy sector.

Priority #: 3 Department of Environmental Quality Amendments, Permitting and Regulations and Solid Waste Subcommittee

The Department of Environmental Quality shall report to the Committee on issues surrounding implementation of general permits, greenhouse gas regulations and other permitting issues. The department shall also report to the Committee on possible amendments to the Innocent Owner statutes.

The Committee chairmen will create a Subcommittee of two (2) representatives and two (2) senators to take testimony and propose legislation to the Committee to amend activities for authorized expenditures from the municipal solid waste landfill account.

Additional Budget Request: It is anticipated that the Subcommittee will hold two (2) one (1) day meetings and will require an additional $4,500.00 for salaries, travel, per diem and expenses associated with the Subcommittee meetings.

The authority of the subcommittee shall only be to make recommendations to the appropriate standing committee. The appropriate standing committee may then consider developing legislation. [Added by Management Council]

Priority #: 4 University of Wyoming Energy Programs.

The Committee shall take testimony and consider sponsoring legislation concerning duties imposed on the Committee by 2012 House Bill 121 as they relate to development of a renovation and reconstruction plan for the college of engineering and the development of a plan for the use of abandoned mine land funds for the support and enhancement of technologies important to the economy of the Wyoming. The Committee shall also consider program funding for the School of Energy Resources and processes to integrate the University of Wyoming more fully into the state's economy.

Priority #: 5 Reports and Updates

The Committee will receive and consider reports required by law and updates from various agencies, including but not limited to the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Office of State Lands and Investments, Department of Environmental Quality, the School of Energy Resources, Wyoming Business Council, the Division of Banking, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, the Energy Producing States Coalition the Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management and the Nuclear Energy Task Force.

Priority #: 6 Tentative Meeting Schedule.

The Committee plans to meet for 3 two-day meetings. The meetings are tentatively set for June, September and October/November and will be held in Riverton, Southwest Wyoming and Casper. One or more meetings may include tours of facilities.