JOINT MINERALS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:             $46,500.00

Priority #: 1         Idle Well Bonding

Review possible changes to Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC) rules and regulations and statutes related to idle well bonding and the history of the companies that may be affected by any such changes as well as the actual cost of plugged and abandoned wells versus the OGCC present rules.

Priority #: 2         Self-Bonding for Reclamation and Priority of Severance Taxes in Bankruptcy

(A) Receive a report on self-bonding for reclamation, including an update on any entities that were but are not now qualified; based on the Committee's understanding of the self-bonding procedure, ask that the rules and regulations (per OSM regulations) be changed to match existing conditions or make changes to legislation that the Committee feels is necessary;
(B) Receive a report from the Department of Revenue on the priority of severance taxes in a bankruptcy court and the status of any delinquent accounts.

Priority #: 3         Merger of Infrastructure and Pipeline Authorities and Related Issues

(A) Receive reports from the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and Wyoming Pipeline Authority and decide whether to merge the two entities; if the Committee decides to merge the two entities, analyze legislation that would be needed to accomplish that decision;
(B) Receive updates on the Integrated Test Center and efforts to map a CO2 pipeline corridor.

Priority #: 4         Banking

(A) Review legislation presented by the Banking Commission to be modernized;
(B) Review possible digital currency regulations, including reintroducing 2015 HB 62.

Priority #: 5         Industrial Siting Council (ISC)

Review ISC's relevancy, functions and duties; remove ISC's authority if it is no longer relevant or study what changes are warranted to relevant statutes if ISC is still relevant.

Priority #: 6         Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)-related issues

(A) Receive an update on the President's Clean Power Plan;
(B) Tour Bitter Creek and receive DEQ’s decision as to Bitter Creek's eligibility for AML funding;
(C) Receive updates on federal mineral regulations and proposals affecting the industry; review in what areas are Wyoming’s rules more restrictive than federal rules;
(D) Receive DEQ reports required by law to be given to the Committee;
(E) Review the Environmental Quality Council’s (EQC) jurisdictional areas, EQC's current permitting procedures and possible means to streamline permitting;
(F) Receive updates on the trona and bentonite industries;
(G) Receive updates and testimony on wind energy projects from members of the wind energy industry and DEQ;
(H) Receive an update on oilfield waste pits per DEQ's request and review possible legislation that DEQ may need to handle its present cases.

Priority #: 7         Air Service and State Planes

(A) Receive a report from the Wyoming Aeronautics Division (WAD) on airports now receiving, and those that have requested, enhanced air service funding and the impact on local economies.
(B) Receive a report from WAD on the total cost of the state’s two passenger jets.

Priority #: 8         Nuclear Energy Production

Examine all possibilities and aspects of nuclear energy production for growth and job opportunities for the state, including temporary storage/generation/reprocessing, conversion, mining and enrichment.

Priority #: 9         Other Required Reports

Receive a report requested by the Committee on University of Wyoming energy programs.

Priority #: 10       Destruction of a Surveyor's Corner Monuments

Review issues related to the destruction of a surveyor’s corner monuments (if time permits).

Tentative Meeting Schedule
3 2-day meetings