RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE

May 8, 2001

Minutes

Members Present:

BERNARDS, Frances - Air Quality

CANNING, Michael - DWR

DANIELS, Ron - DOGM

ELDREDGE, Sandy - UGS

HOPKINS, George - Agriculture

MORTENSEN, Duane - DEQ/DERR

RATZLAFF, Bruce - DNR

SCHLOTTHAUER, Bill - Water Rights

TRIMMER, Edie - Forestry, Fire & State Lands

Others Present:

BLOCH, Stephen - SUWA

DELOS SANTOS, Annette - BLM

EDWARDS, Judy - GOPB

GARDNER, James - BLM

HARJA, John - GOPB

KAPPE, Karl - Forestry, Fire and State Lands

LAMB, Leah Ann - DEQ

MOORE, David - BLM

ROSSER, Ann - GOPB

I. Approval of Minutes

Bill Schlotthauer called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Bruce Ratzlaff made a motion to approve the April 10 minutes at submitted. Ron Daniels seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

II. Special Presentations

Single Point Review Concept - Leah Ann Lamb (DEQ - Planning & Public Affairs)

The Governor issued an Energy Policy for the State on March 14, 2001 because of an increased urgency to review energy consumption and the permitting process.

".....We will streamline state regulatory processes and encourage expedited federal action. We will establish a single point review process that coordinates reviews across state departments and with federal agencies. We will not short-change environmental requirements, but can and will fast-track regulatory response."

• The Single Point Review Process proposal will not replace existing regulatory requirements but will seek ways to accelerate actions within current legal and organizational frameworks.

• Enhanced inter-agency communication, cross-agency project tracking (Internet accessible), and development of public information network and materials (e-Utah web site coordination) are the primary mechanisms for initial enhanced coordination. Once enhanced coordination is established streamlining regulatory processes will be vigorously pursued.

• DEQ's "Pre-Design" meetings for energy development proposals will be expanded to include all appropriate state, federal and local agencies.

• DEQ will lead the development of a single point review process with the guidance and oversight of the Utah Energy Council.

BLM Planning Initiatives Update - Annette Delos Santos, David Moore (BLM)

The BLM participated in a Bureau-wide deficiencies report exercise with the Washington Office and identified their most problematic Land Use Plans (LUP). Only a fraction were found to be responsive to current needs, while other don't reflect current conditions or recent statutory requirements.

Utah has 23 land use plans that range in age from 1975 to 1999. Bureau-wide budget requests were made by BLM to update these LUPs with emphasis on four major areas:

• Energy and mineral production

• Land use planning for sound resource decisions

• Resource management in high-priority areas

• Full implementation of the National Fire Plan

Utah will begin full-scale plan revisions in three field offices this year: Vernal, Price and Richfield. They will be emphasizing a collaborative and multi jurisdictional approach.

The Vernal Field Office RMP revision will combine two existing plans into one new Resource Management Plan - the Diamond Mountain Plan and the Book Cliff Plan. Formal scoping meetings will be held in September. They will be contracting both the RMP and the EIS with an anticipated completion date of July, 2004.

Great Salt Lake Wetland Policy for DNR-Administered Lands - Karl Kappe (DFFSL)

DNR has identified issues that are addressed in this policy which shall be observed by DNR agencies through the full range of their independent and collaborative activities. These include: Jurisdictional wetlands, grazing, wetlands creation and restoration, mosquito abatement, prescribed burning, education, and upland drainage ditches.

III. Anticipated Projects and Information

• WGA is proposing a drought bill and revisions to the farm bill.

• There are plans being formulated within the State in the Department of Agriculture and with Federal agencies that will deal with the possibility of hoof and mouth disease if it comes to the U.S.

• The Bush Administration will allow the roadless initiates to go into effect in early June with five amendments attached.

IV. Adjournment

There being no further business to bring before the Committee, Bill Schlotthauer, Chair, adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.