HB0062 Natural resource large project funding.

Official Summary Text

2007 General Session Summary for HB0062

Bill No.:
HB0062
Drafter:

DKG

LSO No.:
07LSO-0472
Effective Date:

2/15/2007

Enrolled Act No.:
HEA0021

Chapter No.:
20

Prime Sponsor:
Select
Natural Resource Funding Committee

Catch Title:
Natural
resource large project funding.

Subject:
Legislative
authorization for large project funding under the wildlife and natural resource
funding act.

Summary/Major Elements:

The legislature previously
established a trust account and an income account for funding wildlife and
natural resource projects approved by a state board created in the same
legislation. Only the income from the trust account may be used for funding projects.
Large projects ($200,000 and over) require legislative approval and
appropriation of funds.

This act provides the first
legislative approval for large projects under that act.

The two projects approved for
funding are the Bates Creek Watershed restoration and the Lander Front mule
deer project.

Appropriates $200,000 for the
Bates Creek project and $230,000 for the Lander Front project from the trust
income account. Provides that any unexpended amount of the appropriations shall
not revert until June 30, 2012.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

BILL

NO.
0062

ENROLLED ACT NO. 21, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2007 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act; providing for funding of large projects under that act; specifying large projects approved for funding; providing appropriations; providing for reversion of funds; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 9
‑
15
‑
201 is created to read:

ARTICLE 2
LARGE PROJECT FUNDING

9
‑
15
‑
201.

Wyoming wildlife and natural resource large project funding; 2007.

(a)

Authorization is granted for funding of the following large projects as provided in this section.

(b)

Project – Bates Creek Watershed Restoration:

(i)

Project sponsor: Wyoming game and fish department and rocky mountain elk foundation;

(ii)

Project purpose: Enhancement of aspen and sagebrush habitats, removal of conifer encroachment in the Bates Creek Watershed in order to:

(A)

Improve hydrologic functions of the watershed;

(B)

Improve quality of herbaceous forages on elk and mule deer summer and transitional ranges;

(C)

Improve overall habitat conditions for big sagebrush obligates and aspen dependent wildlife.

(iii)

Project description: Prescribed fire and mechanical treatment of undesirable vegetation and decadent stands of desirable plant communities, including deferment and rest from seasonal livestock use, in order to retard succession in aspen communities and create uneven aged aspen stands within the Bates Creek Watershed;

(iv)

Total project budget: One million sixty thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,060,750.00) over an anticipated period of approximately sixteen (16) years;

(v)

Project grant: The Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board is authorized to grant to the sponsors not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) over a period of not more than five (5) years for the purposes specified in this subsection;

(vi)

Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207(a), unexpended and unobligated funds appropriated under this subsection shall not lapse on June 30, 2008, but shall revert to the income account on June 30, 2012.

(c)

Project – Lander Front mule deer:

(i)

Project sponsor: Wyoming game and fish department;

(ii)

Project purpose: Enhancement of aspen, bitterbrush, sumac and sagebrush habitats, and removal of undesirable vegetation in four (4) areas in proximity to Lander in order to:

(A)

Improve winter survival and fawn survival of mule deer, elk and antelope;

(B)

Improve overall forage conditions for deer and other wildlife;

(C)

Provide modeling information for determining how habitat improvement can affect mule deer populations in other areas of the state.

(iii)

Project description: Prescribed fire, mechanical and chemical treatment of undesirable vegetation and decadent stands of desirable plant communities in four (4) areas in proximity to Lander affecting the South Wind River mule deer herd
;

(iv)

Total project budget: Four hundred seventy-nine thousand seven hundred dollars ($479,700.00) over an anticipated period of approximately two (2) years;

(v)

Project grant: The Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board is authorized to grant to the sponsor not to exceed two hundred thirty thousand dollars ($230,000.00) over a period of not more than five (5) years for the purposes specified in this subsection;

(vi)

Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two hundred thirty thousand dollars ($230,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207(a), unexpended and unobligated funds appropriated under this subsection shall not lapse on June 30, 2008, but shall revert to the income account on June 30, 2012.

Section 2.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1

Natural resource large project funding.

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