04/13/1994 04:15 PM Senate RES

 SENATOR MILLER asked Mr. Gallagher to testify on  SB 374  (MATERIAL           
 SITES FOR TIMBER OPERATIONS).                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 111                                                                    
                                                                               
 MR. GALLAGHER explained that the Mine Reclamation Act and the                 
 Forest Practices Act both require the reclamation of material                 
 gravel sites.  If one agency is doing the same thing as another,              
 cooperative agreements are used.  When the DNR put the Mine                   
 Reclamation regulations out to notice, they relied on the Forest              
 Practices Act, because they were more rigorous so they didn't have            
 to double permit. He said they couldn't complete the regulations              
 for the Mining Reclamation Act because the regulations for the                
 Forest Practices Act got hung up in some controversy and                      
 difficulties.  The regulations on mining reclamation now need to              
 defer back to the Forest Practices Act regulations which are in               
 place.  This bill simply gives them 6 months to finish doing that.            
 If they don't do this, the forest operators will have to get two              
 permits for the same gravel pit.  It is not a good use of our time            
 or theirs and it doesn't change the regulatory requirements.                  
 SENATOR MILLER said they would work on this issue and announced  SB
  (MATERIAL SITES FOR TIMBER OPERATIONS) to be up for                      
 consideration.  He announced a recess from 4:44 p.m. - 4:49 p.m.              
                                                                               
 SENATOR ZHAROFF moved to pass SB 374 from committee with individual           
 recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.