Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee forwards four bills on burning appeals, mining fees, fur-farming substitute and hydraulic permitting

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted during executive session Feb. 19 to report four bills out of committee with due-pass recommendations.

House Bill 16-46, which clarifies the appeals process for enforcement of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) burning requirements, was reported out by voice vote, 11-0. Committee staff described the bill as a technical cleanup to ensure an applicable appeals process exists in the timeline created by prior legislation.

House Bill 16-47, an agency-request bill to increase reclamation-related fees charged to mining operations, was reported out on a roll-call vote, 6-5. Supporters said the language was negotiated with operators who run mines and that the bill increases fees to better cover ecological reclamation costs. Opponents raised concerns that the bill eliminates a tiered fee system and removes an exemption for certain small counties; some operators and small businesses, including gravel producers, told members they were frustrated by the change.

The committee also reported out the proposed substitute H1543.2 for…