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Heated public pushback as Utah committee advances water-rights bill critics say could narrow Great Salt Lake protections
Summary
After hours of testimony that included physicians and environmental groups warning the bill could weaken protections for the Great Salt Lake and public health, the Senate Natural Resources Committee favorably recommended HB60, a measure that clarifies the state water engineer’s permit-review role but drew opposition over narrowing 'public welfare' considerations.
The Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on Feb. 11 advanced House Bill 60, a substitute measure that sponsors say clarifies and narrows the state water engineer’s statutory role to reviewing water applications on questions of quantity, quality and availability.
Representative Carl Schallenberger, the bill sponsor, said the substitute is intended to streamline a technically complex permitting process and does not change who can protest an application. Theresa Wilhelmsen, Utah’s State Engineer and Director of the Division of Water Rights, told the committee the substitute…
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