Eye on the Legislature
January 22, 2018
The Seventy-first Colorado General Assembly is now underway. The legislation (often referred to as “bills”) introduced to date promise an interesting session, that is if they indeed get fair consideration and are not immediately killed in committee.
Senate Bill 18-038: Concerning the Allowable Uses of Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater, and, in Connection therewith, Allowing Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater to be Used for Industrial Hemp Cultivation, involves amending the Colorado Revised Statutes as promulgated by the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for allowable uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater.
Wastewater is defined as that which has been treated for subsequent reuses other than drinking water. Also defined in the bill:
- 3 categories of water quality standards for reclaimed domestic wastewater;
- sets forth the allowable uses for each water quality standard category;
- adds industrial hemp cultivation as an allowable use for reclaimed domestic wastewater;
- authorizes the commission to establish new categories of warer quality standards;
- recategorizes any use of reclaimed domestic wastewater to a less stringent category of water quality standard and
- authorized the Division of Administration in the CDPHE to grant variances for uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater.
The WQCC promulgated what is known as Regulation 84, also known as the Reclaimed Water Control Regulation, was adopted by the WQCC in October 2000, and was amended in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2013. Established in Regultion 84 are the treatment requirements for the use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation, fire protection, industrial uses and certain other commercials uses. It is
the responsibility of the CDPHE to review applications for reclaimed wastewater systems and user plans to determine whether they meet the requirements of the regulation.
Senate Bill 18-038: Senator Kerry Donovan (D-Chaffee, Delta, Eagle, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Lake, Pitkin) 866-4871, and Senator Don Coram, (R-Archuleta, Dolores, LaPlata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel), 866-4884; Representative Danyea Esgar (R-Jefferson) 866-2927, and Representative Yeulin Willett (R-Delta, Mesa) 866-2583.
House Bill 18-1051: Concerning Statutory Provisions Enacted to Promote the Extinguishment of Unattended Fires, HB 1051 changes the penalty for leaving a campfire unattended or failing to extinguish a campfire from a class 2 petty offense punishable to a fine of $50 to a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by a minimum $50 fine and a maximum of six months in jail, or a $750 fine, or both. HB 1051 applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2018.
Under HB 1051 as introduced, counties will no longer be required to post certain notices related to unattended campfires.
HB 10-51 falls into the category of creating a new crime, changes the classification of an existing crime or changes an element of the existing crime that creates a new factual basis for the offense.
Hopefully this bill will “sail” through the legislature because it is most needed.
House Bill 18-1051: Representatives Millie Hamner (D-Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, Summit) 866-2952, and Representative Terri Carver (R-El Paso) 866-2191; and
Senator Don Coram, (R-Archuleta, Dolores, LaPlata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel), 866-4884, and Senator Michael Merrifield (D-El Paso) 866-6364
The reader's comments or questions are always welcome. E-mail me at doris@dorisbeaver.com.