Governor's Executive Order 2008-0008: Creating the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council

Issued: August 25, 2008

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EXECUTIVE ORDER

Creating the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council

WHEREASthe Great Salt Lake provides unique and critically important habitat for millions of migrating birds and other wildlife;

WHEREAS the Great Salt Lake provides significant mineral resources vital to the economic well-being of our state as well as providing for the employment of thousands of Utahns;

WHEREASthe Great Salt Lake hosts numerous recreational activities such as birding, hunting, sailing, camping, hiking, and unparalleled opportunities for solitude;

WHEREASthe population surrounding and dependent upon the Great Salt Lake will continue to increase in upcoming years,

WHEREAS the State of Utah seeks to make certain that the future of the Great Salt Lake is planned for in a way that preserves the fragile ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake while ensuring that important resources can continue to be utilized from the lake and that recreational opportunities for Utahns be preserved and enhanced;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Governor of the State of Utah, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Utah do hereby order the following:

1. There is created the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council:

a. Consisting of members who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor;

b. The Utah Department of Natural Resources and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality will provide staff and budgetary support;

c. The Office of State Planning Coordinator will provide staff and budgetary support and facilitate the cooperation of all state and federal entities on behalf of this Council;

d. The Council may seek expert assistance through recruitment of a Volunteer technical advisory committee;

e. The Council may seek expert assistance for facilitation and guidance on management of other great water bodies through state agency contracts where funds are available;

f. The Council may conduct hearings in counties adjacent to the Great Salt Lakeas deemed appropriate.

2. The Council shall:

a. Develop a vision for the future of the Great Salt Lake;

b. Review the role of the State of Utah with regard to the management and protection of the Great Salt Lake;

c. Review shared and independent responsibilities of state and federal governmental agencies, public interests, uses and pressures on the natural resource;

d. Consider management structures used for other internationally significant water bodies such as the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, and Puget Sound;

e. Make policy recommendations concerning the long-term viability of the entire Great Salt Lake ecosystem while taking into account the need to balance ecological, economic, recreational, private property and other concerns regarding the Great Salt Lake ecosystem in its entirety;

f. Recommend a membership for any permanent entity;

g. Recommend how a permanent entity might be staffed and funded;

3. Members of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council serve without compensation.

4. Under current Utah law, the Council will not have subpoena power of similar or investigative authority.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah. Done at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah, this 25th day of August, 2008.

(State Seal)

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Governor

Attest:

Gary R. Herbert
Lieutenant Governor

2008/0008

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