Video & Transcript Research : 'soil reduction'
Page 13 of 338
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Wed Feb 12, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- grow Calina and then we grow tatsoi or a leafy green afterward and see how the Calina benefits the soil
- :12:50.920>
chamina <00:12:51.399>benefits <00:12:51.839>the <00:12:51.959>soil - see how the chamina benefits the soil see how the chamina benefits the soil and<00:12:52.680>
- uh especially within the reduction uh especially within the aviation<00:29:21.399>
industry <00 - working on our greenhouse gas reduction working on our greenhouse gas reduction plan<00:29:26.519
Summary:
The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions.
Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns.
Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 02/17/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And we are concerned about reductions in the mini grants that we have at this time.
- and Water Conservation Districts for soil health projects and technical assistance.
- <01:25:26.760>
and <01:25:26.920>Water support those Soil and Water support those Soil - <01:25:28.840>
Health Conservation districts for soil Health Conservation districts for soil - really want to emphasize that soil really want to emphasize that soil health<01:25:34.600>
and
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Feb 3rd, 2026 at 08:29 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- New Mexico Environment Department will administer the program and report annually on emissions reductions
- both public and private construction activity to drive market transformation and greenhouse gas reductions
- And then the Environmental Product Declaration helps to determine what the emissions reductions are for
- Reductions are for that particular material, and from there, it's calculated what the rebate is based
- So certainly healthy soil, getting the microbial actions down back into the soil that we lose with the
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Some of the project scope reductions include roofing system replacements.
- Some of the project scope reductions include roofing system replacements.
- beautiful water and en and ensure soil beautiful water and en and ensure soil health<01:07:44.799
- federal grants and employee staff Soil federal grants and employee staff Soil and<01:08:22.679><
- there was no predictability for The Soil there was no predictability for The Soil and<01:15:20.520
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Line 30 was a reduction that was originally in the House bill, a $3 million reduction from fiscal year
- Moving on down to lines 43, 44, and 45, again, those correspond to general fund reductions above
- Next is Board of Water and Soil Resources. There are four change items here starting on line 204.
- Next is Board of Water and Soil Next is Board of Water and Soil Resources.<00:19:32.960>
There - So, there some of fund reductions also.
Summary:
The working group on the Omnibus Environment Bill opened with remarks from House and Senate co-chairs describing the agreement as a compromise with wins and tradeoffs for both sides, and thanking nonpartisan staff and administration agencies for helping negotiate the package. Staff then walked through the finance spreadsheet, explaining that the agreement met the group’s general fund target by combining new spending with cancellations and fund shifts across the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, BWSR, Metro Parks, the Zoo, the Science Museum, and other entities. Major fiscal items included PCA operating and permitting-efficiency funding, PFAS-related and mercury-related provisions, county feedlot reductions, closed landfill and remediation fund changes, groundwater and aquatic invasive species fee increases, DNR groundwater and AIS spending, ATV trail grants, watercraft enforcement, and several one-time appropriations and extensions for specific water quality and conservation projects.
The policy walk-through covered Article 3’s community grants changes, including a requirement that grants benefit all regions of the state, permission to use some funds for trail maintenance and AIS management, prohibitions on awards to certain entities, and a DNR reporting requirement. Article 4 contained a range of natural resources and environmental policy provisions, including abandoned watercraft seizure and forfeiture authority, higher watercraft AIS surcharges, disabled veterans license fee reductions, a county-based replacement for the shotgun zone, a one-year crossbow extension, a continuous bass season, increased water use permit fees, PFAS sales exemptions for certain products, creation of the Sustainable Foraging Task Force, and a moratorium on DNR foraging rules shortened to July 1, 2026. Article 5 addressed state lands, including an additional Cass County land sale authority.
Article 6 focused on PCA permitting reform, requiring more emphasis on complex Tier 2 permits in annual reporting, giving applicants five business days to fix deficiencies, allowing the PCA to decline expedited permitting when it lacks capacity, and letting the agency retain certain fees if expedited permits are completed early. It also included changes to environmental review procedures, feedlot permitting, and EQB rules. During member questions, Senator McEwen asked about the $952,000 ATV trail appropriation and whether projects must have permits before receiving funds; DNR Assistant Commissioner Bob Myers said no project list had been finalized and that grants would go through the existing process, with environmental review and readiness considered, but he said he would need to verify the exact permitting policy and follow up with the committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
Transcript Highlights:
- So AB 60, the Musk Reduction Act. It's all about having a little less musk in the environment.
- These chemicals don't break down easily and have been found in waterways, soil, and even marine life,
- In addition, these chemicals enter and remain in water, soil, and sediment and eventually make their
- Now for the consumer product, the FDA has said that they want to see the actual disease reduction, not
- just a surrogate endpoint like bacterial log reduction, right?
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes HF2442, the omnibus climate and energy finance bill 5/7/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 30 a 38% reduction nationally. 30 a 38% reduction nationally.
- fertility, rendering the soil infertile.
- They can leech into the soil selenium.
- disrupts natural soil fertility, rending rendering<00:31:19.919>
the <00:31:20.159>soil - > rendering the soil rendering the soil infertile.<00:31:23.440>
We <00:31:23.679>need < - > rendering the soil rendering the soil infertile.<00:31:23.440>
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology Oct 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Under indirect potable reuse, you still had to show 12-log reduction, which is a lot of reduction in
- a 12, 10, 10, 10 log reduction... ...and have a 12, 10, 10, log reduction value for indirect potable
- That became a more stringent regulation to achieve a 20-log reduction for viruses, 15-log reduction..
- . ...to achieve a 20-log reduction for viruses, 15-log reduction for protozoa, and 14-log reduction for
- for viruses, 15 log reduction for protozoa, and 14 log reduction for GRDA, which is another protozoa
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time.
The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration.
The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/7/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 30 a 38% reduction nationally. 30 a 38% reduction nationally.
- They can leach into the soil and leach into the groundwater.
- fertility, rendering the soil infertile.
- disrupts natural soil fertility, rending rendering<00:34:20.159>
the <00:34:20.320>soil - > rendering the soil rendering the soil infertile.<00:34:23.599>
We <00:34:23.839>need < - > rendering the soil rendering the soil infertile.<00:34:23.599>
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil resources<00:52:24.400
- and Water Conservation districts 88 Soil and Water Conservation districts or<00:53:47.880>
swcds< - Soil health being one of those, of course.
- own um in that regard we have a soil own um in that regard we have a soil health<00:58:33.760>
- <01:13:55.159>
and weather situation but because soil and weather situation but because soil - <01:13:55.159>
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Agriculture and Water Management Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- They don't have to take courses, you know, for example, soil science...
- You'll have different soil types and conditions as well as crops.
- I mean, it's applicable to the whole world, as well as weather modeling, soil, physics-based soil modeling
- I mean, it's applicable to the whole world, as well as weather modeling, soil, physics-based soil modeling
- root-zone soil content, not just surface content.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Jul 2nd, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- the state standard Soil and Water Conservation District law.
- That enabled the government of New Mexico to create Soil and Water Conservation.
- That's where Soil and Waters thrive.
- And soil and water, they're the little diamonds in the rough.
- We're going to look at soil and conservation district private sector partners.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environmental Quality Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Environmental Quality
Transcript Highlights:
- in our bodies—simply the ...numerous serious health effects and build up in water, soil, and in our
- PFAS pesticides are also often found in surface water and soil near agricultural areas.
- Fuel reduction projects.
- , roadside fuel reduction, forest thinning, and a handful of other types of projects.
- , roadside fuel reduction, forest thinning, and a handful of other types of projects.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee Mar 17th, 2026
Boards, Agencies and Commissions
Keywords:
HB586, Cullman, Cullman County, City of Cullman, annexation, municipal boundaries, corporate limits, local legislation, boundary adjustment, city limits, municipal expansion, zoning, municipal services, property tax, land use, metes and bounds, Alabama Highway 157, Judge of Probate, SSUT, simplified sellers use tax
TX
Keywords:
wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF2446 5/9/25
Transcript Highlights:
- The first one is related to the soil health financial assistance grants reduction, and that's on line
- County soil health um program study. County soil health um program study.
- Line 37 is the dairy reduction. This is another reduction to a previous appropriation.
- reduction to a previous appropriation. reduction to a previous appropriation.
- soil health initiative. soil health initiative.
Summary:
The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups.
Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions.
House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- the soils.
- , most of our soils are mollisols.
- And he said, mollisols are usually grassland soils.
- We've got years of soil movement, years of fires happening.
- And maybe I'll talk to you more about the soil.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We want better soil moisture than what just a single probe is going to give. ...better soil moisture
- We want better soil moisture than what just a single probe is going to give you.
- I mean, it's applicable to the whole world, as well as weather modeling, soil, physics-based soil modeling
- root zone soil content, not just surface content.
- root zone soil content, not just surface content.
Summary:
The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state.
The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases.
Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers.
The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/07/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- the Olmsted County Groundwater and Soil the Olmsted County Groundwater and Soil Health<00:24:20.920
- Third, the wastewater nitrogen reduction Third, the wastewater nitrogen reduction strategy.<00:36
- the nitrate or the nutrient reduction the nitrate or the nutrient reduction strategy,<00:47:20.800
- uh packaging waste and cost reduction uh packaging waste and cost reduction act.<02:14:38.760>
- to put on this soil.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- These chemicals do not break down easily and have been found in waterways, soil, and even marine life
- In addition, these chemicals enter and remain in water, soil, and sediment, and eventually make their
- And these ingredients show demonstrably that there are several log reductions of bacteria on the hands
- Now, for the consumer product, FDA has said that they want to see actual disease reduction, not just
- a surrogate endpoint like bacterial log reduction, right?
Summary:
The Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee met to adopt its rules, establish quorum, and approve a consent calendar of five bills, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee then heard three measures: AB 638 by Assembly Member Rodriguez on stormwater capture for irrigation of urban public lands; AB 60 by Assembly Member Papin on banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products; and AB 916 by Assembly Member Lee on restricting certain antibacterial soap ingredients in consumer hand soaps and body washes.
AB 638 was presented as a climate and water-supply measure directing the State Water Resources Control Board to develop guidelines for capturing and safely reusing stormwater for irrigation. Supporters, including NRDC and several environmental groups, argued it would reduce potable water use and help move stalled projects forward. The bill drew no opposition and received strong support from committee members, including requests to coauthor. It passed the committee on a due pass motion to Appropriations.
AB 60 would ban synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products due to health and environmental concerns. Supporters cited endocrine disruption, reproductive harms, persistence in waterways, and international restrictions. The bill passed on a due pass motion to the floor, with one member not voting. AB 916 generated the most debate: supporters said the three targeted antimicrobials offer no added benefit over plain soap, may contribute to health harms and antibiotic resistance, and should be banned in consumer products while exempting health care settings. Opponents argued the ingredients are already under FDA and DTSC review, raised preemption concerns, and warned of costs and impacts on food handling and other uses. After extensive discussion, the committee approved AB 916 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health, with several no votes.