Senate Bill 36 passed the House of Representatives on Thursday May 1, 2003. It has had many onerous amendments added to it by the house. Of major concern to fishermen is the section on gravel mining that was added in the senate. The house restored the 5000 ton annual exemption from regulations and fees that had been lowered to 2000 ton in the senate. The Governor has attacked the bill but needs your support to stand by his position. There is a concern that the sand and gravel mining portion could be split off and sent through as separate legislation or attached to something that the governor does not oppose. A letter opposing SB36 that was signed by the presidents of Ozark Fly Fishers, Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, Ozark Council Trout Unlimited, Missouri Watershed Coalition, and the American Fisheries Society has been delivered to house and senate leaders. At least two other fly fishing organizations have also agreed to send in a copy with their president's signature.

There are only two weeks left in this congressional session. Your letter to the governor opposing the bill based upon the harm that could be caused by the sand and gravel mining provision is needed quickly. Send the same letter to your state senator and state representative. If possible call your representatives and register your opposition to SB 36 because of the sand and gravel mining position. Since the house version is different from what the senate passed, it will have to be either approved by the senate as revised or go to a compromise committee. This gives us another shot at convincing our legislators to vote against this bill or any others that contain the sand and gravel mining provisions.

Additional information on Senate Bill 36 is available on the Ozark Fly Fishers Web Site.

Bob Temper
Conservation Director
Ozark Fly Fishers