Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2003-05-07 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2003-05-07 House Journal Page 1425 HB 283 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 283 "An Act relating to limitations on coal leases." with the: Journal Page RES RPT 7DP 1351 FN1: ZERO(DNR) 1351 Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Berkowitz: Page 1, line 1, following "leases" (title amendment): Insert "; relating to carbon sequestration; and providing for an effective date" Page 1, following line 13: Insert new bill sections to read: 2003-05-07 House Journal Page 1426 "* Sec. 2. AS 44.37 is amended by adding new sections to read: Sec. 44.37.200. Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee. (a) The Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee is created in the Department of Natural Resources. The committee consists of the following members, who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor: (1) the chair of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation (AS 03.09.010); (2) one member of the Natural Resource Conservation and Development Board (AS 41.10.040); (3) one member of a soil and water conservation district; (4) the director of the division of agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, or the director's designee; (5) the state forester, or a designee of the state forester; (6) the director of the division of lands, Department of Natural Resources, or the director's designee; (7) a director in the Department of Environmental Conservation with expertise in air and water quality issues, or the director's designee; (8) one person with expertise in carbon sequestration and marketing; (9) one employee each, with suitable expertise, from the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Department of the Interior; (10) one person representing Native forest landowners; (11) one person representing the fossil fuel industry; and (12) one person representing an environmental protection or conservation organization. (b) Members of the advisory committee created in this section do not receive compensation, but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. (c) The Department of Natural Resources shall assist the committee with administrative support as reasonably requested by the committee. (d) The Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee may (1) advise and assist the commissioner in preparing the reports required by this chapter and in conducting the assessment required under AS 44.37.210; 2003-05-07 House Journal Page 1427 (2) recommend policies or programs to enhance the ability of the state to participate in systems of carbon trading; the recommendations must include potential policies or programs designed to optimize economic benefits to private landowners participating in carbon transactions; the policies or programs may include identifying existing nonprofit organizations or other public or private entities or the potential of creating nonprofit organizations or other public or private entities capable of serving as assemblers of carbon credits or as intermediaries on behalf of producers in carbon-trading systems; (3) encourage the production of educational and advisory materials regarding carbon sequestration on state and private land and participation in systems of carbon or greenhouse emissions trading; (4) identify and recommend areas of research needed to better understand and quantify the process of carbon sequestration; and (5) review the carbon sequestration programs and policies of other states. Sec. 44.37.210. Assessment by the commissioner. (a) In consultation with the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee established under AS 44.37.200, the commissioner shall assess state and private land in the state for past carbon sequestration and future carbon sequestration potential. The assessment shall seek to quantify carbon sequestration associated with agricultural, forest, soil, and land management systems in this state. From time to time, the commissioner may update the findings as advancements in understanding of the processes of carbon sequestration and new data become available. (b) The assessment required under this section shall be conducted in a manner that provides a means for the state and owners of private land to estimate past and future net carbon sequestration resulting from agricultural and forestry practices, conservation measures, management systems, and land uses. Sec. 44.37.220. Definitions. In AS 44.37.200 - 44.37.220, (1) "carbon sequestration" means the long-term storage of carbon in forests, soils, the ocean, and other carbon sinks; (2) "commissioner" means the commissioner of natural resources. 2003-05-07 House Journal Page 1428 * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. On or before January 31, 2004, the commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee established under AS 44.37.200, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act, shall prepare a report to the legislature. The report must include a discussion of (1) the potential for, and potential forms of, greenhouse emissions regulation; (2) the potential for development of a system or systems of carbon emissions trading or markets for carbon sequestered on state and private land; (3) agricultural, forest, and soil management systems or land uses that increase stored soil carbon; (4) methods for measuring and modeling net carbon sequestration associated with various agricultural, forestry, and soil practices, management systems, or land uses occurring on state and private land; (5) areas of scientific uncertainty with respect to quantifying and understanding carbon sequestration associated with soil and forest management activities; (6) recommendations of the Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee developed under AS 44.37.200; (7) the assessment as described in AS 44.37.210. * Sec. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act take effect July 1, 2003." Representative Berkowitz moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Fate objected. Representative Berkowitz moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 283 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2003-05-07 House Journal Page 1429 HB 283 was read the third time.