Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2003-03-12 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2003-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0472 SB 142 SENATE BILL NO. 142 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act designating the Department of Natural Resources as lead agency for resource development projects; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources Committee. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Natural Resources Governor's transmittal letter dated March 11: Dear President Therriault: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill designating the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the lead state agency in the permitting of resource development projects in this state. The purpose of this bill is to facilitate and expedite resource development in Alaska. In recent years, the laws governing resource development have proliferated, and there are now more agencies than ever with permitting authority over large projects. Resource development should not be held up by the sheer complexity of government. This bill is intended to alleviate that problem. This bill would authorize the DNR to lead and coordinate the permitting activities of all agencies with jurisdiction over the project and would repeal existing statutes in AS 46.35 regarding permit coordination. The result of the DNR's efforts as lead agency will be better communication, more efficient permitting, consolidated public process, and stable funding for the state's permitting process. 2003-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0473 The repeal of the AS 46.35 provisions necessitates the relocation of unrelated language, specific to Department of Environmental Conservation permit decisions, to more appropriate locations in AS 46.03 and AS 46.04, as set out in secs. 2 and 3 of the bill. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor