04/10/1999 10:06 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
 HOUSE BILL NO. 12                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to an easement for the extension of                                                                            
the Alaska Railroad to the Alaska-Canada border."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 12                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to a utility corridor and railroad                                                                             
right-of-way between the Alaska Railroad and the                                                                                
Alaska-Canada border."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
 CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 12(FIN)                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to a utility corridor and railroad                                                                             
right-of-way between the Alaska Railroad and the                                                                                
Alaska-Canada border."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 12(FIN)                                                                            
am                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to a utility corridor and railroad                                                                             
right-of-way between the Alaska Railroad and the                                                                                
Alaska-Canada border."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative JEANNETTE JAMES was invited to join the                                                                          
committee.  She explained HB 12 and explained her sponsor                                                                       
statement.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
(Arrival of Senator Donley noted at approximately 10:14                                                                         
a.m.)                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative James continued her statement before the                                                                         
committee.  She explained the outline of the corridor.  It                                                                      
was a very simple matter.  She said advantages to Alaska                                                                        
were obvious:  resource development, tourism, job                                                                               
opportunities for all areas of Alaska, with controlled                                                                          
access and without the expensive maintenance problems of                                                                        
other modes of transportation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
In response to a question from Senator Leman she said there                                                                     
should be no fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
FRANK MIELKE, Chief of Right-of-Way, Department of                                                                              
Transportation was invited to join the committee.  He                                                                           
explained why the route was chosen.  It was a matter of                                                                         
putting it on the Department of Natural Resources records.                                                                      
It will be noted that this procedure was not under the                                                                          
normal statutes.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson said the right-of-way was not to be less                                                                     
than five feet.  Was this correct?  Mr. Mielke said this                                                                        
right-of-way allotment was proper in this particular case.                                                                      
It was a typical practice to have an extra wide right-of-                                                                       
way and then taper it down.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Adams referred to some costs that may arise in the                                                                      
future.   Mr. Mielke said regardless of who actually does                                                                       
the work or spends the money the funding would come through                                                                     
the railroad.  Senator Adams asked if this was stated                                                                           
anywhere in the bill?  Mr. Mielke said "no".                                                                                    
Representative James explained to the committee that the                                                                        
bill notes "other interested parties".                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Parnell MOVED HB 12 and WITHOUT OBJECTION it was                                                                        
reported out with individual recommendations and                                                                                
accompanying fiscal notes; Department of Transportation and                                                                     
Public Facilities, zero and the Department of Natural                                                                           
Resources, zero.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson called SB 88.