04/08/2014 08:00 AM Senate RESOURCES

            HB 246-CREAMER'S FIELD WATERFOWL REFUGE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:07:21 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE CHAIR DYSON  announced the consideration of HB  246. "An Act                                                               
adding  additional   land  and  water  to   the  Creamer's  Field                                                               
Migratory Waterfowl Refuge."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:07:39 AM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  PETE HIGGINS,  sponsor  of HB  246, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced  the bill speaking to the                                                               
following sponsor statement: [Original punctuation provided.]                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     HB  246  repeals  and  reenacts  AS  16.20.039  to  add                                                                    
     additional   lands   to   Creamer's   Field   Migratory                                                                    
     Waterfowl Refuge.                                                                                                          
     The boundary  change in HB 246  proposes to incorporate                                                                    
     a total of  four parcels of land  adjacent to Creamer's                                                                    
     Migratory Waterfowl  Refuge purchased  by the  State of                                                                    
     Alaska,  some  dating  back  to  2001.  These  acquired                                                                    
     parcels, although  not officially  part of  the refuge,                                                                    
     have  been  managed  as refuge  land  since  management                                                                    
     authority was  delegated to the Department  of Fish and                                                                    
     Game (ADFG)  from the  Department of  Natural Resources                                                                    
     (DNR).                                                                                                                     
     The Alaska Department of Fish  & Games, Creamer's Field                                                                    
     Migratory  Waterfowl  Refuge  Interim  Management  Plan                                                                    
     strives to  achieve balance between  a variety  of user                                                                    
     groups including  bird watchers, skijors,  dog mushers,                                                                    
     cross     country     skiers,    hunters,     trappers,                                                                    
     snowmachiners,  a  variety   of  dog  training  groups,                                                                    
     school  groups,  etc.  The  ADF&G  staff  at  Creamer's                                                                    
     Refuge  takes great  pride in  the fact  that they  are                                                                    
     truly a multi-user refuge.                                                                                                 
     ADF&G currently  see no reason  to alter  the Creamer's                                                                    
     Field  Migratory  Waterfowl Refuge  Interim  Management                                                                    
     Plan to restrict, deny, or  otherwise impinge on any of                                                                    
     the recognized  activities that were addressed  in this                                                                    
     plan.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  FAIRCLOUGH asked  if any  other entity  is asking  for a                                                               
different ownership style for these parcels.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS replied  he is not aware  of anyone asking                                                               
for any  different use.  He added  that most  of the  property is                                                               
wetlands so the refuse designation is appropriate.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  DYSON commented  that this is  a significant  part of                                                               
the migratory water fowl flyway.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MICCICHE asked  if this property is open  to both hunting                                                               
and water fowl viewing.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS offered his  understanding that there is a                                                               
little bit  of hunting  and trapping, which  will continue  to be                                                               
allowed.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:11:26 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH asked if there  are natural boundaries so that                                                               
people will know these four parcels are part of the refuge.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered  no; the area is  mostly flat and                                                               
swampy.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH summarized  that this makes the  refuge bigger but                                                               
does not change the way it's managed.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIGGINS   confirmed  it  would  be   larger,  but                                                               
management remains  the same. Responding  to a  further question,                                                               
he said there has been no opposition.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  DYSON noted  that Doug  Vincent-Lang with  the Alaska                                                               
Department of Fish and Game was available to answer questions.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Finding no questions or public testimony, he solicited a motion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:12:58 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH moved to report HB 246, version 28-LS1214\A,                                                                 
from committee with individual recommendations and attached                                                                     
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR DYSON announced that without objection HB 246 passes                                                                 
from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.