04/19/2000 01:44 PM Senate TRA

        HB 320-APPROVE AK RAILROAD GETTING WHITTIER DOCK                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. JOHN MANLEY, legislative aide to Representative Harris, sponsor                                                             
of the measure, made the following comments.  Last year the                                                                     
legislature passed a bill that required the Alaska Railroad                                                                     
Corporation (ARRC) to receive legislative approval before it can                                                                
accept land from the federal government.  Congress has passed a law                                                             
transferring the DeLong dock in Whittier to the ARRC.  HB 320                                                                   
approves that transfer and it incorporates the provisions of a                                                                  
memorandum of understanding that the land underneath would be                                                                   
transferred to the City of Whittier.  The City of Whittier would                                                                
lease back the North half of the land to ARRC and ARRC would lease                                                              
back the South half of the dock to the City of Whittier.  The bill                                                              
has been in the making for about one year while agreements were                                                                 
negotiated.  The bill is beneficial to both the ARRC and the City                                                               
of Whittier.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PEARCE stated that she was one of the people who worked                                                                 
last year to get language put in statute that disallows the ARRC                                                                
from accepting land conveyances without approval of the                                                                         
legislature.  She remains convinced that ARRC should not own the                                                                
entire interest in the tidelands in Whittier, which it will, once                                                               
this transfer occurs.  No one else will have access to a deep water                                                             
port except the ARRC which gives ARRC an unfair advantage.  She                                                                 
believes that ARRC has said it would do something during the making                                                             
of this bill and then turned around and worked legislatively to                                                                 
unravel its commitment.  Senator Pearce said she will not object to                                                             
moving the bill from committee because the City of Whittier will be                                                             
receiving a 20 year attachment which provides access but she                                                                    
remains very concerned about allowing ARRC to own all of the                                                                    
waterfront in Whittier.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There being no further testimony or questions, SENATOR MILLER moved                                                             
CSHB 320(FIN)am from committee with individual recommendations.                                                                 
There being no objection, the motion carried.