Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
04/23/2019 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR14 | |
| SB54 | |
| SJR11 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 54 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 14-URGING SUPPORT FOR NOME DEEP-DRAFT PORT
1:05:04 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Urging the Alaska
Congressional delegation to pursue infrastructure funding for a
deep draft Arctic port in Nome; requesting the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities to send a letter from the
state to the Alaska Congressional delegation supporting a deep
draft Arctic port in Nome; and requesting the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities to work collaboratively
with the City of Nome on a deep draft Arctic port in Nome.
1:05:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, relayed the three priorities of HJR 14: to urge the
congressional delegation to pursue infrastructure funding; to
request the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOT&PF) send a letter to the congressional delegation
supporting a deep draft Arctic port in Nome; and to request
DOT&PF to work collaboratively with the City of Nome to provide
technical support.
1:06:41 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL opened public testimony on HJR 14.
1:07:07 PM
RAY WARD relayed his personal connection to Alaska. He said the
melting of the ice in the Northwest Passage has provided
opportunity for an economic boon for the maritime industry. He
opined that Alaska needs to invest not only in the Port of Nome,
but in other Arctic coast regions of Alaska. He said Norway,
Finland, Greenland, Russia, and Canada have already geared up
for this maritime boon, and cruise liners have made many voyages
to the Northwest Passage. He relayed that this passage cuts
travel time in half when compared to passage from the Atlantic
to the Pacific via the Panama Canal. Mr. Ward stated that
Alaska's congressional delegation needs to lobby the U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) for the installation of a U.S. Naval
or U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) headquarters in the Arctic region.
He said currently Alaska's Arctic coastline is "wide open" to
invasion from China, North Korea, and Russia. Mr. Ward
mentioned fish migration caused by warming of waters, and he
warned that without a military presence in the Arctic region,
Alaska will be subject to violation of the [Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management] Act, which designates a
[U.S. exclusive economic zone up to] 200 miles [offshore] that
applies to fishing by foreign vessels. He relayed the
imperative nature of the development of and investment in the
Arctic region. He further suggested the construction of a
pipeline from the natural gas fields already developed to the
Arctic coast, because it is transported by cargo tankers.
1:13:17 PM
DOUG WALRATH, Director, Northwestern Alaska Career & Technical
Center, testified in support of HJR 14. He credited the
previous testifier for covering points regarding military
defense and economic competitiveness. He remarked that many
people in the Lower 48 are probably not aware that the U.S. is
an Arctic nation, and as a result, the country is "woefully
unprepared" compared to other Arctic nations, which he said is
surprising when considering the other accomplishments of the
U.S. He said the voice of Alaska's congressional delegation is
required to advocate for a deep draft Arctic port in Nome,
Alaska, which he suggested is "really advocating on behalf of
the U.S. as a whole."
1:15:32 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 14.
1:15:38 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:15 p.m. to 1:17 p.m.
1:17:17 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES asked whether the issue presented in HJR 14 had
been seen by the legislature before. She said she thinks it is
"an interesting, exciting process."
1:17:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER responded, "This is the first time we have
presented this resolution."
CO-CHAIR STUTES asserted that she has seen the information
before, and she reiterated her enthusiasms for the subject.
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER confirmed that the topic of Alaska's
Arctic passageway has been presented over the years in various
forms.
1:18:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN inquired whether the bill sponsor would
be amenable to an amendment to add the Port of Alaska, because
it is in need of financial assistance.
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER deferred the question to Joy Baker.
1:19:31 PM
JOY BAKER, Port Director, City of Nome, stated that HJR 14 is
concerned with shipping in the Arctic and is not specifically a
financial request. She said she thinks tying the Port of Nome
to Anchorage would defeat the purpose of trying to develop
maritime infrastructure in Arctic waters.
1:20:27 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL echoed that the proposed joint resolution is not a
request for funding and that it seems to be specifically for
Nome. He remarked that the name, "Port of Alaska," was coined
such but may not really be its proper name, and it could be
confusing to have a Port of Alaska and a Port of Nome. He asked
Representative Rasmussen if she wished to pursue an amendment.
1:21:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN answered no.
1:21:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that she's pleased to see HJR 14
shed light on the importance of an Arctic port "for development
and for ... security reasons." She predicted the proposed joint
resolution would be well received on the House floor.
1:22:08 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL returned to the idea of a natural gas pipeline,
which was brought up by a testifier. He suggested that the port
being frozen much of the year might make it difficult to have
reliable transport of natural gas.
1:22:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said Co-Chair Wool is correct that the
port is frozen for a portion of the winter, and although the
port thawed unexpectedly early in 2019, ships cannot make it
into port year round.
1:23:30 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES moved to report HJR 14 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HJR 14, was reported out of the House
Transportation Standing Committee.