Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/18/1998 01:45 PM House FIN
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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 53
Relating to support for federal legislation providing
for the continuation of the University of Alaska by the
conveyance of federal land to the university.
Representative Kelly, Sponsor, noted that HJR 53 supports
federal Senate Bill 660, by Senator Murkowski, which would
convey 250,000 acres of federal land to the University of
Alaska.
(Tape Change, HFC 98 - 33, Side 2)
Representative Kelly maintained that the state of Alaska
received a smaller proportion of federal land for education
than any other state. In 1913, the state of Alaska was
granted 330,000 acres. Only approximately 110,000 acres
were conveyed. He maintained that it is time to give the
University of Alaska more money through land management. He
asserted that the University has done a good job of managing
their lands.
Co-Chair Therriault pointed out that the state of Alaska
would match the federal land grant, acre by acre. He
observed that there is a possibility that another 250,000
acres could be traded for university land held in national
parks.
MARC WHEELER, SOUTHEAST ALASKA CONSERVATION COUNCIL (SEACC)
testified in opposition to HJR 53. He provided members with
a copy of his written testimony and a copy of SEACC's
statement before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee on September 11, 1997.
He observed that SEACC is a coalition of fifteen local
communities, volunteer conservation groups in twelve
Southeast Alaska communities, from Ketchikan to Yakutat.
Members include commercial fishermen, Native Alaskans,
hunters and guides, tourism and recreation business owners,
value-added wood product manufacturers, and Alaskans from
all walks of life. He maintained that SEACC is dedicated to
safeguarding the integrity of Southeast Alaska's unsurpassed
natural environment while providing for balanced,
sustainable use of our region's resources.
He noted while SEACC supports adequate funding of the
University of Alaska by the Alaska State Legislature that
SEACC strongly opposes S.660. He stated that as amended by
the Senate Energy Committee on September, 1997, S.660 would
allow the University of Alaska to select at least 250,000
acres of National Forests and other federal land within
Alaska that are not "conservation system units" (as defined
in ANILCA (Public Law 96-487). These include National
Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments, and
Wilderness Areas or Legislated LUD II areas protected by the
Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990 (TTRA). Up to 250,000
additional acres of National Forest and other federal land
could be selected if matched by an equal acreage from State
lands. Under this bill, half a million acres of public
lands, including lands within the Tongass and Chugach
National Forests, could be selected for clearcutting and
other damaging uses.
Mr. Wheeler asserted that the University has never acted as
careful stewards because it has been forced to squeeze as
much revenue from their lands as possible. He maintained
that the University would select lands, which they can turn
into fast cash. He alleged that the University would
"target Tongass old-growth timberlands and level them as
quickly as possible". He asserted that the University does
not manage for multiple use, but instead manages "their
lands much like private lands -- laying down massive
clearcuts and exporting round logs, while placing the
absolute minimum protections on fish and wildlife habitat."
He noted that the University hired Wasser and Winters, an
out-of-state firm, to log its timber holdings near Cape
Yakataga. According to the Alaska Department of Labor, over
70 percent of Wasser and Winters' employees in 1995 were
non-residents.
Mr. Wheeler concluded that the legislation threatens all
parts of the Tongass not permanently protected by Congress.
He observed that 10 Southeast Alaskan communities and 2
tribal governments have gone on record opposing this
legislation.
Mr. Wheeler observed that the Morrill Act of 1862 created
the land grant system of colleges and universities. This
Act granted lands based on states' population, not size.
Alaska ranks 48th in the size of federal land grants given
for education. Alaska also ranks 49th in terms of
population. The University currently holds roughly 140,000
acres of fee simple land and 173,326 acres of investment
property in all. He maintained that "with this ample land
grant and adequate funding from the State of Alaska, our
University system should be able to provide quality
education for all Alaskans".
Co-Chair Therriault noted that the University's management
has been in accordance with the state's Forest Practices
Act. He maintained that the Forest Practices Act is
considered to be the "Cadillac" of forest practices
legislation. Mr. Wheeler replied that there are minimal
buffers on fish streams and protections for wildlife
habitat. He referred to helicopter logging operations in
Ketchikan.
In response to a question by Representative Davies, Mr.
Wheeler acknowledged that the University of Alaska is not
required to clear-cut lands. He asserted that "the
University's land trust is required to manage for the
benefit of that trust, which requires it to make the most
money possible...their interpretation to that has been to
clear cut and export to round logs to make the most
money..."
Representative Davies asked if Mr. Wheeler was maintaining
that the University has never acted as a careful steward of
their lands. Mr. Wheeler stated that he could only judge by
the examples in Southeast Alaska. Representative Davies
pointed out that in the University has entered into
negotiated stakeholder processes with SEACC and other
environmental communities on some Southeast operations. All
parties agreed to the process that resulted. Mr. Wheeler
maintained that the agreements were driven by the political
realities of the time. He stressed that the legislation
does not require the University to manage their lands in
anyway that is more protective than the national forest. He
stressed that the Tongass Plan has considerable improvements
over fish and wildlife habitat protections. He maintained
that these would be.
Representative Davies ascertained that Mr. Wheeler had not
read the Board of Regents policy with respect to public
comment on land management that was adopted in 1997. He
disagreed with Mr. Wheeler's assertion that the University
is not a careful steward. He maintained that the University
does not adopt clear cutting in a way that is inconsistent
with the Forest Practices Act and careful stewardship.
Representative Grussendorf expressed concern with logging
operations by the University in Southeast Alaska.
Representative Martin MOVED to report HJR 53 out of
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. Co-Chair
Therriault noted that the House Finance Committee has
submitted a zero fiscal note for the University of Alaska.
He observed that the University supports a zero fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HJR 53 was out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation
and with a zero fiscal note for the University of Alaska.
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