04/02/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE

3:00:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 57(RES)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act relating  to fishing, hunting,  and trapping  in                                                                   
     marine  park  units of  the  Alaska state  park  system,                                                                   
     amending  the area within  designated marine  park units                                                                   
     of the Alaska state park  system, and adding marine park                                                                   
     units to the Alaska state park system.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JESSE  KIEHL,   STAFF,  SENATOR  KIM  ELTON,   explained  the                                                                   
legislation,  which adds  14 islands  to  an existing  marine                                                                   
park parcel.   The  islands are  heavily used  by both  local                                                                   
residents as well as visitors  from out of State for hunting,                                                                   
fishing, recreation and tourism.   The waters off the islands                                                                   
are productive fishing grounds.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Kiehl  stated that  the bill  was developed jointly  with                                                                   
the  Division  of Parks.    It is  supported  by  the City  &                                                                   
Borough of Juneau  (CBJ), the local tourism  companies, urban                                                                   
Native  corporations, fishing  charter companies  as well  as                                                                   
outdoor groups including the Territorial Sportsmen.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Kiehl noted  that one of the primary purposes  for adding                                                                   
the lands  and water to  the State Marine  Park system  is to                                                                   
begin to develop amenities on  the islands such as cabins and                                                                   
boat launches in  partnership with local groups  to a reduced                                                                   
cost  to the  State.   The bill  explicitly excludes  private                                                                   
land  holdings  in  the  areas described.    All  those  land                                                                   
holdings have  water access  and will not  be impeded  by the                                                                   
bill.  SB 57 clarifies that whatever  rules the Department of                                                                   
Fish  and Game  implements  for  hunting and  trapping  would                                                                   
apply to these areas as well.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:04:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  asked if  the fishing reference  referred                                                                   
to both sport  and commercial.  Mr. Kiehl clarified  that the                                                                   
bill was deliberately  crafted to be broad and  does refer to                                                                   
sport, commercial and subsistence use and gathering.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze noted  that  he did  not  care about  the                                                                   
legislation  since   it  was  not   close  to  the   area  he                                                                   
represents.  He  opined that one does not know  what they are                                                                   
inviting when  the Parks Division  and their management  come                                                                   
into that area.  He wanted to  know that it was approved with                                                                   
informed consent.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer  asked if  there was  commercial value  to the                                                                   
land  for mining  or timber  interests.   Mr.  Kiehl was  not                                                                   
aware of  significant commercial value.   He deferred  to the                                                                   
Department  of  Natural Resources.    There  is one  possible                                                                   
commercial use - the beaches might  be suitable for shellfish                                                                   
farming, which the bill would not impact.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara asked  where the  Copper River  meridian                                                                   
was in Southeast Alaska.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
JAMES  KING,  DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  PARKS,  DEPARTMENT  OF                                                                   
NATURAL RESOURCES, did not know the answer to that.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:09:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thomas commented that  over the years,  there                                                                   
has never  been a  problem with  compatibility in the  areas.                                                                   
He thought  the areas  were also  important to the  Anchorage                                                                   
commercial fishermen.  He did not oppose the bill.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker commented  that  there is  a "body  of                                                                   
testimony"  included from  hearings in  the Senate  Resources                                                                   
and Senate Finance  Committees.  He indicated  his support of                                                                   
the bill,  which has been  endorsed by adjacent  land owners,                                                                   
the fisheries community and the  park.  He applauded the work                                                                   
done by the sponsor.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer noted the small fiscal note.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze MOVED  to REPORT  CS SB  57 (RES) out  of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS  SB 57  (RES) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "no                                                                   
recommendation" and with fiscal  note #2 by the Department of                                                                   
Natural Resources and zero note  #3 by the Department of Fish                                                                   
and Game.