04/27/1995 04:15 PM House RES

 HJR 46 - ENDORSING FALLS CREEK HYDROPOWER PROJECT                           
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT made a MOTION to MOVE CSHJR 46(RES) with             
 attached fiscal note out of committee with individual                         
 recommendations.                                                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES OBJECTED.                                               
                                                                               
 DAVE GRAY, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT, REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MACKIE,                
 PRIME SPONSOR, said HJR 46 is to encourage the community of                   
 Gustavus and the Gustavus Electric Company's efforts to get a low             
 power hydroproject going in the Gustavus area.  He stated the site            
 happens to be just inside the boundaries of the National Park                 
 Service (NPS) and will require the NPS to allow it to happen on               
 their land.  He noted there has been encouragement from Washington,           
 D.C. that they would like to entertain the possibility of this                
 project.                                                                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES asked if there have been any discussions with           
 the NPS at this point.                                                        
                                                                               
 MR. GRAY replied this is not a new project but one that has been              
 worked on for at least two years.  He said there have been                    
 discussions with the NPS by residents in and around Gustavus, as              
 well as the Gustavus Electric Company.  He explained there has been           
 interest in Washington, D.C. to not be so adamantly against this              
 type of project, particularly a project which could benefit the NPS           
 directly.                                                                     
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES questioned what impact the project would have           
 on the park.                                                                  
                                                                               
 MR. GRAY noted in committee members folders there are letters of              
 support from people who are very sensitive to the park's purpose              
 and the environment around Gustavus.  He said the project is closer           
 to Gustavus not where the cruise ships go, etc.  He felt the impact           
 would be minimal, at best.                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES clarified the project is not deep inside the            
 park, but rather at the entrance.                                             
                                                                               
 MR. GRAY replied the project is right next to Gustavus and is in              
 the same area the community of Gustavus would like to do a solid              
 waste disposal area.                                                          
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT WITHDREW his MOTION.                                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a MOTION to ADOPT CSHJR 46(RES).                     
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections.  Hearing             
 none, the MOTION PASSED.                                                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a MOTION to MOVE CSHJR 46(RES) with                  
 attached zero fiscal note out of committee with individual                    
 recommendations.                                                              
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections.  Hearing             
 none, the MOTION PASSED.