04/05/1997 01:12 PM House RES

 SJR 16(RES) am - REFORM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT                          
                                                                               
 Number 1806                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the next item on the agenda was Senate             
 Joint Resolution 16(RES) am, relating to reauthorization and reform           
 of the Endangered Species Act.                                                
                                                                               
 Number 1815                                                                   
                                                                               
 LORALI MEIER, Student Intern for Senator Loren Leman, said SJR
(RES) am recognizes the importance of state, federal and private            
 partnerships for protecting against species extinction while also             
 protecting private property rights.   She referred to page 2,                 
 beginning with line 9; the resolution recommends that the re-                 
 authorize act contain nine specific features, including greater               
 flexibility for states in implementing the act, stricter scientific           
 requirements for listing and de-listing, elimination of the concept           
 of distinct population segments and standards which cover the                 
 ability of a species to recover costs and public interest.                    
 Additionally, starting on page 3, line 4, regarding the further               
 resolve clause, the resolution requests that the re-authorize act             
 not include any expansion of federal authority, the implementation            
 of the complicated biodiversity treaty or the creation of a new,              
 ambiguous biological diversity reserve system.                                
                                                                               
 MS. MEIER said the Endangered Species Act (ESA) can be an important           
 tool in protecting threatened and endangered species.  However, in            
 its reauthorization Congress needs to address identified weaknesses           
 in it.  Alaska has seen some radical decisions based on the ESA,              
 including cut-backs in fishing time for Southeast Alaska fisherman,           
 decreases in logging in the Tongass and loss of various development           
 proposals.  The resolution requests that approaches to end species            
 protection be balanced, realistic and focused on measurable goals.            
 On behalf of Senator Leman, she asked that the House Resources                
 Committee act favorably on this resolution.                                   
                                                                               
 Number 1906                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN expressed problems with the ESA in how far it                
 reaches into private property rights.  He understood that the                 
 people who own the property don't own the resource, but there was             
 no compensation for people who lose their private property or the             
 right to use that private property because of the ESA or the                  
 Wetlands Act.                                                                 
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN felt the definition of wetlands in this state            
 is absurd.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 1997                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN HUDSON made a motion to move SJR 16(RES) am with a zero           
 fiscal note and ask unanimous consent.  There being no objection,             
 SJR 16(RES) am was moved from the House Resources Standing                    
 Committee.