02/24/1999 01:02 PM House RES

SB 12 - FOREST PRACTICES: STREAMS/TRIBUTARIES                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0934                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR JERRY SANDERS announced the next order of business would                                                               
be Senate Bill No. 12, "An Act classifying anadromous streams and                                                               
tributaries; relating to the designation of riparian areas;                                                                     
establishing buffers on certain streams and relating to slope                                                                   
stability standards on certain streams; and requiring retention of                                                              
low value timber along certain water bodies where prudent."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0946                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JERRY MACKIE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 12,                                                               
came forward and asked Representative Phillips to join him at the                                                               
table.  He explained that Representative Phillips' bill had passed                                                              
both bodies the previous year.  She had asked Senator Mackie to                                                                 
introduce SB 12 in the Senate, where it passed rapidly by a vote of                                                             
20-0.  They are continuing to work together to see this happen.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MACKIE read from the sponsor statement:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill 12 is the result of a cooperative effort by forest                                                             
     users to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of the                                                                 
     Forest Practices Act and recommend any improvements that would                                                             
     strengthen the protection of Alaska's streams and water                                                                    
     quality.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     In 1996, the Board of Forestry established a science and                                                                   
     technical committee, comprised of scientists from the timber,                                                              
     commercial fishing, and environmental communities, as well as                                                              
     state and federal agencies, to review and assess expressed                                                                 
     concerns about the adequacy of the Act's protections.  The                                                                 
     committee's two-year study identified several opportunities to                                                             
     improve salmon habitat and water quality.  A stakeholders                                                                  
     committee then convened to incorporate these findings into the                                                             
     recommendations to the board.  The board subsequently endorsed                                                             
     these recommendations and requested legislative approval of                                                                
     the appropriate measures.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill 12 affects only the spruce and hemlock forests in                                                              
     the Department of Natural Resources' designated Region 1.                                                                  
     This is the coastal area from Ketchikan to Kodiak.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Under current regulations, all anadromous streams are                                                                      
     protected, although exceptions are allowed for marginal                                                                    
     streams. ... Senate Bill 12 will eliminate all exceptions and                                                              
     provide additional protections.  As a result, the bill                                                                     
     accomplishes several goals:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     1.   It assigns a "type" classification that covers all                                                                    
          streams, putting to rest concerns that some segments of                                                               
          anadromous streams were not included for protection.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     2.   It extends the no-harvest, riparian buffer zone to ALL                                                                
          anadromous fish streams, relative to "type."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     3.   It requires the retention of low-value timber along                                                                   
          certain tributaries where prudent, so that trees may                                                                  
          eventually fall into streams, forming natural pools                                                                   
          downstream that are important for fish rearing.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     I am pleased to sponsor this legislation that is a product of                                                              
     so much time, effort and deliberation by members of the                                                                    
     timber, fishing and environmental communities.  It is a                                                                    
     cooperative step forward in the protection and wise                                                                        
     utilization of our resources.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 1128                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MACKIE advised members that the forest industry is probably                                                             
the primary mover behind this.  He commended them for advocating                                                                
larger buffer zones and more protection in terms of logging.  He                                                                
said the forest industry has lived up to its commitment in                                                                      
supporting the science that will better protect our streams.                                                                    
Senator Mackie noted that present were Mr. Phelps of the Alaska                                                                 
Forest Association, Mr. Jahnke of the Division of Forestry; and                                                                 
Jerry McCune of the United Fishermen of Alaska.  He assured members                                                             
that this is a consensus bill among the various users of the                                                                    
resources.  He knows of no opposition to it.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 1246                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS, Alaska State Legislature, told                                                                    
members that support for the prior year's resolution was virtually                                                              
unanimous last session, and support for SB 12 was unanimous in the                                                              
Senate last week.  It is consensus legislation, developed from a                                                                
great deal of work by all parties involved.  They had addressed                                                                 
Area 1 first and have now started work on Area 2; eventually they                                                               
will have re-evaluated the Forest Practices Act for the entire                                                                  
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MACKIE pointed out that the commercial fishing industry and                                                             
members from the environmental community have been very supportive.                                                             
Committee packets contain a zero fiscal note, maps showing the                                                                  
regions affected, classifications and studies.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 1384                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SANDERS advised members that he would offer the                                                                        
Administration and the industry an opportunity to comment, even                                                                 
though everyone seemed to be in agreement.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 1401                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JEFF JAHNKE, Director, Division of Forestry, Department of Natural                                                              
Resources (DNR); and Presiding Officer, Board of Forestry, came                                                                 
forward in support of SB 12, specifying that he spoke on behalf of                                                              
both the DNR and the board.  He said Senator Mackie had done a                                                                  
great job of explaining the bill.  Mr. Jahnke emphasized the                                                                    
participation in developing this resolution, which is carefully                                                                 
worded and has agreement.  He cautioned that too many changes may                                                               
make agreement difficult to sustain.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SANDERS asked whether anyone else wished to testify; no                                                                
one came forward.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 1464                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion to move SB 12 from the                                                                      
committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal                                                               
note(s); she asked unanimous consent.  There being no objection, SB
 moved from the House Resources Standing Committee.