Legislature(2011 - 2012)BARNES 124
03/14/2012 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SJR17 | |
HB361 | |
HB276 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 361 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 276 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 17-ARCTIC COUNCIL TASK FORCE 1:11:22 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Welcoming the Arctic Council Task Force for Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response to the state for its March 2012 meeting and urging the task force to use its time in the state to inform and inspire the work of the task force. 1:11:49 PM MICHAEL PAWLOWSKI, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SJR 17 on behalf of Senator McGuire, sponsor, reporting that on March 20-22, 2012, the Arctic Council Task Force for Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response will be holding a hearing in Girdwood, Alaska. He said the resolution is designed to be presented to the task force to encourage them to use their time in the state to inspire their work on this arctic instrument. He added that the task force was created under the Arctic Council. 1:12:45 PM MR. PAWLOWSKI explained that the points of particular interest to Alaska start on page 2, line 14, of the resolution. He said lines 14-18 recognize that in terms of shipping it is not just the Arctic region of Alaska that will be affected, but also the Aleutian Islands; therefore, the Aleutian Islands are included throughout the resolution as well. According to page 16 of the Aleutian Islands Risk Assessment Project Phase A Summary Report [August 2011], included in the committee packet, roughly 2,000 vessels are currently transiting the Aleutians. The [2004] spill by the M/V Selendang Ayu was one of the larger spills in state history. The purpose of HJR 17 is to express to the task force - which has the responsibility to create the instrument for Arctic cooperation on oil spills and response - that Alaska would like to see vessels in innocent passage acknowledge the critical role of local response organizations, indigenous people, state and local governments, and response organizations in preparedness and response. When a vessel in international waters loses control and ends up in state waters, it is the state that must respond and deal with the mess. 1:14:11 PM MR. PAWLOWSKI noted that lines 19-22 of the resolution urge that ships in the Bering Strait and Aleutians regions voluntarily engage local authorities in contingency planning, and that the Instrument on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic encourages that engagement. It is putting the point that while the State of Alaska does not have jurisdiction, it can participate through this resolution at this international body to encourage items that are in the state's interest. He related that Senator McGuire sees this resolution as part of the broader strategy of engaging on these Arctic issues that the legislature has taken the lead on. 1:14:59 PM MR. PAWLOWSKI, in response to Representative Gardner, understood that "innocent" passage involves ships that are outside the waters of the state and transiting not to a port within the state. Directing attention to the map on page 16 of the summary report, he said the "great circle route" is one of the shortest distances between Asia and the West Coast of the U.S. and runs through the Aleutian Islands. A ship on this route would be in innocent passage because it is not heading into the jurisdiction of the State of Alaska. 1:15:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER inquired as to how confident the State of Alaska is that every vessel coming to an Alaska port is meeting the standards being requested in SJR 17, aside from oil and gas which is carefully monitored in the state's waters. MR. PAWLOWSKI replied the standards requested in the resolution are voluntary. He understood that vessels coming into an Alaska port must comply with State of Alaska rules. However, vessels currently moving through the Arctic and the Aleutians by and large do not have to; they are covered under the International Maritime Organization. Through these international bodies the state advocates for stricter standards. For example, the M/V Selendang Ayu was a Malaysian freighter that functioned under international rules, not State of Alaska rules. In that the Arctic nations through the Arctic Council are getting together to develop a framework, the State of Alaska through SJR 17 is expressing an interest in seeing the stricter standards that Alaska has to protect its coasts showcased at this meeting and encouraging this group to adopt stricter standards for the Arctic than currently exist. 1:17:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON inquired whether Alaskans will be involved in these discussions. MR. PAWLOWSKI understood Alaskans would not officially be involved. He directed attention to page 2 of the resolution, beginning on line 30, which directs where copies of the resolution are to be sent. He said he does not believe Alaskans are on the task force given it is an international group. However, he understood that Alaskans will be at the meeting to advocate for issues that are in Alaska's interest. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON offered his support for SJR 17 saying it is artfully written to send a memorandum to this group asking it to consider Alaska's concerns during the development of its comprehensive Arctic strategy. MR. PAWLOWSKI, in response to Representative Munoz, reiterated that the task force meeting is taking place March 20-22, 2012, at [Hotel Alyeska]. CO-CHAIR SEATON opened public testimony on SJR 17. 1:19:15 PM NILS ANDREASSEN, Managing Director, Institute of the North, stated he is testifying in his capacity as co-chair of the host committee for the coming Arctic Council Oil Spill Task Force meeting. He said the Institute of the North has had a long history of interaction with the Arctic Council - it has chaired projects under the working groups, including a circumpolar infrastructure task force, and was co-editor of the [2009] Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Report, which is considered the bible of Arctic marine shipping. The Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Report recommended there be a search and rescue agreement, which was approved [May 2011] by the senior Arctic officials. At that May meeting the Arctic Council decided to form the Task Force for Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response. That task force has now met in Norway and Moscow. Since its intent was to next meet in America, some Alaskans successfully urged that that meeting be held in Alaska. Eight delegations from around the Arctic are bringing nearly a hundred experts on oil spill response and preparedness to this meeting in Alaska. This is a great opportunity for Alaskans to take a leadership role in welcoming these delegations and helping to shape some of the negotiations that will be taking place. 1:21:04 PM MR. ANDREASSEN said this is an important time for Alaska because the U.S. will be the chair of the Arctic Council in a few years and the U.S. is forming its strategy for its chairmanship. This is a good first opportunity for Alaskans to weigh in on these issues. He said the host committee is encouraged by SJR 17 because it sends a great message to these guests from around the Arctic. From the host committee's perspective there will be a number of public opportunities for engagement. While the sessions themselves are closed, he and several Alaskans will be observers and will have opportunities for interaction. The Institute of the North is hosting a reception on March 19 for the attendees. Ambassador [David] Balton of the U.S. Department of State will host a debriefing of the three-day session on the afternoon of March 22. He reiterated that [the host committee] is glad to see SJR 17 as it sends a great welcoming message to these foreign dignitaries and experts. In response to Co-Chair Seaton, said he has not seen a full list of meeting participants, but U.S. Senator Begich's office will be represented at each of the public forums. 1:23:18 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify. REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report SJR 17 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. She thanked the sponsor, saying Senator McGuire has been a leader in Arctic issues. There being no objection, SJR 17 was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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SJR017A.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
Sponsor Statement for SJR 17.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
HB0361A.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
Sectional Analysis of HB 361.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
Briefing Paper_HB361_030512.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
Aleutian Island Risk Assessment.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
SJR 17 Background-Pressing Issues in the Arctic.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
SJR 17 Background Task Force on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (3).pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
DEC Letter Feb 29, 2012.PDF |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
SJR017-1-2-022912-STA-N.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
HB0361-1-2-022912-DFG-N.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
HB0361-2-2-022912-DOT-N.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
HB0361-3-2-022912-DNR-Y.pdf |
HRES 3/5/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
HB276 Sponsor Statement version D.pdf |
HRES 3/12/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 276 |
Sectional House Bill 276 version D.pdf |
HRES 3/12/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 276 |
Oil Basin Final re areas version D 3.8.12.pdf |
HRES 3/12/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 276 |
HB276 CS versiion D 3.7.12.pdf |
HRES 3/12/2012 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 276 |
HB 361 HRES 3-5-12 Responses.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |
Leasing actions required by HB361.pdf |
HRES 3/14/2012 1:00:00 PM |
HB 361 |