Legislature(2015 - 2016)BARNES 124
02/11/2015 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
Overview(s): Point Thomson | |
HB70 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
*+ | HB 70 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 70-CREAMER'S FIELD REFUGE 1:27:10 PM CO-CHAIR TALERICO announced that the next order of business is HOUSE BILL NO. 70, "An Act adding land and water to the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge." 1:27:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE ADAM WOOL, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HB 70 as the sponsor. He explained that the bill would expand the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks. He spoke as follows: This bill would add four state-owned parcels to the refuge. These parcels were purchased with the intention of being added to the refuge and are currently being managed in accordance with the refuge management plan. Passing this bill will formally designate these as refuge lands and allow the [Alaska] Department of Fish & Game to manage these lands as part of the refuge. This bill will expand the refuge from 1,776 acres to approximately 2,000 acres. From the beginning Creamer's Field has been a public- private partnership. When the … Creamer family announced plans to sell the historic dairy, Fairbanks community worked to raise funds to purchase and preserve it and … Governor Hickel introduced legislation for the state to purchase the historic dairy site. The Friends of Creamer's Field, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, works with [the Alaska Department of] Fish & Game to provide educational and community activities at the refuge, including Camp Habitat, which my two daughters attend. Thank you for considering this legislation and for supporting a Fairbanks community landmark. 1:29:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS), labeled 29-LS0372\H, Bullard, 2/9/15, as the working document. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected for discussion purposes. 1:30:08 PM DAVID DUNSMORE, Staff, Representative Wool, explained that Version H makes several technical changes that were suggested by the Department of Natural Resources. [On page 1, line 8,] a comma was inserted after "Beginning". [On page 1, line 10; page 2, line 4; page 2, line 9; and page 2, line 12,] the word "continuing" is replaced with word "thence". The sponsor was advised that even if those changes were not made, the legal descriptions would still be accurate, but for drafting standards for propriety, "thence" is the term that is properly used to describe a boundary along a meander, and "continuing" is the proper word to describe at along a line. [On page 3, lines 13- 18,] the legal description of the parcel described in paragraph (6) was revised to a simpler version because it removes a reference to a subdivision waiver by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. This was suggested because reference to the waiver might not be appropriate for statute because that waiver is not a readily obtainable public document. He pointed out that the sponsor has been assured [by DNR] that the legal descriptions still accurately describe the land. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON removed his objection to adoption of the proposed CS. 1:31:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON inquired how many people have reviewed the land descriptions. MR. DUNSMORE replied that someone from DNR or ADF&G could better answer the question, but that to his knowledge at least five or six people have looked at them. 1:32:24 PM CO-CHAIR TALERICO ascertained there was no objection to adopting Version H and ordered its adoption as the working document. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON noted that the previous governor vetoed this legislation [House Bill 246 passed and vetoed in 2014]. He asked why it was vetoed and whether the issue had been resolved. MR. DUNSMORE confirmed that [Governor Parnell] had vetoed the bill. He explained that the governor's veto message expressed support for the underlying intention of adding these lands to the refuge but that a Department of Law review had found an error in the legal description that could have potentially caused a cloud on the title of the private landowner whose land was inadvertently described. Out of caution and respect for the private landowner who was unconnected to the bill in any way, the bill was vetoed. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON inquired whether any of the contiguous landowners object to these lands being added to the refuge. REPRESENTATIVE WOOL answered no. 1:34:10 PM CO-CHAIR TALERICO opened public testimony on HB 70. 1:34:45 PM MARK HALL, Land Surveyor, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Department of Natural Resources, said he reviewed the [land] descriptions. Responding to Representative Hawker, he said the land descriptions in HB 70 are correct to the best of his knowledge. DAVID JAMES, Regional Supervisor, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, pointed out that the property [being added to the refuge] is already owned by the state. To the degree possible, he said, ADF&G has been managing that property as part of the refuge although technically it is not. Two different sources of federal funds were used to purchase the land and it is part of the refuge's multiple use. 1:36:40 PM CO-CHAIR TALERICO closed public testimony after ascertaining no one else wished to testify. 1:37:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON observed from the map in the committee packet that some university land is within the [refuge] boundary and some is not. He asked whether there are any use limitations or restrictions on that land. MR. DUNSMORE replied that his understanding is that use on the adjacent university land is consistent. Drawing attention to the map, he pointed out several trails that cross from the refuge into the university land. He deferred further answer to Mr. James. MR. JAMES responded that he is unaware of any issues in regard to conflicts or compromised uses on university land as opposed to the refuge. As far as large holdings of university land that might be used for other things in the future, he said that to the best of his knowledge most of that is on the west side of the refuge closest to the campus. As far as any issues with other rights of way, he said he is unaware of any. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he just wants to make sure it is a compatible use to the university. 1:39:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER moved to report the proposed committee substitute for HB 70, labeled 29-LS0372\H, Bullard, 2/9/15, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 70(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee. 1:39:52 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HB 70 Original Version A.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
HB 70 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
HB 70 Creamers Field Land Status Map.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
HB 70 Support letter.PDF |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
HB 70 Interin Management Plan.PDF |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
HB 70 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
CSHB 70 Ver H.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 70 |
2.11.15 House Resources Committee Governor's remarks on Point Thomson.pdf |
HRES 2/11/2015 1:00:00 PM |
House Resources Committee - Governor's remarks on Pt. Thomson |