Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
02/12/2020 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR25 | |
| Presentation(s): Food Coalition Representatives | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 25-ENSURE ACCESS INTO DENALI PARK
1:24:24 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Encouraging the President of the
United States, the United States Congress, and the Governor of
the state to assist the National Park Service in its efforts to
ensure long- term access into Denali National Park and Preserve
by way of the existing roadway.
1:24:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 25,
informed the committee on the only road through Denali National
Park and Preserve (Denali Park), at mile marker 45.4, known as
Polychrome Pass, the road is moving and cracking. He
paraphrased from the sponsor statement [included in the
committee packet] which read [original punctuation provided]:
Sponsor Statement for House Joint Resolution 25
Denali is Alaska's most well-known National Park. The
park road is 92 miles long and parallels the Alaska
Range, travelling through low valleys and high
mountain passes. Along the route there are many
opportunities to view wildlife roaming the unfenced
land, view peaks of Denali when the sky permits and
view incredible landscapes all along the way. Denali
park road is also the only road into the park and
services the Kantishna area on the back side of the
park. Without this road there is no access to the park
or the area. Keeping the access road into Denali
National Park for the enjoyment of residents of the
Kantishna area and visitors alike is a point of
paramount significance to many of those who plan to
travel throughout Alaska. A section of road at mile
marker 45.4 has become increasingly unstable and needs
immediate attention. I urge you to support HJR 25 to
encourage action on this significant piece of
infrastructure. Please call my staff at 907-465-4527
for any questions.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO pointed out the Park Road provides the
only access to private businesses in Kantishna and to the large
park campground at Wonder Lake, thus the access road is critical
for residents and visitors. He noted Denali Park is visited by
approximately 600,000 tourists per year and the Eielson Visitor
Center, which is located beyond the problem with the road, is
one of the park's most popular destinations. Speaking from his
prior experience in the tourism industry, Representative
Talerico stated Denali Park is a key component in the
itineraries of visitors who travel to many other destinations in
Alaska and cautioned about the impact to the travel industry by
the closure of the Park Road.
1:29:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO noted the Park Road is also critical to
the lottery which allows private vehicle road access in the
fall; the lottery is very popular and is entered primarily by
Alaska residents. In addition, active military personnel have
an opportunity to drive the Park Road at no cost in the fall.
The intent of HJR 25 is to demonstrate that the legislature
recognizes the importance of the Park Road to the visitor
industry, Alaska residents, and active military and to encourage
a temporary repair and plans for long-term repair. He urged the
committee to support HJR 25.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS expressed his support for HJR 25 and
noted the Fairbanks North Star Borough has indicated its
support.
1:34:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ expressed her support for HJR 25 and
recalled her personal experience camping in Denali Park.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed her support and recalled her
personal experience in Denali Park.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recalled his personal experience in Denali
Park and expressed his support for HJR 25.
1:39:30 PM
DON STRIKER, superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve
and Acting Regional Director, National Park Service (NPS), U.S.
Department of the Interior, expressed his support for HJR 25.
He said NPS recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation to
Alaska and Alaskans; in addition, tourism is a major economic
driver in the state. For American tourists on their first
cruise, a tour of Denali Park and Glacier Bay National Park and
Preserve are preferred destinations; in fact, Denali Park
receives over 600,000 visits each year. Visitors to the park
spend $600 million in direct spending, and the visitor industry
supports over 8,150 jobs statewide, which together comprise
nearly $1 billion in total economic output for the state. Mr.
Striker said NPS seeks to ensure access to Denali Park to fulfil
its responsibility as a good neighbor and to ensure that first-
time visitors return to Alaska. Finally, he said HJR 25
underscores the importance of state/federal and public/private
partnerships to sustaining access to Denali Park.
1:42:53 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on HJR 25.
1:43:02 PM
SARAH LEONARD, president/CEO, Alaska Travel Industry Association
(ATIA), informed the committee the 680 members of ATIA and
businesses that depend on safe and efficient access into Denali
Park support HJR 25. Alaska's national parks are experiencing a
backlog of maintenance needs; in fact, one-half of Denali Park's
deferred maintenance budget of $54 million is due to
deteriorating conditions along the Park Road. A lack of safe
and reliable access into the park would create economic impacts
throughout Alaska's visitor industry. Tourism is important to
the state's economy and national parks contribute to the success
of Alaska's tourism; she referred to previous testimony and
advised if the Park Road were to close for an extended period,
hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and all facets of the
tourism industry statewide would suffer severe economic impacts.
MS. Leonard said ATIA supports the efforts of NPS and the
legislature to ensure a timely opening of the Park Road this
summer, and a long-term solution.
1:45:35 PM
CLAY WALKER, mayor, Denali Borough, expressed support for HJR 25
and said the Denali Borough Assembly will consider a similar
resolution because the importance of the Denali Park Road to the
economies of the state, and the Denali Borough, cannot be
overstated. Furthermore, road accessibility into the Denali
Park wilderness is unique to the park. He spoke of his personal
experience working in the park and said as mayor, he sought
support from the Alaska congressional delegation. Mayor Walker
said a closure at mile 43 would affect Toklat, Stony Hill,
Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake, and Kantishna, all of which
are premier destinations. He urged for cooperation and support
from federal, state, and local governments.
1:48:27 PM
JENNA HAMM, co-owner, Camp Denali and North Face Lodge, informed
the committee her business is one of four lodges at the end of
the Park Road that rely on road access. She expressed her
support for HJR 25 and agreed support for the bill from
legislators is critical to sustaining the tourism economy at
both local and state levels. She asked the committee to
consider adding two points: businesses are located at the end
of the road in Kantishna; the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA), Section 1110(b), grants businesses a
right to reasonable access for economic purposes, which has been
provided by the Park Road. She urged the committee to seek a
partnership between the state and NPS in order to extend
resources.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked for clarification on the businesses in
Kantishna.
MS. HAMM said she and her husband operate two lodges, Camp
Denali and North Face Lodge; Camp Denali has been in operation
since 1952. There are three other lodges, Kantishna Roadhouse,
Skyline Lodge, and Denali Backcountry Lodge.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked for clarification of access guaranteed by
ANILCA.
MS. HAMM said ANILCA, [Section 1110(b)] relates to rights of
reasonable access for economic and other purposes.
1:52:18 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
1:53:09 PM
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN moved to report HJR 25 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HJR 25 was reported out of the House
Resources Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR 25 Version M 2.3.20.PDF |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Sponsor Statement 2.5.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Supporing Letter - Robert Wallace 02.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Fiscal Note-LEG-SESS 02.11.2020.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HRES Division of Agriculture Peony Programs Handout 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Food Security in Alaska Presentation - Anchorage School District Green Brief 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Food Security in Alaska Presentation - Organics 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Web Peony Programs Presentation 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |