03/19/1994 08:00 AM House STA

  SB 135 - APPROPRIATION FOR THE ALASKA RAILROAD EXTENSION                     
  STUDY                                                                        
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY opened CSSB 135, sponsored by SENATOR MIKE                    
  MILLER, for discussion.  Seeing no one present from the                      
  sponsor's office, he moved to the Tok teleconference site                    
  for testimony.                                                               
                                                                               
  DIANE JENKINS, MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TOK CHAMBER OF                     
  COMMERCE, asked questions about CSSB 135.  She stated Tok                    
  did have an interest in CSSB 135.  She asked if the studies                  
  that had been done several years ago were being reactivated.                 
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY answered no, CSSB 135 only provides a small                   
  appropriation to the Department of Transportation and Public                 
  Facilities, to reevaluate the cost of acquiring the right-                   
  of-ways that have already been identified.  He noted the                     
  study had not been updated in 20-25 years.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 472                                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. JENKINS asked if there was any chance the old pipeline                   
  corridor or canal would be used.                                             
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated the study was not before him and CSSB
 was merely an appropriation bill to evaluate the right-                  
  of-way.  He did not believe the right-of-way in CSSB 135 was                 
  the same as the canal right-of-way.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 483                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ULMER noted the committee did have access to                  
  the right-of-way information if Tok would like to see it.                    
  She mentioned the two listed in her packet entitled "The                     
  Alaska Railroad Extension Route Selection Report," from 1979                 
  and a follow up report which includes an environmental                       
  assessment of the route, from 1982.  She stated the title                    
  work done on the report was $66,000.                                         
                                                                               
  MS. JENKINS responded they would like a copy.                                
                                                                               
  Number 495                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY returned to Juneau for testimony.                             
                                                                               
  TERESA SAGER-STANCLIFF, STAFF, SENATOR MIKE MILLER, gave the                 
  sponsor statement for CSSB 135.  She stated CSSB 135 has a                   
  similar companion bill in the House, HB 484.  She reiterated                 
  CSSB 135 would provide a $10,000 appropriation for an update                 
  of the original study done in 1979.  The study was done on                   
  route selection for an extension of the railroad from                        
  Eielson to the Canadian border.  The study was updated in                    
  1982 and since then, there have been land transfers and                      
  acquisition in the area of the route.  The appropriation in                  
  CSSB 135 would update the title work so a new cost estimate                  
  of acquiring the property for the right-of-way could be                      
  done.                                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 514                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS moved to pass CSSB 135 from                          
  committee with individual recommendations and attached                       
  fiscal note.                                                                 
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked the committee secretary to call the                     
  roll.                                                                        
                                                                               
  IN FAVOR:      REPRESENTATIVES VEZEY, ULMER, G. DAVIS,                       
                 SANDERS, OLBERG.                                              
  ABSENT:        REPRESENTATIVES KOTT, B. DAVIS.                               
                                                                               
  MOTION PASSED