Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/23/2000 01:08 PM House TRA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 426 - TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND: CHUGACH PARK CHAIRMAN HALCRO announced the next order of business as House Bill 426, "An Act relating to transfers of public land or grants or conveyances of interest in public land among the Alaska Railroad Corporation, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and the Department of Natural Resources to relocate or widen the Seward Highway, to relocate railroad facilities, and to relocate adjacent utility facilities; and providing for an effective date." There is a proposed amendment by Representative Halcro, which reads as follows: Page 1, line 5 Insert "..relocate adjacent utility facilities from Potter Station to Girdwood;" Number 1062 DENNIS POSHARD, Legislative Liaison/Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, came before the committee to present the bill. He explained that the Department of Natural Resources has management responsibility for the Chugach State Park, but they may not modify the boundaries of the park without legislative approval. The purpose of the proposed legislation, therefore, is to provide the Department of Natural Resources the ability to work with the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, and other utilities in order to modify, improve, upgrade and enhance easements, as necessary, instead of coming to the legislature for approval for each separate project. He noted that the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has four or five future projects in the Seward Highway corridor within the boundaries of the Chugach State Park between Potter Station and Girdwood. Number 1165 REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN asked Mr. Poshard how the legislation would affect the proposal for a rail spur in Girdwood, which is scheduled to run along the west side of the valley. Is that part of the Chugach State Park? MR. POSHARD replied he's not sure. He deferred the question to a representative of the Alaska Railroad Corporation. He has only studied the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' projects. Number 1211 REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN asked Mr. Poshard whether Potter Station is to the east of Potter Marsh. MR. POSHARD replied Potter Station is to the southwest of Potter Marsh on the boundary of the Chugach State Park. Number 1236 REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN asked Mr. Poshard whether any proposal to widen the Seward Highway, for example, would affect the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation [Department of Natural Resources]. MR. POSHARD replied he doesn't believe that Potter Marsh is within the boundaries of the Chugach State Park. Number 1277 CHAIRMAN HALCRO asked Mr. Poshard whether the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities is "fine" with the proposed amendment, which tightens the title and makes it consistent with the text of the bill. MR. POSHARD replied the department is fine with the proposed amendment. It would not affect the department's projects. Number 1316 CHAIRMAN HALCRO noted that the proposed amendment should actually read as follows: Page 1, line 5 After: "facilities" Insert: "from Potter Station to Girdwood;" Number 1337 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked Mr. Poshard whether the legislation would cover the requirement of the railroad to come before the legislature for approval to dispose of land. MR. POSHARD deferred the question to a representative of the Alaska Railroad Corporation. REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked whether it's necessary to have a legal description of what is being done to the land. This legislation is pretty general. MR. POSHARD answered, at this point in time, the projects are still in the preliminary design stages. The specific tracts of land are not available, which is why the department is asking that the Department of Natural Resources have the authority to work with them. It essentially amounts to a swapping of corridors. Number 1445 WENDY LINDSKOOG, Director of External Affairs, Alaska Railroad Corporation, Department of Community & Economic Development, came before the committee to testify. She indicated that the legislation is defined to land within the Chugach State Park and to a corridor for the railroad. It has nothing to do with assets from the federal government, as Representative Cowdery alluded to earlier. There is a bill in the legislature now which deals with that issue. She further indicated, in response to Representative Kemplen's question, that this legislation would not affect the rail spur in Girdwood, for that land is owned by the Heritage Land Bank with the Municipality of Anchorage. Number 1500 RON CRENSHAW, Marine Recreation & Trails, Central Office, Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, testified via teleconference from Anchorage. He announced that he is here today to let the committee know that there is a representative from the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation available to answer any questions. CHAIRMAN HALCRO closed the meeting to public testimony. Number 1532 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, as amended. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was so adopted. It reads as follows: Page 1, line 5 After: "facilities" Insert: "from Potter Station to Girdwood;" Number 1553 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to move HB 426, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal notes; he asked unanimous consent. There being no objection, CSHB 426(TRA) so moved from the House Transportation Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|