04/08/2005 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

9:13:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                                          
     Urging  Governor Murkowski  to  take quick  action to  conduct,                                                            
     approve, or sanction  a study of in-state natural gas needs and                                                            
     take-off  points for intrastate use of natural  gas transported                                                            
     in a North Slope natural gas pipeline.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the  first  hearing  for  this resolution  in  the  Senate                                                            
Finance Committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RALPH SAMUELS, sponsor  of the bill, testified  that                                                            
on February 9, 2005, the  federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled                                                            
that before an open season  design or construction could begin on an                                                            
Alaska  natural gas  pipeline,  a study  of in-state  needs must  be                                                            
conducted by the State.  This resolution provides "encouragement and                                                            
support" to Governor Murkowski to undertake this effort.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green understood  this resolution received a hearing in the                                                            
Senator Resources Committee.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Samuels affirmed.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green  asked if any unresolved  issues or questions  exist.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Samuels answered there were none.  He noted that all                                                            
members of the House of  Representatives signed on as co-sponsors of                                                            
this resolution.  Development of the  State's natural gas  resources                                                            
would benefit  all communities, regardless of their  location within                                                            
the State. Alaskan's would have access to natural gas.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:15:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Green asked  if the sponsor  had considered  whether  this                                                            
resolution  should  be  distributed  to other  parties  or  interest                                                            
groups and whether doing so would provide any influence.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Samuels  replied  that  none  were  identified.  The                                                            
resolution is  directed to the Murkowski Administration.  He offered                                                            
to forward  the resolution  to private companies  or other  interest                                                            
groups if the Co-Chair requested.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green indicated  this would not be necessary. She has heard                                                            
significant support for this resolution.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:16:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Wilken offered  a  motion to  report the  resolution  from                                                            
Committee with  individual recommendations  and accompanying  fiscal                                                            
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There was no  objection and HCR 2  MOVED from Committee with  a zero                                                            
fiscal note #1 from the Department of Natural Resources.