02/07/1994 04:41 PM Senate RES

 CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Resources Committee meeting to order at            
 4:41 p.m. and announced  HJR 49  (FED REGS UNDER OIL POLLUTION ACT OF    OF   
 1990) to be up for consideration.                                             
                                                                               
 JEFF LOGAN, Legislative Assistant, House Oil and Gas Committee,               
 said the sponsor had a schedule conflict and asked him to testify             
 on behalf of the bill.  He said the terms "navigable waters,                  
 offshore facility, and responsible party" were defined in a very              
 broad manner in the regulations for OPA '90.  CSHJR 49 requests the           
 MMS to reinterpret and narrow these definitions.                              
                                                                               
 MR. LOGAN said it's important to deal with this resolution quickly,           
 because the MMS has scheduled a hearing on the regulations in                 
 Anchorage for February 16 and they would like it to be a part of              
 the public record.  He explained that this resolution asks the MMS            
 for specific action.  SJR 40 asks Congress for specific action.  He           
 thought the resolutions compliment each other.                                
                                                                               
 MEAD TREADWELL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Environmental              
 Conservation, said the administration supports this resolution and            
 feels it's complimentary to SJR 40 which passed the Senate today.             
                                                                               
 Number 95                                                                     
                                                                               
 SENATOR PEARCE moved to pass HJR 49 from Committee with individual            
 recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.