05/05/1994 03:44 PM Senate RES

 CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Resources Committee meeting to order at            
 3:44 p.m. and announced  SCR 20  (REOPENING ALASKA-JUNEAU MINE) to be    be   
 up for consideration.  He said a proposed CS drops "Echo Bay"                 
 everywhere in the resolution, so it is more generic.                          
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt CSSCR 20(RES).  There were no                    
 objections and it was so ordered.                                             
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR said that a group called "Women in Mines" came to              
 him to see if the legislature could show some generic support for             
 their industry.  He has no objection to the CS.                               
                                                                               
 CHUCK ACHBERGER, Director, Juneau Chamber of Commerce, supported              
 SCR 20.  We should look for alternatives to oil for supporting                
 ourselves.  Juneau was founded by the AJ Mine, which was once the             
 largest gold mine in the world.  There are over 40 permits that               
 will govern the construction and operation of the AJ Mine.  These             
 permits entail frequent monitoring to assure compliance.                      
 Environmental quality is important to all of us.  The City and                
 Borough of Juneau has also developed its own large mine permit in             
 addition to all the state and federal permits, he said.                       
                                                                               
 Number 119                                                                    
                                                                               
 TAMMY LARSON, President, Alaska Women in Mining, felt the                     
 resolution is important because it sends the message that Alaska              
 needs industry development.  She said the industry and communities            
 need the jobs.                                                                
                                                                               
 PAULA TERREL, Thane Neighborhood Association, said she didn't think           
 a resolution was not appropriate for this issue.  But she said it             
 would be less contentious if some of the wording were changed so              
 that is was more reflective of what the City and Borough itself has           
 done in terms of the mining ordinance.                                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR JIM DUNCAN passed the committee a proposed CS.  He said the           
 AJ Mine was a very contentious issue in Juneau.  He has not                   
 involved himself either pro or con for the mine.  He wants to make            
 sure the process is working.  He thought the resolution probably              
 boils down to an end run around a process that has been followed by           
 the city, the state, and the federal agencies.  He thought it was             
 inappropriate for the legislature to address a resolution of                  
 support for a private profit making enterprise that fans the flames           
 of controversy.                                                               
                                                                               
 SKIP GRAY, Alaskans for Juneau, presented a slide show on the site            
 of the proposed mine.                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 472                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR DONLEY moved to adopt the Utermohle 4/16/94 (e) draft CS              
 SCR 20(RES) in place of the committee substitute adopted earlier in           
 the meeting.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN moved to discharge CSSCR 20(RES) from committee with            
 individual recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so           
 ordered.