03/02/2020 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

             HJR 25-ENSURE ACCESS INTO DENALI PARK                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:33:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MICCICHE  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                               
be HOUSE  JOINT RESOLUTION NO.  25, Encouraging the  President of                                                               
the United States,  the United States Congress,  and the Governor                                                               
of the state  to assist the National Park Service  in its efforts                                                               
to  ensure  long-term  access  into   Denali  National  Park  and                                                               
Preserve by way of the existing roadway.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:33:53 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE  TALERICO, Alaska State  Legislature, Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor  of House  Joint Resolution  25 (HJR  25), stated                                                               
that Denali  National Park is  Alaska's most  well-known national                                                               
park. The road  into the park is 92 miles  long that goes through                                                               
the Alaska Range  and several different climate  zones. It allows                                                               
opportunities for  people to view  wildlife and see the  peaks of                                                               
Mt. Denali.  The road is  the only  access to the  Kantishna area                                                               
where  in-holders conduct  active  commercial  businesses in  the                                                               
summer.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:36:14 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO  explained that  keeping the  road access                                                               
into the park  is for the enjoyment of visitors  and residents of                                                               
the  Kantishna area.  There  is a  section of  the  road at  mile                                                               
marker 45.4, east of the  Eielson Visitor Center, that has become                                                               
increasingly unstable and needs immediate attention.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
He  urged  support  of  HJR   25  to  encourage  action  on  this                                                               
significant piece of infrastructure that  means a lot to tourism,                                                               
successful  applicants  of  the  road lottery,  and  active  duty                                                               
military members who receive free park access.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:38:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL  asked if  there is a  proposal to  stabilize the                                                               
road in the area of mile marker 45.4.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TALERICO  replied  the  park  superintendent  has                                                               
testified that  the park has  looked at several  alternatives for                                                               
stabilizing the  road, including  driving pilings  and relocating                                                               
the road.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MICCICHE found no further  questions and solicited the will                                                               
of the committee.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:40:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL moved  to report  HJR  25, version  31-LS1472\M,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:41:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MICCICHE  found  no  objection;   therefore,  HJR  25  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.