Legislature(1995 - 1996)

02/22/1996 03:32 PM Senate STA

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
 SSTA - 2/22/96                                                                
                                                                               
        HB  58 CHICKALOON FLATS CRITICAL HABITAT AREA                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR SHARP brought up HB 58 as the next order of business before           
 the Senate State Affairs Committee and called the first witness.              
 Number 027                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, prime sponsor of HB 58, relayed                     
 information contained in the sponsor's statement.  The purpose of             
 HB 58 is to assure adequate habitat for waterfowl.  A great number            
 of ducks and geese congregate at Chickaloon Flats in their spring             
 and fall migrations.  It is a staging and resting area, as well as            
 a significant nesting area.  This legislation would strike a                  
 balance between the need to preserve the habitat for birds and                
 other wildlife, and the possible need to explore or use the natural           
 resources in the area.  It carefully delineates the options for               
 accessing the area for outdoor recreation and traditional                     
 activities: hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, those sorts of                 
 things.                                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 060                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked Representative Bunde how many acres              
 are in the area.                                                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responded, 22,000 acres.                                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked how many acres in the state are listed           
 as critical habitat.                                                          
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied he is not sure.  There is a critical             
 habitat area in Redoubt Bay of 200,000 acres.  There is a critical            
 habitat area at Fox River Flats; he doesn't have that acreage, but            
 it is a relatively small area.                                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP asked Representative Bunde if he's had a chance to             
 review the proposed committee substitute.                                     
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responded he has, and he supports the                    
 committee substitute.                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 087                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked how Representative Navarre, in whose             
 district is Chickaloon Flats, feels about HB 58.                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE thinks he recalls that Representative Navarre            
 is supportive of HB 58.                                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS noted that Representative Navarre                      
 recommended "Do Pass" on the House Finance Committee report for HB
 58.                                                                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked Representative Bunde if Senator Salo             
 supports HB 58.                                                               
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responded he has not discussed the issue with            
 Senator Salo.                                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 115                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP noted that the proposed committee substitute has               
 guarantee language which was used previously in Minto Flats Game              
 Refuge legislation.  That language has worked really well in                  
 ensuring public access.  The department has not had any problem               
 working with that language, and have said that they are very                  
 comfortable with that language.                                               
                                                                               
 Number 145                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS made a motion to adopt the Senate State                
 Affairs committee substitute for HB 58.                                       
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, stated the committee                    
 substitute had been adopted.  He asked if there were any amendments           
 to the committee substitute.  Hearing none, the chairman asked the            
 pleasure of the committee.                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 170                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS made a motion to discharge HB 58 from                  
 committee.                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP noted the department indicated that if the committee           
 substitute moved out as is, there would be a zero fiscal note.                
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS moved to also discharge the accompanying               
 zero fiscal note.                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 175                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, stated that HB 58 with                  
 accompanying zero fiscal note was discharged from the Senate State            
 Affairs Committee.                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects