Legislature(1993 - 1994)

02/09/1994 04:00 PM House ECO

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
                                                                               
                   HOUSE ECONOMIC TASK FORCE                                   
                        February 9, 1994                                       
                            4:00 p.m.                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative Jeannette James, Vice-Chair                                   
  Representative Joe Green                                                     
  Representative Bill Williams                                                 
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Al Vezey                                                      
  Representative Bettye Davis                                                  
  Representative Bill Hudson                                                   
  Representative Carl Moses                                                    
  Representative Eileen MacLean                                                
  Representative Jerry Mackie                                                  
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
  Draft of House Joint Resolution Relating to an exemption for                 
  federal lands in Alaska from the federal PACFISH management                  
  strategy.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Draft of House Joint Resolution Relating to the importance                   
  to the economy of Southeast Alaska of continued timber                       
  harvests on the Tongass National Forest.                                     
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  CHRISTOPHER GATES, Director                                                  
  Division of Economic Development                                             
  Department of Commerce and Economic Development                              
  9th Floor, State Office Building                                             
  Juneau, Alaska  99801                                                        
  (907) 465-2017                                                               
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided information                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-03, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  VICE-CHAIR JAMES called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.                    
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS brought drafts of two resolutions                    
  for the Task Force to consider submitting.  It was noted                     
  that, although the Task Force could not submit bills                         
  directly, the House Rules Committee could submit bills on                    
  behalf of the Task Force.                                                    
                                                                               
  The first draft to be discussed related to PACFISH.                          
                                                                               
  CHRIS GATES, Director of Economic Development for the                        
  Department of Commerce and Economic Development, testified                   
  that Alaska already had very effective and restrictive                       
  requirements for environmental impact statements, and that                   
  Commerce and Economic Development opposed PACFISH's "cookie-                 
  cutter" standards because Alaska did not need them.  He                      
  supported Representative Williams' resolution.                               
                                                                               
  The Task Force agreed unanimously to submit the resolution.                  
                                                                               
  The draft relating to the Tongass National Forest was                        
  discussed next.                                                              
                                                                               
  MS. GATES testified regarding the disastrously negative                      
  impact of federal regulations on the entire Southeast Alaska                 
  timber industry and stated he agreed with the resolution.                    
                                                                               
  It was unanimously accepted by the Task Force for submittal.                 
                                                                               
  ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                
                                                                               
  Vice-Chair James announced that the Task Force would meet                    
  with the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation Friday,                    
  February 10, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 124.  The next Task Force                  
  meeting will be Wednesday, February 16, at 4:00 p.m.                         
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  Vice-Chair James adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.                          

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