02/05/2015 11:30 AM House ECON. DEV., TOURISM, & ARCTIC POLICY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB1 | |
| Overview: Alaska Arctic Policy Commission | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, AND
ARCTIC POLICY
February 5, 2015
11:30 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Herron, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Adam Wool
Representative Cathy Tilton
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Charisse Millett
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative David Guttenberg
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1
"An Act declaring the Arctic policy of the state."
- MOVED CSHB 1(EDA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
OVERVIEW: ALASKA ARCTIC POLICY COMMISSION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 1
SHORT TITLE: STATE ARCTIC POLICY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HERRON
01/21/15 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15
01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/15 (H) EDA, STA
01/27/15 (H) EDA AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124
01/27/15 (H) Heard & Held
01/27/15 (H) MINUTE(EDA)
02/05/15 (H) EDA AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
ROB EARL, Staff
Representative Bob Herron
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the committee substitute (CS) for
HB 1 on behalf of Representative Herron, sponsor.
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director
Institute of the North;
Commissioner, Alaska Arctic Policy Commission
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as a commissioner on the Alaska
Arctic Policy Commission representing international Arctic
organizations, provided comments.
JAY BUTLER MD, Chief Medical Officer
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a comment during the presentation
on the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Final Report and
Implementation Plan.
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:30:47 AM
CHAIR BOB HERRON called the House Special Committee on Economic
Development, Tourism, and Arctic Policy meeting to order at
11:30 a.m. Representatives Johnson, Wool, Stutes, Ortiz, and
Heron were present at the call to order. Representative Tilton
arrived as the meeting was in progress. Representative
Guttenberg was also present.
HB 1-STATE ARCTIC POLICY
11:31:24 AM
CHAIR HERRON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 1, "An Act declaring the Arctic policy of the
state."
11:32:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 1, labeled 29-LS0013\P, Nauman, 2/3/15,
as the working document.
11:32:46 AM
CHAIR HERRON objected for the purpose of discussion. He noted
that some of the changes in the CS are grammatical, and asked
Mr. Earl to review the significant changes.
11:33:43 AM
ROB EARL, Staff, Representative Bob Herron, Alaska State
Legislature, directed attention to section 1 on page 2, lines
[10-14], which read:
the United States, other nations, and international
bodies, including the Arctic Council, are rapidly
developing Arctic strategies and policies, and
therefore it is essential that both the state and the
nation communicate the reality, richness, and
responsibility that comes with being in the Arctic,
including communicating the need to provide safety,
security, and prosperity to the region;
MR. EARL said [section 1, paragraph (7)] was deleted. On page
3, lines 6-7, to section 1, subparagraph (D), the following was
added:
and adapt to the challenges of coastal erosion,
permafrost melt, and ocean acidification;
MR. EARL continued to page 3, line 11, and said to section 1 the
following subparagraph (F) was added:
maintain a strong, sustainable fisheries industry and
increase fisheries research and monitoring;
MR. EARL continued to page 3, lines [24]-26, which read:
(D) strengthen support for and collaboration with
Arctic Council Permanent Participant organizations
that include indigenous peoples of the state;
MR. EARL explained that the foregoing language "refers to the
permanent participants with Alaskan members."
11:35:03 AM
CHAIR HERRON removed his objection.
[Before the committee was Version P.]
11:35:32 AM
CHAIR HERRON opened public testimony on HB 1. After
ascertaining no one wished to testify, public testimony was
closed.
11:36:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to report CSHB 1, Version 29-
LS0013\P, Nauman, 2/3/15, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying four zero fiscal notes.
Without objection, CSHB 1(EDA) was moved from the House Special
Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Arctic Policy.
11:37:21 AM
The committee took an at ease from 11:37 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
^OVERVIEW: ALASKA ARCTIC POLICY COMMISSION
OVERVIEW: ALASKA ARCTIC POLICY COMMISSION
11:40:21 AM
CHAIR HERRON announced that the final order of business would be
an overview of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) Final
Report and Implementation Plan. He directed attention to the
AAPC final report, pointing out the opening letter is a foreword
from the co-chairs of the commission, which provides background
information and explains that Alaskans have a "people-first
approach" to many initiatives and policies. This view is an
important vision for Alaskans. The report introduction contains
a strong conversation about the legislature's position in
discussions related to Arctic policy; although other branches of
government have important roles, "the legislature as the purse
string-holders and as people that make the laws for the citizens
of Alaska and, of course, develop policy," should know what it
means to be an Arctic resident. He stressed that the
legislature should "think Arctic." The report also provides
information on the members of AAPC, who were chosen due to their
expertise. Chair Herron turned to the Implementation Plan, and
explained that is a set of initiatives, projects, and
recommendations to guide the legislature, the executive branch
and the federal government. He observed the AAPC report is
important because recent events have indicated that others "want
to dictate to us what's best for us."
11:43:41 AM
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Institute of the North;
Commissioner, Alaska Arctic Policy Commission, informed the
committee he served as a commissioner on the AAPC representing
international organizations. Mr. Andreassen said the
Implementation Plan is very different from the policy. The
policy consists of high level principles; the Implementation
Plan provides a suite of options for state policy makers, the
executive branch, and others. It is not directive, but suggests
what AAPC feels are important recommendations to advance state
policy. Strategic recommendations are sorted into the following
four lines of effort to support and strengthen the policy:
promoting economic and resource development; addressing the
response capacity gap; supporting healthy communities;
strengthening science and research. Within each line of effort
are further recommendations that are direct. Mr. Andreassen
highlighted the following:
· Within strategic line of effort number 1 - The state will
promote economic and resource development by continued
support for oil and gas development, mineral exploration
and development, maritime and fisheries activities, and
exporting knowledge in microgrid deployment.
· Within strategic line of effort number 2 - the state will
address the response capacity gap in Alaska's Arctic by
sufficient response capacity in place to respond to search
and rescue, natural disasters, and oil spills; improving
mapping, charting, and bathymetry; better public and
private investment in search and rescue, oil spill
response, and emergency response infrastructure ranging
from ships to ports, communications, and technology;
preparation by the Alaska Spill Prevention and Response
program, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
11:50:01 AM
CHAIR HERRON, in regard to recommendation 2E, suggested inviting
the U. S. Coast Guard to provide testimony related to the Arctic
Council Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution
Preparedness and Response in the Arctic before certain
legislative committees. Returning to strategic line of effort
1, he said recommendation 1B calls for the development of a
mechanism for resource production-related revenue sharing to
impacted districts, thus relevant testimony to the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee would be to
consider options on how offshore revenue sharing benefits
affected communities. Also in strategic line of effort number
1, recommendation 1F relates to topics of the House Special
Committee on Fisheries; the aforementioned three recommendations
are examples as to "how other legislators can get involved."
MR. ANDREASSEN continued to strategic line of effort number 3 -
the state will support healthy communities by delivery of water
and sanitation; reduce power costs; public education and
outreach on natural resource management; workforce development.
Strategic line of effort number 4 - the state will strengthen
Alaska's Arctic science and research by leveraging response to
the state's interest by University of Alaska (UA) research in
the Arctic; data integration and baseline data collection;
support resource development and response capacity. Mr.
Andreassen noted each strategic line of effort is structured in
a similar manner. On page 8 of the report was a recommendation
to create a committee on Arctic issues in each house of the
legislature. Page 9 provided additional narrative in order to
"scope out" strategic line of effort number 1. On page 10
begins the text of recommendation 1A, entitled, "Facilitate the
development of Arctic port systems in the Bering Strait region
to support export and regional development." He advised that
these are potential recommendations that policymakers and others
can adjust and expand. Also in recommendation 1A: the
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) was
identified as the lead state agency to study an Arctic port
system; the reasons an Arctic port system is needed; the
resources needed; a description of the execution of the
recommendation; legislative actions needed; and an evaluation of
the recommendation. Each strategic line of effort follows the
aforementioned format and provides a robust approach to proceed.
Speaking from his experience, Mr. Andreassen said AAPC has
advanced further than other Arctic nations in the clarity of its
Implementation Plan. He noted there are 35 recommendations and
pointed out that a number of the recommendations are process-
oriented and do not depend entirely on state funding. Mr.
Andreassen concluded that the Implementation Plan contains a
significant list of recommendations, not to be taken "all in one
bite."
CHAIR HERRON asked for an opinion from the Department of Health
and Social Services on recommendation 3F which read:
Enforce measures that protect and help further
understanding of food security in Arctic peoples and
communities.
12:00:15 PM
JAY BUTLER MD, Chief Medical Officer, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS),
addressed the importance of food security in Arctic Alaska,
especially for those living off of the road system. Many
Alaskans live by a subsistence lifestyle thus hunting and
fishing is required to provide a good source of protein and
micronutrients. He pointed out that the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game (ADF&G) is the lead agency on recommendation 3F and
he could not speak for ADF&G; however, DHSS recognizes that the
concept of maintaining food security is as important as that of
food safety, if not more.
CHAIR HERRON stated that the AAPC Implementation Plan has "many
layers;" for example, food security promotes a healthy
lifestyle.
12:03:12 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Arctic
Policy meeting was adjourned at 12:03 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 1 Changes from versions (E)cho to (P)apa.pdf |
HEDA 2/5/2015 11:30:00 AM |
HB 1 |
| HB 1 Draft Proposed CS Version (P)apa.pdf |
HEDA 2/5/2015 11:30:00 AM |
HB 1 |