Legislature(1999 - 2000)
01/27/2000 05:10 PM House EDT
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
January 27, 2000
5:10 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Review of transportation corridor issues and issuance of priority
for future meeting topics.
TAPE
00-1, SIDE A
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Phillips, Chair, convened the House Special
Committee on Economic Development and Tourism meeting at 5:10 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present at the call to order were Representatives
Phillips, Cissna, Kerttula, and Dyson.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
CHAIR PHILLIPS introduced the new Committee Aide, Scott Petsel.
Minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and approved. A list of
issues concerning transportation corridors was read, and reports on
them followed.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON reported that the Williamsport Road from
Illiamna Bay to Pile Bay has badly deteriorated, washed out in many
places, and is in need of repair. An upgraded road will improve
access for recreation to Lake Illiamna and South Alaska.
Representative Dyson also said people who live in the area have
expressed some concern about impact on their lifestyle. Chair
Phillips said improving this road would open up a whole new part of
Alaska for recreation, commercial fishing, and mining.
JEFF OTTESON, Statewide Planning Chief, Division of Statewide
Planning, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOT/PF) gave a brief update on studies that may result in cost
savings to the state and the public. He mentioned that there is a
safety issue involved with the Williamsport Road, and that its
upgrade is a top priority with DOT/PF. Potential extension of the
road across the top of Lake Illiamna also is being considered.
MARK HICKEY, lobbyist for the Lake and Peninsula Borough, said that
borough is in full support of the proposed roads.
Discussion among Representative Dyson, Chair Phillips, and Mr.
Hickey focused on alternatives and why these were not preferred.
Mr. Dyson stated that dredging the Kvichak River would solve the
immediate freighting problems but would not provide access for
fishermen with boats.
MR. OTTESON said the Army Corps of Engineers will be studying the
Williamsburg Road project as part of the Southwest Transportation
Plan, and it will have a high priority this year.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON told the committee that he has been studying
this issue for three years and is gratified to see that progress is
being made.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA spoke briefly about the Telecommunications
Highway, focusing on individual Alaskans' use of that electronic
communication technology throughout the state. Large corporations
and the Denali Commission have taken up the issue and have made
great strides, she said. Now we should facilitate a mentoring
program to use that technology to link entrepreneurs who
successfully market their products with people who want to do so.
She also mentioned telemedicine.
CHAIR PHILLIPS recommended that the committee schedule a meeting on
e-commerce, covering all aspects of it including taxation,
government, and legal issues.
JANET SEITZ, Legislative Assistant to Representative Rokeberg,
office updated the committee on the Pogo Gold Development Project,
and mentioned that there were handouts in the packet. When Carl
Hanneman of Teck Corporation, the developer, was contacted, he said
Teck would consider all options: air, water, and an all-season road
for transportation to the site.
CHAIR PHILLIPS requested information about the length of the road.
She mentioned that it should be possible to get some federal funds
for planning through Alaska's United States Senator Ted Stevens.
MR. OTTESON gave an update on DOT/PF work on the area-wide
transportation plan. The next phase will focus on the northwest
coast of Alaska, working with communities and resource companies
and looking at the issue of access to tidewater.
MR. PETSEL reported on the Rock Creek Road. describing Alternative
Three, the preferred alternative. The road will provide access
needed to permit development of hard rock mining of gold deposits
in the area. The existing road is very winding and cannot be used
year-round. The new road will be rerouted and straightened,
thereby shortening the total length by two miles, and will be
usable in all seasons.
MR. OTTESON updated the committee on the proposed railroad line
from Point Lay to the Red Dog Mine. The railroad line could carry
ore to the dock and power to the mine and villages.
CHAIR PHILLIPS mentioned that the price of power is a big problem
across the NW, and said this railroad line could help pay for
itself.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said there is enough coal for 800 years of
production at Point Lay. The railroad could make it possible to
develop other deposits, including the Bornite and Kubuk copper
mines.
MR. OTTESON said the Red Dog dock expansion will be large enough
for other operators to utilize for other commodities.
CHAIR PHILLIPS then listed future meeting topics. Among them were
future updates on the road issues, a joint meeting on potential
economic ties to Alberta with the House Special Committee on Oil
and Gas and representatives of the Provincial Parliament of
Alberta, the Anchorage-Fairbanks Airport Authority issue, a mining
overview, and an update on tourism, including cruise ship issues.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON, who had visited the Tulsequah Chief mine site
in British Columbia with Representatives Harris and Green, said
development there could be of benefit to Alaska and merits
discussion. He said there may also be some interest in a road to
from Copper Center to Tazlina Lake.
CHAIR PHILLIPS announced the next meeting will be on February 8 and
will feature a briefing on the National Missile Defense Program,
which will have significant impact on Alaska.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at 129 6th Street, Suite 229,
Juneau, Alaska 99801-2197, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment
of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature
this information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative
Reference Library at 129 6th Street, Suite 102, (907) 465-3808.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|