Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/03/2002 02:00 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 03, 2002
2:00 PM
TAPE HFC 02 - 74, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Williams called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 2:00 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Con Bunde, Vice-Chair
Representative Eric Croft
Representative John Davies
Representative Richard Foster
Representative John Harris
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Ken Lancaster
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Jim Whitaker
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair
ALSO PRESENT
Zach Warwick, Staff, Senator Therriault
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
John Sund, NorQuest Seafoods, Seattle; Tom Tom Chapple,
Director, Division of Air and Water Quality, Department of
Environmental Conservation.
SUMMARY
HB 182 "An Act relating to motor vehicles; and providing
for an effective date."
HB 182 was postponed.
HB 503 "An Act relating to evaluating state assumption of
the wastewater discharge program under the federal
Clean Water Act; and providing for an effective
date."
HB 503 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 503
"An Act relating to evaluating state assumption of the
wastewater discharge program under the federal Clean
Water Act; and providing for an effective date."
ZACH WARWICK, STAFF, SENATOR THERRIAULT, spoke in support of
the legislation. He explained that the legislation would
direct the Department of Environmental Conservation to
evaluate the potential benefits and consequences of assuming
primacy for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System program (NPDES). The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) currently supervises the state's discharge. He noted
that 44 states administer their programs in-state. State
primacy would allow the state of Alaska to tailor the
permitting process to specific environmental features and
decide how timely permits would be issued. The legislation
requires evaluation of the possibility of administering the
program as well as a description of the cost and
identification of funding sources.
Representative Lancaster observed that the fiscal note
supports two temporary positions and questioned if permanent
positions would result. Mr. Warwick explained that the
legislation would only pertain to the evaluation. The next
legislature would decide whether or not it would be
implemented.
Representative John Davies spoke in support of the
legislation and questioned if industry had been approached
to supply a portion of the necessary funding. Mr. Warwick
noted that industry has indicated that they could not
support the funding.
Representative Lancaster questioned if the legislation would
affect municipalities. Mr. Warwick noted that the
legislation would allow municipalities to tailor
restrictions to their desire.
Representative Foster questioned if state restrictions would
be more stringent than federal restrictions. Mr. Warwick
reiterated that they could be tailored to state needs and
pointed out that some of the federal regulations would not
be applicable to Alaska.
TOM CHAPPLE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF AIR AND WATER QUALITY,
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION testified via
teleconference in support of the legislation. He noted that
residents in the state of Idaho had trouble deciding if
state primacy would benefit them until details were revealed
indicating that state primacy would provide greater
flexibility and insure timeliness of permitting. He
emphasized the need to "lay out the details" [in order to
allow Alaskans to decide if state primacy should be
achieved].
JOHN SUND, VICE PRESIDENT, NORQUEST SEAFOODS, SEATTLE
testified via teleconference in support of the legislation.
He observed that their company has NPDES permits for each of
their vessels and facilities. A statewide general permit is
issued every five years. He noted that the issue has been
before the legislature many times over the past years and
that it is a complex issue. The question is: Does it make
sense on the policy or permitting level? The legislation
would help evaluate the benefits by laying out the process
and indicating funding sources.
Mr. Sund discussed problems they have encountered in filing
permits. Joint copies must be filed with EPA and the
Department of Environmental Conservation. They are subject
to both EPA and Department of Environmental Conservation
inspectors. Federal EPA employees are sometimes unfamiliar
with Alaskan processes. He stressed that there would be
greater knowledge of the industry with Alaskan regulation.
There are some conflicts between state and federal
standards, which could be made easier with consolidation of
authority. He noted that EPA must consider the whole region
and cannot bring their full attention to the state of
Alaska. The legislation is a nice first step.
Representative John Davies spoke in support of the
legislation. He stressed that the legislation could help
promote economic development and streamline the permitting
process.
Representative Hudson observed that the state has had other
opportunities to take primacy from the federal government in
order to eliminate multiple agency oversight. He referred to
problems with leaking underground storage tanks.
Co-Chair Williams indicated his desire to reduce the fiscal
note.
HB 503 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 PM
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