02/02/2010 10:15 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB227 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 227 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 252 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 2, 2010
10:22 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Chair
Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Charisse Millett
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz
Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 227
"An Act establishing state fish and game reserves; creating the
Holitna River Basin Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Reserve; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 252
"AN ACT RELATING TO THE DUTY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF NATURAL
RESOURCES TO ADMINISTER AND SUPERVISE PROMOTIONAL AND MARKETING
WORK FOR AGRICULTURAL AND AQUATIC FARM PRODUCTS."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 227
SHORT TITLE: HOLITNA BASIN RESERVE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HERRON
04/10/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/10/09 (H) FSH, RES
01/19/10 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED
01/19/10 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/10 (H) FSH, RES
01/26/10 (H) FSH AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124
01/26/10 (H) Heard & Held
01/26/10 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/02/10 (H) FSH AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SSHB 227, as prime sponsor.
KEVIN SAXBY, Senior Assistant Attorney
Natural Resources Section
Civil Division
Department of Law (DOL)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions on SSHB 227.
DAVE TRANTHAM
Bethel, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SSHB 227.
AARON BLOOMQUIST, Chairman
Anchorage Fish and Game Advisory Committee
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SSHB 227.
DICK MYLIUS, Director
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Division of Mining, Land and Water
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions on SSHB 227.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:22:00 AM
CHAIR BRYCE EDGMON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:22 a.m. Representatives Edgmon,
Keller, Munoz, Kawasaki, and Buch, were present at the call to
order. Representatives Johnson and Millett arrived while the
meeting was in progress
HB 227-HOLITNA BASIN RESERVE
10:22:11 AM
CHAIR EDGMON announced that the only order of business would be
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 227, "An Act relating to
the establishment of state fish and game reserves; creating the
Holitna River Basin Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Reserve; and
providing for an effective date."
10:24:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, referred to
the outstanding questions that are still being addressed by the
appropriate state departments, including some legal questions
and a delineation of the boundaries. He suggested that the next
committee of referral may be able to receive these responses, in
order to allow the department adequate response time.
10:25:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER questioned why, because state statute
already requires managing land for abundance, it would be
necessary to designate an area specifically for that reason.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON clarified that intensive management (IM)
practices maximize big game populations for human consumption.
10:28:02 AM
KEVIN SAXBY, Senior Assistant Attorney, Natural Resources
Section, Civil Division, Department of Law (DOL), stated
that current statutory mandates to manage intensively for
game is limited to certain ungulate species that have been
identified by the Board of Game (BOG) as being important
for high levels of human use. In the area being
considered, it applies primarily to moose. However, the
broad language of the bill refers to managing, in general,
fish and game, for high levels of use. Therefore, the
state would likely interpret that language to include fur
bearers, predators, fish; and thus [the mandate] wouldn't
be limited to ungulates.
10:29:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI inquired how these populations
might be managed.
MR. SAXBY offered that animal populations naturally
fluctuate, but with active human management the
fluctuations could be minimized, providing a more constant
harvest.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI surmised that the BOG would make
management decisions.
10:31:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked if there are other statutes
that apply similarly to the management of fish.
MR. SAXBY replied that it does occur to the extent that
fish stocks can be separately identified and managed, or
else they are managed as mixed stocks.
10:31:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ referred to page 2, lines [5-9] and
asked if there is a plan for prioritizing the named uses,
or would they be equally managed.
MR. SAXBY indicated that this language does not establish a
consumptive use priority, however, existing subsistence
statute does provide preference.
10:34:23 AM
DAVE TRANTHAM, stated support for SSHB 227, sharing that he
lives in this heavenly area, and believes the bill ensures
preservation of the Basin for future generations.
10:40:12 AM
AARON BLOOMQUIST, Chairman, Anchorage Fish and Game
Advisory Committee, stated support for HB 227. The
committee sees this as a step towards creating other IM
areas in the state, without impinging on the possibilities
of development. Pro-abundance and predator control may
again come under, and this may assist in fending off such
scrutiny.
10:42:22 AM
CHAIR EDGMON closed public testimony.
10:43:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) how this legislation might impact upstream
users that pursue developing natural gas or mining.
DICK MYLIUS, Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
Division of Mining, Land and Water, said it would add a layer
of consideration when issuing permits, or leases, and
determinations of whether activities would conflict with
the intent of the legislation. Specifically, it would
prohibit any land sales, and there is one area identified
for potential sale in the upper reaches of the watershed.
10:44:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ noted the private parcels adjoining
the area and asked about ownership rights.
MR. MYLIUS responded that they would not be protected and
that access is also protected.
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ inquired where that protection is
stipulated in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON referred to page 3, line 19, to
indicate the language guaranteeing access.
10:45:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked about the private land
holdings.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said that the west side parcels are
primarily mining claims, some dating back 100 years.
Additionally, there are Native allotments and homesteads.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI queried whether lease/land holders
have been contacted to ensure that they have been informed
of a potential change in their land status.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON conceded that it may not have
occurred, however, the consideration for this action has
been in existence for about 30 years, and support in
developing this legislation has come from some of the
landholders.
10:48:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT inquired whether anyone holding
existing mining claim would be grandfathered in or be
hampered by permit requirements, under SSHB 227.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON underscored that it is not the
sponsor's intent to halt these types of extraction
activities, as the historical makeup of the basin includes
mining.
MR. MYLIUS concurred and pointed out that the bill does not
restrict privately owned lands. State mining claims are an
exception and would need to be developed in accordance with
the purposes of the reserve.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT expressed concern for the ability to
develop state mining claims in the area.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON suggested that it could be taken up
in the next committee of referral.
10:50:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated his support for SSHB 227.
10:51:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report SSHB 227 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SSHB
227 was reported from the House Special Committee on
Fisheries.
10:51:47 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:52
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 227 F&G Fiscal Note.PDF |
HFSH 2/2/2010 10:15:00 AM |
HB 227 |
| HB 252 Sponsorship Statment.pdf |
HFSH 2/2/2010 10:15:00 AM |
HB 252 |
| HB 252 ASGA Support.PDF |
HFSH 2/2/2010 10:15:00 AM |
HB 252 |
| HB227-DNR-CPL-02-01-2010 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HFSH 2/2/2010 10:15:00 AM |
HB 227 |
| HB 227 Board of Fish Support.pdf |
HFSH 2/2/2010 10:15:00 AM |
HB 227 |