Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/21/1996 09:11 AM House O&G
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON OIL AND GAS
March 21, 1996
9:11 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Norman Rokeberg, Chair
Representative Gary Davis
Representative Bill Williams
Representative Bettye Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Scott Ogan, Vice Chair
Representative Tom Brice
Representative David Finkelstein
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 342
"An Act relating to water quality."
- MOVED CSHB 342 (O&G) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 342
SHORT TITLE: WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) ROKEBERG
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
05/09/95 2042 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
05/09/95 2042 (H) O&G, RESOURCES
10/17/95 (H) O&G AT 1:00 PM ANCHORAGE LIO
10/17/95 (H) MINUTE(O&G)
02/13/96 (H) O&G AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 124
02/20/96 (H) O&G AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 124
02/20/96 (H) MINUTE(O&G)
03/21/96 (H) O&G AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG, Legislative Aide
for Representative Rokeberg
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol, Room 110
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4968
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on CSHB 342 (O&G)
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-14, SIDE A
Number 000
The House Oil & Gas Special Committee was called to order by
Chairman Norman Rokeberg at 9:11 a.m. Members present at the call
to order were Representatives Rokeberg, G. Davis, Williams and B.
Davis. A quorum was present.
HB 342 - WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
CHAIRMAN NORMAN ROKEBERG, sponsor of HB 342, said a committee
substitute had been drafted.
Number 0109
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS made a motion to adopt CSHB 342 (O&G),
version 9-LS1141\C. Hearing no objection CSHB 342 was now before
the House Special Committee on Oil and Gas.
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG referred to a meeting held on February 20, 1996,
and said a solution was attempted which satisfied the
Administration and the users of water in the state of Alaska. He
said CSHB 342 does not require more stringent standards for water
discharge than "what is received by the user." He said CSHB 342
requires the Administration to enact regulations that are
consistent with applicable federal regulations, not more stringent
than the federal government. This provision would require that the
state change their regulations in accordance with the federal
government to make state regulations less restrictive.
Number 0228
SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG, Legislative Aide for Representative Rokeberg,
said the changes incorporated into the CSHB 342 include the
addition of the term "existing" before "quality" on lines 5 and 8.
She said, of the several proposed changes, this was the suggestion
that made the most sense. She said, in Section 3, the original HB
342 said that sediments would be measured by the Imhoff Cone
method, in CSHB 342 language was added, "or by another method
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for
measurement of sediment." She said on page two, subsection (c)
(indiscernible due to papers over the microphone) "was added."
Number 0339
MS. ARMSTRONG said discussions with the Resources Development
Council dealt with Section 1 and Section 2 where the language
reads, "water received for the use". She said there is concern
over the intent of this language. The original bill incorporated
language which stated that the water quality did not have to be of
a higher quality than when it was received for use. She said, in
addition to this, the council would like language to be
incorporated where water going into a sewage treatment plant would
not have to be cleaned. She said the term for this type of water
is "receiving water."
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG clarified that there was a difference between
receiving water and water received.
Number 0435
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said he would like to move CSHB 342 out of
committee with the understanding that more work would occur to
clarify the issues and be done in cooperation with the Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC). He said he had concerns
related to the testimony, from the previous meeting, regarding the
poor quality of receiving water. He said this is an issue where
prior pollution might have occurred "from receiving water from
another use." He expressed concerned that continued pollutants
were being discharged. He said this is a problem that must be
addressed in CSHB 342. He said suspended solid measurements and
their impact on the major-med techniques must be incorporated as
well. He said he would try to insure that the effluent discharge
language is clarified and insure that the DEC's ability to run the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit system is not
impaired.
Number 0557
REPRESENTATIVE BETTYE DAVIS asked the next committee of referral
was for CSHB 342 and was told that it would go to the House
Resources Committee.
Number 0570
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG wanted to reassure the DEC that the legislature
is very interested is issue and in the economic development in the
state. He reassured the committee that the CSHB 342 would be
properly drafted, giving all interested parties the right to
participate in discussions around this issue.
Number 0617
REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS clarified that DEC and the Administration
were aware that a hearing was scheduled.
Number 0640
REPRESENTATIVE BILL WILLIAMS made a motion to move CSHB 342 (O&G)
out of committee with attached fiscal note and individual
recommendations. Hearing none, CSHB 342 (O&G) was moved from the
House Special Committee on Oil and Gas.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the House Oil & Gas
Special Committee, Chairman Rokeberg adjourned the meeting at 9:20
a.m.
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