Legislature(1993 - 1994)

02/16/1994 08:15 AM House RES

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
                                                                               
               HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                              
                        February 16, 1994                                      
                            8:15 a.m.                                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative Bill Williams, Chairman                                       
  Representative Bill Hudson, Vice Chairman                                    
  Representative Con Bunde                                                     
  Representative Pat Carney                                                    
  Representative John Davies                                                   
  Representative David Finkelstein                                             
  Representative Joe Green                                                     
  Representative Jeannette James                                               
  Representative Eldon Mulder                                                  
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  None                                                                         
                                                                               
  OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                    
                                                                               
  Senator Johnny Ellis                                                         
  Representative Irene Nicholia                                                
  Representative Curt Menard                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
  SB 77:    "An Act relating to the powers of the Board                        
             of Game and to intensive management of big                        
             game to achieve higher sustained yield for                        
             human harvest."                                                   
                                                                               
             HEARD AND HELD IN COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER                           
             CONSIDERATION                                                     
                                                                               
  SJR 13:    Opposing the ban on the export of Alaska                          
             North Slope crude oil; endorsing HR 543,                          
             legislation removing restraints on the                            
             export of Alaska North Slope oil; requesting                      
             the Congress of the United States to pass                         
             legislation to permit the export of Alaska                        
             North Slope crude oil; and requesting the                         
             President of the United States to present                         
             to the United States Congress a recommendation                    
             to lift the ban on the export of Alaska                           
             North Slope crude oil.                                            
                                                                               
             NOT HEARD IN COMMITTEE; WILL BE RESCHEDULED                       
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  SENATOR BERT SHARP                                                           
  Alaska State Legislature                                                     
  State Capitol, Room 514                                                      
  Juneau, Alaska  99801-1182                                                   
  Phone:  465-3004                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Prime sponsor SB 77                                     
                                                                               
  DAVE KELLEYHOUSE, Director                                                   
  Division of Wildlife Conservation                                            
  Department of Fish and Game                                                  
  P.O. Box 25526                                                               
  Juneau, Alaska  99802                                                        
  Phone:  465-4190                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported the concept of SB 77                          
                                                                               
  NOEL PUTNAM                                                                  
  Ketchikan Sports and Wildlife Club                                           
  846 Brown Deer                                                               
  Ketchikan, Alaska  99901                                                     
  Phone:  225-0687                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  KATHERINE SMITH                                                              
  Kachemak Bay                                                                 
  1193 Cooper Court                                                            
  Homer, Alaska  99603                                                         
  Phone:  235-5448                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  NANCY HILLSTRAND                                                             
  P.O. Box 170                                                                 
  Homer, Alaska  99603                                                         
  Phone:  235-2572                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  RICHARD MACINTOSH                                                            
  909 Mission Road                                                             
  Kodiak, Alaska  99615                                                        
  Phone:  486-3087                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  MARY FORBES                                                                  
  418 Mill Bay Road                                                            
  Kodiak, Alaska  99615                                                        
  Phone:  486-2685                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  BILL HAGER                                                                   
  431 Gaffney Road                                                             
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99701                                                     
  Phone:  452-6295                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  TED LEONARD                                                                  
  55 Mile Salcha River                                                         
  Salcha, Alaska  99714                                                        
  Phone:  452-5484                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  MIKE TINKER                                                                  
  P.O. Box 25197                                                               
  Ester, Alaska  99725                                                         
  Phone:  479-2561                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  JOEL BENNETT                                                                 
  114 W. 6th                                                                   
  Juneau, Alaska  99801                                                        
  Phone:  586-1255                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  WILLIAM BURK                                                                 
  P.O. Box 240742                                                              
  Douglas, Alaska  99824                                                       
  Phone:  780-6019                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  JOHN GEORGE                                                                  
  Territorial Sportsmen                                                        
  9515 Moraine Way                                                             
  Juneau, Alaska  99801                                                        
  Phone:  789-0172                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  DAVE CLINE                                                                   
  National Audobon Society                                                     
  11930 Circle Drive                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska  99516                                                     
  Phone:  276-7034                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  TED RAYNOR                                                                   
  13801 Schubert Circle                                                        
  Anchorage, Alaska  99516                                                     
  Phone:  345-0608                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  CATHY GLEASON                                                                
  4211 Bridle Circle                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska  99517                                                     
  Phone:  248-0442                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  DICK BISHOP                                                                  
  1555 Gus's Grind                                                             
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99709                                                     
  Phone:  455-6151                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  PETE BUIST                                                                   
  P.O. Box 71561                                                               
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99707                                                     
  Phone:  457-7189                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  PETE SHEPERD                                                                 
  1012 Galena Street                                                           
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99709                                                     
  Phone:  474-4685                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  CAROL JENSEN                                                                 
  8451 Granhill Way                                                            
  Anchorage, Alaska  99502                                                     
  Phone:  344-7078                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  TRACY ABELL                                                                  
  Alaska Sierra Club                                                           
  13030 Bates Circle                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska  99515                                                     
  Phone:  345-0132                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  SANDRA ARNOLD                                                                
  P.O. Box 200606                                                              
  Anchorage, Alaska  99520                                                     
  Phone:  276-3670                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  ROD ARNO, President                                                          
  Alaska Outdoor Council                                                       
  P.O. Box 2790                                                                
  Palmer, Alaska  99645                                                        
  Phone:  376-2913                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  OLIVER BURRIS                                                                
  2801 Talkeetna                                                               
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99709                                                     
  Phone:  474-0437                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  TOM SCARBOROUGH                                                              
  1676 Taroka Drive                                                            
  Fairbanks, Alaska  99709                                                     
  Phone:  479-4312                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  GREG MACHACEK                                                                
  Alaska Wildlife Conservation Association                                     
  P.O. Box 56245                                                               
  North Pole, Alaska  99705                                                    
  Phone:  488-4534                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SB 77                                         
                                                                               
  MARY VAN DUESEN                                                              
  3510 W. 30th Avenue                                                          
  Anchorage, Alaska  99517                                                     
  Phone:  243-7550                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  STEPHEN WELLS                                                                
  Alaska Wildlife Alliance                                                     
  P.O. Box 202022                                                              
  Anchorage, Alaska  99520                                                     
  Phone:  277-0877                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  TERRY BURRELL                                                                
  3716 Wesleyan                                                                
  Anchorage, Alaska  99508                                                     
  Phone:  563-4454                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  GEORGE MATS                                                                  
  Anchorage Audubon Society                                                    
  14345 Cody                                                                   
  Anchorage, Alaska  99516                                                     
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  GORDON HABER                                                                 
  Denali Park, Alaska  99755                                                   
  Phone:  683-2761                                                             
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Opposed SB 77                                           
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS ACTION                                                              
                                                                               
  BILL:  SB  77                                                                
  SHORT TITLE: INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF GAME RESOURCES                          
  SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) SHARP,Frank,Taylor,Miller;                            
  REPRESENTATIVE(S): Therriault,James                                          
  JRN-DATE     JRN-PG               ACTION                                     
  01/29/93       188    (S)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  01/29/93       188    (S)   RESOURCES                                        
  02/03/93       227    (S)   COSPONSOR:  MILLER                               
  02/10/93              (S)   RES AT 3:30 PM BUTRVICH RM 205                   
  02/10/93              (S)   MINUTE(RES)                                      
  02/19/93              (S)   RES AT 3:30 PM BUTRVICH RM 205                   
  02/24/93              (S)   RES AT 3:30 PM BUTRVICH RM 205                   
  02/24/93              (S)   MINUTE(RES)                                      
  02/26/93       500    (S)   RES RPT CS 2DP 3DNP 1NR                          
                              NEW TITLE                                        
  02/26/93       500    (S)   ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO SB &                         
                              CS (F&G)                                         
  02/26/93              (S)   RLS AT 01:15 PM FAHRENKAMP                       
                              RM 203                                           
  03/09/93              (S)   RLS AT 12:15 PM FAHRENKAMP                       
                              RM 203                                           
  03/09/93              (S)   MINUTE(RLS)                                      
  03/10/93       710    (S)   RULES RPT 3 CAL 1NR 3/10/93                      
  03/10/93       719    (S)   READ THE SECOND TIME                             
  03/10/93       719    (S)   RES  CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT                     
  03/10/93       719    (S)   AM NO  1 FAILED Y9 N10 E1                        
  03/10/93       721    (S)   ADVANCE TO 3RD RDG FAILED                        
                              Y11 N8 E1                                        
  03/10/93       721    (S)   THIRD READING 3/11 CALENDAR                      
  03/11/93       756    (S)   READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB77(RES)                  
  03/11/93       756    (S)   PASSED Y11 N8 E1                                 
  03/11/93       756    (S)   DONLEY NOTICE OF RECON                           
  03/12/93       783    (S)   RECON TAKEN UP-IN THIRD READING                  
  03/12/93       784    (S)   PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION                        
                              Y11 N8 E1                                        
  03/12/93       786    (S)   TRANSMITTED TO (H)                               
  03/15/93       643    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  03/15/93       643    (H)   RESOURCES                                        
  03/15/93       658    (H)   CROSS SPONSOR(S): THERRIAULT                     
  04/17/93              (H)   MINUTE(STA)                                      
  04/19/93              (H)   MINUTE(RES)                                      
  04/21/93              (H)   RES AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 124                      
  01/13/94      2056    (H)   CROSS SPONSOR(S):  JAMES                         
  02/16/94              (H)   RES AT 08:15 AM CAPITOL 124                      
                                                                               
  BILL:  SJR 13                                                                
  SHORT TITLE: EXPORT OF ALASKA OIL                                            
  SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S)ELLIS,Kelly,Rieger,Frank,Leman,                        
  Donley,Kerttula,Sharp Pearce,Little,Duncan,Phillips,Miller;                  
  REPRESENTATIVE(S) Green,Grussendorf,Nordlund,Porter,                         
  Finkelstein,Navarre                                                          
                                                                               
  JRN-DATE     JRN-PG               ACTION                                     
  01/11/93        14    (S)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  01/11/93        15    (S)   RESOURCES, JUDICIARY                             
  03/24/93       933    (S)   COSPONSOR(S):  DONLEY                            
  03/31/93              (S)   RES AT 3:30 PM BUTRVICH RM 205                   
  03/31/93              (S)   MINUTE(RES)                                      
  03/31/93              (S)   MINUTE(RES)                                      
  04/05/93      1100    (S)   RES RPT  CS  4DP NEW TITLE                       
  04/05/93      1100    (S)   ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO SB &                         
                              CS (REV)                                         
  01/21/94              (S)   JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ RM 211                     
  01/21/94              (S)   MINUTE(JUD)                                      
  01/26/94      2595    (S)   JUD RPT  CS  3DP NEW TITLE                       
  01/26/94      2596    (S)   ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO CS                           
                              PUBLISHED (REV)                                  
  01/26/94              (S)   RLS AT 11:30 AM FAHRENKAMP                       
                              ROOM 203                                         
  01/26/94              (S)   MINUTE(RLS)                                      
  01/28/94      2614    (S)   RULES RPT CS 5CAL AND DP                         
                              NEW TITLE                                        
  01/28/94      2614    (S)   PREVIOUS ZERO FN APPLIES TO                      
                              CS (REV)                                         
  01/28/94      2624    (S)   READ THE SECOND TIME                             
  01/28/94      2625    (S)   RLS  CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT                     
  01/28/94      2625    (S)   COSPONSOR(S): KERTTULA, SHARP,                   
                              PEARCE                                           
  01/28/94      2625    (S)   LITTLE,DUNCAN,PHILLIPS,MILLER                    
  01/28/94      2625    (S)   ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN                   
                              CONSENT                                          
  01/28/94      2625    (S)   READ THE THIRD TIME                              
                              CSSJR 13(RLS)                                    
  01/28/94      2626    (S)   PASSED Y16 N- E4                                 
  01/28/94      2626    (S)   Kelly NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION                  
  02/01/94      2642    (S)   RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP                     
  02/01/94      2643    (S)   TRANSMITTED TO (H)                               
  02/02/94      2212    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  02/02/94      2213    (H)   O&G, RESOURCES                                   
  02/02/94      2230    (H)   CROSS SPONSOR(S):  GREEN,                        
                              GRUSSENDORF                                      
  02/02/94      2230    (H)   CROSS SPONSOR(S):  NORDLUND                      
  02/07/94              (H)   O&G AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 124                      
  02/09/94      2314    (H)   O&G RPT  5DP                                     
  02/09/94      2314    (H)   DP: KOTT,SITTON,OLBERG,G.DAVIS,                  
                              GREEN                                            
  02/09/94      2314    (H)   -PREV. SEN. ZERO FISCAL NOTE                     
                              (REV) 1/26                                       
  02/16/94              (H)   RES AT 08:15 AM CAPITOL 124                      
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-16, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  The House Resources Committee was called to order by                         
  Chairman Bill Williams at 8:21 a.m.  Members present at the                  
  call to order were Representatives Williams, Hudson, Bunde,                  
  Davies, Green, and James. Members absent were                                
  Representatives Carney, Finkelstein, and Mulder.                             
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN BILL WILLIAMS announced there is a quorum present.                  
  He noted that the committee is on teleconference with                        
  Fairbanks, Anchorage, Ketchikan, Homer, Kodiak, Tok, Delta                   
  Junction, Cordova, Mat-Su, Glennallen, and Bethel.  He said                  
  the committee will take up SB 77.  He advised that the                       
  sponsor of SB 77, Senator Bert Sharp has provided a draft                    
  committee substitute.  This is the first hearing on SB 77 so                 
  no action will be taken.                                                     
                                                                               
  Number 046                                                                   
  SB 77 - INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF GAME RESOURCES                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR BERT SHARP, PRIME SPONSOR SB 77, stated he will be                   
  speaking to the bill which came from the Senate, CSSB
  77(RES).  He explained the draft House committee substitute                  
  is similar; it is restructured and has a legislative intent                  
  added.                                                                       
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP read his sponsor statement:  "The primary                      
  thrust of SB 77 is to provide clear legislative direction to                 
  the Board of Game in regard to priority management goals and                 
  mission of the Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G),                          
  particularly in the management of the larger species of                      
  game.  Recent political actions accentuate a dire need for a                 
  strong legislative mandate, something which has never been                   
  addressed for big game in the state.                                         
                                                                               
  "For close to 30 years, the mission of the Board of Game and                 
  ADF&G has gradually become distorted and the result has been                 
  a steady decline in the populations of the game resource in                  
  many areas of the state.  The value and use of biologically                  
  sound aggressive scientific management has been severely                     
  eroded, resulting in Alaska's current game management                        
  policies that manage people first, not the resource.  The                    
  management process presently employs only passive techniques                 
  such as shortening hunting seasons, changing methods and                     
  means, establishing permit only hunts and just flat out                      
  closing seasons entirely.  Each of these have contributed to                 
  the reduction in hunting opportunities for vast numbers of                   
  Alaskans.                                                                    
                                                                               
  "The stark reality is that every reduction in hunting                        
  seasons without corresponding reductions of predators has in                 
  fact been a reallocation of the resource from people to                      
  predator.  These past passive management actions have                        
  created the current situation where the Alaskan people                       
  harvest two to three percent of the game, while predators                    
  take 80 to 90 percent."  Senator Sharp requested committee                   
  members to look at a diagram in their folders showing                        
  harvest ratio.  (On file.)                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 087                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP continued with his sponsor statement:  "Time                   
  and time again, surveys and studies of game populations have                 
  revealed that during the first 30 days after calving season,                 
  up to 90 percent of the newborn are gone.  Do the mothers                    
  suddenly abandon them?  Do they starve?  Does a plague                       
  decimate only the newborn?  The answer is none of the above.                 
  The answer is the same today as it was five years ago, or                    
  ten years ago, or twenty years ago.  Predators are very                      
  selective and efficient in killing newborn caribou, moose                    
  and sheep.  Absolutely no question about it.  We have                        
  literally spent tens of millions of dollars doing population                 
  surveys and watching it happen.                                              
                                                                               
  "The lack of a clear legislative direction encourages                        
  administrations, the board, and the department to play it                    
  safe by continually needing just a couple more years to                      
  obtain more studies to support any proposed changes from                     
  passive management to effective, positive hands on                           
  management action.  Serious habitat deterioration has                        
  occurred both naturally and by human actions--primarily                      
  forest fire control action.  There has been very few uses of                 
  controlled burns and when they have been used, they have                     
  been very effective.  Other proven habitat enhancement                       
  methods have been seldom used.  These actions probably would                 
  increase game populations more than predator reduction                       
  efforts.  They are intensive management tools.                               
                                                                               
  Number 112                                                                   
                                                                               
  "Today's  volatile problem of allocating existing game                       
  resources could be minimized and in many cases eliminated by                 
  increasing game populations up to historically proven                        
  maximum sustainable levels.  Abundant game levels are the                    
  common sense answers to solve the current personal use,                      
  sport hunting and viewing needs.  This bill states a clear                   
  legislative intent in marking the course and setting goals                   
  of game management for the board and department.  It                         
  requires the maintenance of the state's game resource at a                   
  high sustainable yield level.  It restates the necessity of                  
  including the human harvest factor into the sustained yield                  
  formula.                                                                     
                                                                               
  "Alaska long ago took this course in the management of its                   
  fisheries that put fish into the nets of fishermen and                       
  dollars into the pockets of fishermen by aggressive                          
  intensive management.  Let us do the same to put meat into                   
  the cooking pots of thousands of Alaskans.  This resource                    
  has the potential to provide hundreds of millions of dollars                 
  in consumptive use value for the people throughout Alaska.                   
  I ask for your support of this legislative effort."                          
                                                                               
  Number 130                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PAT CARNEY felt predators become game also,                   
  and asked if there is a way to differentiate between                         
  productive meat animals and their predators when defining                    
  game.                                                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied that big game is defined as bear and                   
  wolf, which are the primary predators.  Intensive management                 
  of bear can be accomplished by liberalizing the seasons when                 
  the prey population is in severe decline.  It is more                        
  difficult to manage wolves as they have not been                             
  aggressively pursued by trapping because of the low price of                 
  fur and the remoteness of most activity.                                     
                                                                               
  (CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS noted for the record that REPRESENTATIVES                 
  CARNEY and FINKELSTEIN joined the committee at 8:25 a.m. and                 
  8:35 a.m.  He also noted that REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA had                    
  joined the committee.)                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 159                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP stated that intensive management is more of a                  
  quick response mandate and it is up to the game managers to                  
  decide which portion of it will be most effective and                        
  identify population areas.  He said when looking at the                      
  diagram, it is like a house fire.  If you show up at a house                 
  fire, and you only put water on 2 1/2 percent of the house                   
  fire, it is not very effective.  The only way to regroup is,                 
  once you get down to the foundation, you can build it again.                 
  He said to control only 2 1/2 percent of the harvest by                      
  intensive management is like fighting a house fire.                          
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON asked Senator Sharp, if the                       
  committee adopts SB 77 as drafted, does he believe the                       
  department will still have the discretion to make decisions                  
  relating to predator controls, etc., or will they be                         
  directed to some outside intent.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 179                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied CSSB 77, in conjunction with many                      
  comments from ADF&G, includes wording changes which allow                    
  for discretion.  He said on page one, line nine, the bill                    
  reads "where the board has determined..."  On page two, line                 
  21, it reads "requiring the department, within the                           
  department's ability..."  On page two, line 24, the bill                     
  reads "where the board has determined..."  And, on page two,                 
  lines 29 and 30 read "enhancement of abundance or                            
  productivity of the big game population is feasible."  He                    
  stressed those are areas where the board will still maintain                 
  discretionary options based on information supplied to them                  
  by ADF&G.  He added that amendments will be acceptable to                    
  clarify that the board does retain emergency closure rights                  
  in case of severe biological decline.                                        
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN asked, referring to the harvest                     
  ratio diagram, where road and railroad kills are shown.                      
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP answered those appear in the natural mortality                 
  section.                                                                     
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES felt the definition of intensive                  
  management emphasizes predator control and asked if that is                  
  correct.                                                                     
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied in reality that is correct.  The fact                  
  is that all predators, including humans, should be                           
  addressed.  Predators have to bear their responsibility for                  
  restoration of abundance in a declining situation.  He                       
  reiterated the board still maintains discretion.                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES inquired what source was used for the                  
  information contained in the diagram.                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP stated the information was supplied by                         
  advocates of the bill and noted that on the diagram, it                      
  states the data is from ADF&G, and is dated 1991.                            
                                                                               
  Number 268                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES expressed concern with the analogy of                  
  SB 77 to a fire.  He said the natural relationship between                   
  predators and prey has existed for a long time and this                      
  issue should not be characterized as a fire.  He stated if                   
  one looks at a smaller portion of a management unit where                    
  the human take is a much larger percentage, closures make                    
  sense.  When looking at the diagram, he could not understand                 
  why closures would ever be important.                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied that the Constitution says wildlife                    
  and other resources shall be managed under the sustained                     
  yield principle.  He said sustained yield for game has never                 
  been defined.  Therefore, ADF&G, the board and anyone else                   
  can make their own definition and justify in their mind what                 
  that definition is.  This bill defines sustained yield.  He                  
  stressed an allocation problem will exist if natural cycles                  
  occur.  If the human harvest element is taken out and there                  
  is a reallocation to the remaining predators, the predators                  
  will force the prey population down to a severe level where                  
  the prey move out or starve out.  The human element is                       
  inflicted with periods of extreme critical shortages.  The                   
  object of SB 77 is to bring the bottoming out of the natural                 
  cycle up to a point where there is a limited time of                         
  scarcity.                                                                    
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVID FINKELSTEIN said in looking at the                      
  context of the entire bill, it seems there is a mixture of                   
  people in the state interested in both consumptive uses and                  
  nonconsumptive uses.  There is a set a laws which allows the                 
  Board of Game to make decisions to allocate resources based                  
  on that--to engage in predator control and other means to                    
  achieve the goals which best suit the interests of all                       
  people.  He stated he does not understand what is being done                 
  in the bill that the board is not already doing under law.                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied many people think the necessity for SB
  77 is the fact that there is no legislative guidelines.  The                 
  Constitution mandates sustained yield, but it has never been                 
  defined.  It has been defined in other resource managements                  
  by statute.  He believed it is unfair to expect changing                     
  administrations and personalities within the department to                   
  not have a guideline on the definition of sustained yield,                   
  which is the primary goal of managing any resource that is                   
  replenishable in the state.  The wolf control issue is a                     
  current issue, but if one were to look back in history, they                 
  will find wolf control has only been utilized twice in                       
  twenty years.  Legislative intent is important in that it                    
  allows the board to have the option of determining if                        
  predator control is a problem.  If it is not, they have the                  
  latitude to determine whether it is feasible, practical and                  
  applicable by identified game populations.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 391                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FINKELSTEIN stressed that Senator Sharp is                    
  describing tools which ADF&G and the Board of Game already                   
  have and decisions they are already making.  He asked                        
  Senator Sharp if he is unhappy with the decisions they are                   
  making and therefore wants to impose a mandate to restrict                   
  their future options.                                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP stated in the past, previous administrations                   
  have ignored board orders and countermanded them on                          
  decisions they had made, based on scientific evidence.  He                   
  did not feel politics should interfere with the board's                      
  decision.  The bill defines sustained yield for the first                    
  time and is a recognition that the human harvest element is                  
  an important factor to be considered.  The human harvest                     
  cannot be eliminated and reallocated to other predators,                     
  because if it is reallocated, it is not an effective control                 
  method.                                                                      
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FINKELSTEIN said he did not mention politics,                 
  but is saying all the powers already exist within the board                  
  and the tools are already available to them.  The definition                 
  of sustained yield is just one sentence at the very end of                   
  the bill.  He pointed out that many people feel the                          
  legislature should not be imposing mandates on the Board of                  
  Fisheries and the Board of Game.  If the boards already have                 
  the power and the ability to use the tools, and mandates are                 
  imposed, the will of the legislature is being imposed on a                   
  decision which they already have the authority to make.                      
  People believe the legislature should express their views                    
  through who gets on the boards.  If the legislature is                       
  unhappy with the steps the boards have taken or the tools                    
  they have used, the confirmation process should be used                      
  instead of imposing mandates.                                                
                                                                               
  Number 432                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP agreed that the boards have options to                         
  consider any means proposed to them.  Many times, what is                    
  proposed is not followed through on, based on scientific                     
  information.  He felt the legislature owes it to the board                   
  and the public, for public necessity and need, to have a                     
  clear legislative direction on the goals to manage the                       
  resource, to leave enough discretionary latitude for the                     
  board and the department to determine, based on scientific                   
  information where the problem is, and only exercise                          
  corrective action on the problem areas.  He said the board                   
  has that now, but it is not working.                                         
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated he did not view the proposed                    
  legislation entirely as a mandate.  He said Administrative                   
  Procedures Act 44.62.030, provides for the consistency                       
  between regulations and statute.  He views SB 77 as a policy                 
  statement which says the Board of Game now considers                         
  identified big game population regulations, where the board                  
  has determined that consumptive use is preferred use.  He                    
  does not view it as a mandate, but rather as a strong                        
  intent.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 474                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP responded that is correct.  He said the new                    
  wording in the proposed legislation allows for discretionary                 
  board decisions on feasibility, determination, identifying                   
  the game species involved and identifying proper action.                     
  The bill says if the allocation for human harvest is                         
  reduced, the other predators which are responsible for 85                    
  percent of the take should be looked at.                                     
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE IRENE NICHOLIA said page two, line 23 of the                  
  committee substitute reads "requiring the department to                      
  conduct intensive management programs" and in looking at the                 
  changes ADF&G recommended, it says "within the department's                  
  ability."                                                                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR SHARP replied that language is in the draft House                    
  committee substitute and he is only addressing the Senate                    
  version.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Number 515                                                                   
                                                                               
  DAVE KELLEYHOUSE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE                             
  CONSERVATION, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, stated the                        
  division supports the concept of intensive management and                    
  has worked closely with Senator Sharp.  On the Senate side,                  
  many of the division's concerns have been incorporated.  He                  
  said the division's official position on the bill is                         
  neutral, pending additional amendments.                                      
                                                                               
  MR. KELLEYHOUSE noted that he had reviewed the draft House                   
  committee substitute for SB 77 and found the version which                   
  passed the Senate to be preferable.  The department                          
  recommends several amendments.  In Section 1 (a), the                        
  department recommends that the words "it considers advisable                 
  in accordance with" be retained and eliminate the word                       
  "under".  He also felt that changing the word "may" to                       
  "shall" provides the stronger legislative intent.  On page                   
  two, line 21, the department recommends substituting the                     
  word "authorizing" for the word "requiring".  They feel that                 
  change will maintain the discretion needed as a department                   
  and did not feel it proper for a board to direct and                         
  prioritize departmental resources.  On page three, line six,                 
  the department recommends substituting the word "effective"                  
  for the word "ineffective" and "appropriate" for the word                    
  "inappropriate".                                                             
                                                                               
  MR. KELLEYHOUSE stressed a demonstration of the collective                   
  will of the legislature is needed to ensure that the board                   
  and future administrations encourage Alaska's wildlife                       
  managers to responsibly enhance game populations in certain                  
  areas.  In this manner, much of the divisiveness between                     
  Alaska hunters over needlessly scarce or unproductive game                   
  populations can be avoided.  He believed SB 77 will give                     
  clear legislative intent for game managers in the state to                   
  do what they do best.                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 700                                                                   
                                                                               
  NOEL PUTNAM, KETCHIKAN SPORTS AND WILDLIFE CLUB, KETCHIKAN,                  
  expressed strong support for SB 77.                                          
                                                                               
  KATHERINE SMITH, KACHEMAK BAY CONSERVATION SOCIETY, HOMER,                   
  testified via teleconference, and expressed opposition to SB
  77.  She said the bill (indiscernible) wildlife management                   
  based on population and harvest data and (indiscernible)                     
  area residents with a legislative red meat mandate.  By                      
  placing the burden of high sustained yields on managers, SB
  77 disregards the professional expertise of game biologists                  
  in the department, it disregards knowledge of residents, it                  
  disregards customary, religious, and cultural uses of                        
  wildlife by Natives, it disregards the ecological value of                   
  (indiscernible) ecosystem systems, and it also disregards                    
  the constitutional mandate to manage wildlife for sustained                  
  yields.                                                                      
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-16, SIDE B                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. SMITH continued that SB 77 does not promote multiple use                 
  sustained yield management or a good stewardship on the                      
  state's resources.  She felt the proposed legislation will                   
  be perceived by the outside world as another predator                        
  eradication scheme and the legislative heated frenzy toward                  
  it will hurt Alaska.  The state's crazed image outside will                  
  continue to grow, which is a detriment to the state's                        
  visitor industry.  She urged the committee to reject SB 77                   
  and let the competent biologists decide what their preferred                 
  use of game is.  She told committee members to not go                        
  against science, common sense, and public opinion by                         
  legislating a red meat mandate.                                              
                                                                               
  NANCY HILLSTRAND, HOMER, testified via teleconference, and                   
  expressed opposition to SB 77.  She felt the Board of Game                   
  already has the power to adopt regulations for all Alaskans                  
  to balance the wildlife populations.  She believed the Board                 
  of Game is a democratic process which assures all Alaskans                   
  have a voice.  She said SB 77 is definitely a mandate.  She                  
  reminded members there are a lot of Alaskans, not just a                     
  certain group, who may utilize game for consumptive use.                     
  Ms. Hillstrand stated that SB 77 tells people not to                         
  participate in the Board of Game and she felt it is a                        
  politically motivated bill.  She urged the committee to take                 
  no action on SB 77.                                                          
                                                                               
  RICHARD MACINTOSH, KODIAK, testified via teleconference, and                 
  expressed his opposition to SB 77.  He said although the                     
  bill deals with predator control, it also mandates the use                   
  of fire and other techniques which are weighted in favor of                  
  human harvest.  He felt the bill minimizes other important                   
  uses of the state's game.  He said one major influence on                    
  game populations in the state is habitat degradation of                      
  various types through human development.  On page three, the                 
  bill states if the game population is reduced and there is                   
  protectional restrictions on human harvest, the board must                   
  implement intensive management procedures.  Even though 50                   
  percent of the habitat in an area is destroyed, this bill                    
  mandates intensive management to make up for that and to                     
  bring populations back to a historical level, which may                      
  never realistically be achieved because of human                             
  disturbance.  He urged committee members not to pass SB 77.                  
                                                                               
  Number 056                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARY FORBES, KODIAK, testified via teleconference, and                       
  expressed opposition to SB 77.  She does not believe that                    
  management of resources belongs in the hands of the                          
  legislature.  It belongs in the hands of the hired                           
  professionals.  She disagrees with what is considered best                   
  use of the resource and how that is determined.  She felt SB
  77 is a special interest bill, sponsored by the hunters.                     
                                                                               
  BILL HAGER, FAIRBANKS, testified via teleconference, and                     
  expressed support of SB 77.  He said he was responsible for                  
  the information contained in the diagram in the members'                     
  folders.  He stressed SB 77 will enhance the Alaska                          
  constitutional basis.  He noted that four years ago the                      
  constitutional directors started to develop game resource                    
  rules and reasons to prevent shortages from occurring.  The                  
  legislature was supposed to pass a sustained yield                           
  definition, directing the Board of Game to manage and                        
  prevent the department from mismanaging the state's game                     
  resource.  It was discovered that the legislature had not                    
  passed the definition and that is why SB 77 is in front of                   
  committee members.                                                           
                                                                               
  MR. HAGER stated SB 77 had passed the Senate and is                          
  constitutionally sound.  He stressed the legislation is for                  
  the Board of Game, not the department.  The bill will                        
  prevent bureaucrats and technocrats from arbitrarily                         
  manipulating the board and deceiving people into believing                   
  there is an uncontrollable reason for the shortage.  There                   
  was an attempt to reverse the shortage within the system at                  
  the November 1992 Board of Game meeting, but the department                  
  out-foxed that attempt.  He urged committee members to pass                  
  out SB 77.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 110                                                                   
                                                                               
  TED LEONARD, SALCHA, testified via teleconference, and urged                 
  committee members to pass SB 77 to implement and emphasize                   
  the sustained yield clause of the Constitution.  Many people                 
  rely on game as a major source of protein in their diets,                    
  not only because of the economic importance, but because                     
  wild game is healthier, lower in calories and fat, and is                    
  without chemical residues.  He added that hunting is an                      
  important part of his culture and tradition.  He noted there                 
  have been hard feelings in the Interior between the                          
  (indiscernible) and others who live in the country because                   
  of the shortage of game.  If the resources were more                         
  properly managed and predators controlled, there would be no                 
  shortage and no cause for conflicts.                                         
                                                                               
  MIKE TINKER, CHAIRMAN, FAIRBANKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE,                         
  testified via teleconference, and urged committee members to                 
  pass SB 77.  He said the overriding problem is that                          
  management has not been responsive to human needs;                           
  consumptive and nonconsumptive users.  One only has to look                  
  at the controversies, subsistence priorities and wildly                      
  fluctuating seasons and bag limits and the regulations which                 
  go along with them.  It is easy to defer to the politics of                  
  the moment.  He felt a stable policy is needed on the                        
  direction and emphasis for game managers.                                    
                                                                               
  MR. TINKER stated the number of Alaskans is growing,                         
  especially in the bush, so the resource user groups and the                  
  visitor industry will be impacted.  The state needs a                        
  direction to manage game species and their habitats to                       
  ensure that uses which are taken for granted by the framers                  
  of Alaska's Constitution are in place.  Sustained yield for                  
  use by humans was so obvious to early Alaskans that they did                 
  not specify sustained yields in the fish and game titles as                  
  it is specified, for example, in the Department of Natural                   
  Resources statute.                                                           
                                                                               
  MR. TINKER felt it makes sense to promote policy and                         
  emphasis which result in a better public understanding,                      
  better public input into the process, and better acceptance                  
  of the management concepts and guidelines.  He stressed now                  
  is the time to redirect the policy and solve the problems of                 
  subsistence shortages and confusion over the prioritizing of                 
  users.  Mr. Tinker felt SB 77 states the intention of the                    
  state's constitutional framers; that is, the uses were                       
  intended for the public.  He emphasized SB 77 does not limit                 
  that, it just ensures there will be plenty of game for                       
  however many people want to use it.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 165                                                                   
                                                                               
  JOEL BENNETT, JUNEAU, told committee members he is an active                 
  hunter and fisherman, has been interested in responsible                     
  game management since becoming a state resident 25 years                     
  ago, and served on the state Board of Game for 13 years.  He                 
  urged the committee to reject SB 77.  He felt the Board of                   
  Game has sufficient authority now and the bill is                            
  unnecessary.  It confuses existing language with terms that                  
  are vague.  He believed SB 77 is ill-advised because                         
  mandating predator control is not sound game management.                     
  Predators are also classified as big game animals and may be                 
  pushed below safe population levels.  Sustained yield has to                 
  operate for their benefit as well.  It is not known which                    
  predators are responsible for reduced game populations, if                   
  in fact predators are responsible at all.                                    
                                                                               
  MR. BENNETT said SB 77 simply states predation - it could be                 
  black bears, grizzly bears, wolves - all need to be accorded                 
  sustained yield principles as well.  Bears are valuable as                   
  commercial resources and deserve to be protected at high                     
  levels for commercial hunting as well as for other user                      
  groups.  He felt the bill is flawed as it fails to specify                   
  which predators.  He noted there was mention of maximum                      
  sustained yield and stressed it is not a concept which is in                 
  Title A of the Constitution.  It was intentionally left                      
  vague at that point so latitude could be accorded to the                     
  board or other authorities charged with implementing the                     
  concept.  To define sustained yield in a maximum way, like                   
  the committee substitute does, is going way beyond what the                  
  legislature should do.                                                       
                                                                               
  MR. BENNETT pointed out that this kind of action is what is                  
  contributing to federal efforts to close federal lands to                    
  various forms of predator control.  He felt the proposed                     
  legislation is unnecessarily provocative, serves to further                  
  divide and polarize the general public, subject to predator                  
  control, is complex and must be carefully considered by the                  
  board through its own public process with an in-depth                        
  analysis by the department.  He urged committee members to                   
  leave the authority where it is.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 220                                                                   
                                                                               
  WILLIAM BURK, JUNEAU, said he strongly opposes SB 77.  The                   
  present predator control of wolves in the state is going to                  
  cost the state in excess of $200,000, which he felt is a lot                 
  of money especially since the state is having budget                         
  problems.  He stressed since the majority of Alaskans are                    
  not hunters and do not have a need to hunt for food, there                   
  is no need to bow to the whims of the minority.  Predator                    
  control has been tried before and has never worked and added                 
  that wolves have been completely eradicated from the                         
  lower 48.                                                                    
                                                                               
  MR. BURK also opposed giving so much power to a board                        
  elected by the Governor and which is a political                             
  appointment.  He said the present board members are all                      
  hunters.   There are no environmentalists and no biologists,                 
  so naturally they will decide to make more sustained yield                   
  for killing and using meat.  He felt the Board of Game                       
  should be made up of an equal number of environmentalists                    
  and biologists.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 247                                                                   
                                                                               
  JOHN GEORGE, TERRITORIAL SPORTSMEN, JUNEAU, expressed                        
  support of SB 77.  He stated there are radical swings not                    
  only in the game species, but also in the predator species;                  
  when there is something for the predator to eat, the number                  
  of predators increase.  When the predators have eaten all of                 
  the game, they begin to starve.  He stressed that SB 77                      
  stabilizes the number of predators, as well as the number of                 
  game animals available for harvest.  Game is a renewable                     
  resource and if the renewable nature is maximized, there                     
  will be a good population to be harvested and for the                        
  predators to eat.  It will be a win/win situation.  He felt                  
  the ecosystem people have made predator control an expensive                 
  program.  There are efficient ways for predator control but                  
  unfortunately, the fair chase methods have been used, making                 
  it inefficient.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 275                                                                   
                                                                               
  DAVE CLINE, NATIONAL AUDOBON SOCIETY, PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE                  
  BIOLOGIST, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                      
  stressed that SB 77 is a very bad bill.  The bill separates                  
  special interests predator control legislation, is bad for                   
  wildlife, and is bad for the majority of Alaskans and other                  
  Americans who should have a say on how wildlife is managed                   
  in the state.  He stated SB 77 is bad for wildlife because                   
  it puts game species at risk of over harvest.  Alaska is too                 
  big to adequately determine and enforce maximum sustained                    
  yield.  As history shows, as over harvest occurs,                            
  populations take many years to recover.  This legislation                    
  will also lead to over harvest of predators with high                        
  aesthetic appeal, like wolves and bears.  Those populations                  
  will also take many years to recover.                                        
                                                                               
  MR. CLINE said putting most the state's scarce wildlife                      
  resources in (indiscernible) for a few favorite game species                 
  will jeopardize conservation efforts for wildlife species                    
  and populations which are in trouble.  He felt widespread                    
  predator control will embroil Alaska, further the national                   
  controversy and further damage the state's image as a                        
  preferred tourism destination.  Alaska's grand wildlife and                  
  wild lands deserve much better treatment by the state than                   
  what will occur under the proposed meat market approach to                   
  wildlife management.  He stressed SB 77 is ecologically,                     
  economically, socially, and politically unsound and                          
  encouraged committee members to reject it.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 310                                                                   
                                                                               
  TED RAYNOR, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                     
  said contrary to the notion that those who oppose predator                   
  control are outside or antigun, antihunting, antifishing                     
  fanatics, etc., there are many people who oppose SB 77, who                  
  were born and raised in Alaska and continue to feed                          
  themselves with fish and game.  He stated some Board of Game                 
  officials and many other elected officials got their                         
  collective egos bruised when public outcry forced Governor                   
  Hickel to back off his aerial wolf killing plan.  He felt                    
  wolves being shot currently are being done so out of spite,                  
  to assure those outcriers that they cannot tell the state                    
  what to do.  He said the wolves are just innocent bystanders                 
  in this war of wills.                                                        
                                                                               
  MR. RAYNOR wondered how far the predator control issue will                  
  be taken and gave examples of such.  He said humans are                      
  predators and any predator control program must include them                 
  or it will be pure hypocrisy.  Some experts believe the                      
  population of Alaska will double to over one million people                  
  by the year 2015.  When this happens, issues and                             
  controversies can be expected making the wolf control issue                  
  seem like nothing.  He encouraged members to stick SB 77                     
  into a lame hold trap and shoot it.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 340                                                                   
                                                                               
  CATHY GLEASON, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                  
  stated she agreed with former testimony questioning why the                  
  state is spending any time on SB 77, when the state is in                    
  such a fiscal crisis.  People in Juneau should be                            
  concentrating on resolving budget problems rather than                       
  sponsoring bills such as SB 77.  She wondered what the cost                  
  will be to intensively manage and identify big game                          
  populations and asked where the money will come from.                        
                                                                               
  MS. GLEASON stressed the minority of people in the state                     
  kill animals and felt SB 77 does not represent her views as                  
  a nonhunter or the views of the majority of the people in                    
  the state.  Nonconsumptive users are not being treated as                    
  valid users of the state's animal resources.  She felt SB 77                 
  is strictly geared toward hunters, and she cannot understand                 
  how this bill can be justified since it only caters to an                    
  extremely small special interest minority.  She asked                        
  committee members how they came up with the obtuse statement                 
  in Section 1, which says the legislature (indiscernible)                     
  maximum sustained yield is the highest and best use of the                   
  game resources of this state.  She stressed the legislature                  
  should be representing the people of Alaska which includes                   
  her, and she emphatically stated she does not agree that                     
  maximum yield is the highest and best use of game resources                  
  in the state.  She urged committee members to reject SB 77.                  
                                                                               
  DICK BISHOP, ALASKA OUTDOOR COUNCIL, FAIRBANKS, testified                    
  via teleconference, stating the council strongly supports SB
  77.  He stated the council has worked with Senator Sharp,                    
  ADF&G and members of the public on refinement of the bill.                   
  He remarked that SB 77 is important, as the existing statute                 
  fails to provide adequate direction for management of                        
  wildlife in order to meet the constitutional intent to                       
  manage on a sustained yield principle.  In some                              
  circumstances, intensive management is necessary to provide                  
  adequate opportunity for human consumptive uses.  SB 77                      
  recognizes that need and requires the Board of Game and                      
  ADF&G take action to meet the needs.                                         
                                                                               
  MR. BISHOP said game species are invaluable resources which                  
  provide food and recreation as well as contribute to                         
  maintaining cultural, spiritual and philosophical values                     
  through hunting and other uses.  Managing big game for food                  
  is ecologically correct and environmentally conservative                     
  compared to commercially produced food sources.  SB 77 will                  
  not disadvantage wildlife viewing, photography or similar                    
  uses;  more likely it will enhance them.  SB 77 does not                     
  mandate that Alaska become a big game farm, rather it                        
  provides the framework and the directive for effective                       
  management.  He stated many Alaskans have been frustrated by                 
  the refusal of past boards and administrations to take                       
  action when big game populations were depressed.  SB 77 will                 
  go far in relieving these frustrations, at least in areas                    
  which are not federally ruled.  The council urges the                        
  committee to pass SB 77.                                                     
                                                                               
  Number 416                                                                   
                                                                               
  (CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS noted for the record that REPRESENTATIVE                  
  CURT MENARD had joined the committee.)                                       
                                                                               
  PETE BUIST, FAIRBANKS, testified via teleconference, and                     
  urged the committee's support for SB 77.  He said                            
  consumptive users are being asked to contribute more and                     
  more money for a decreased opportunity.  The decreased                       
  opportunity seems to be the result of political pressures                    
  and wildlife managers who are anxious to design wildlife                     
  management regimes which favor nonconsumptive uses and                       
  values.  He noted allocations for predators seem to outweigh                 
  the allocation for humans.  He pointed out that hunters are                  
  being asked to pay for management regimes which are actually                 
  detrimental to their interests.  Passage of SB 77 is the                     
  only fair thing to do.  There are millions of acres of                       
  national parks where nature can take its course.  This                       
  proposed legislation will mean that a few areas can be                       
  actively managed to provide meat for Alaskan families.  He                   
  urged committee members to support SB 77.                                    
                                                                               
  (CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS noted for the record that SENATOR JOHNNY                  
  ELLIS has joined the committee.)                                             
                                                                               
  PETE SHEPERD, FAIRBANKS, testified via teleconference, and                   
  urged passage of SB 77.  He said framers of the Constitution                 
  saw a mechanism which would assure the system equal access                   
  and sustainable utilization of Alaska's renewable resources.                 
  Sustained yield has acquired political meanings adverse to                   
  managed use of the state's replenishable resource.  These                    
  physiological uses are far from the original understanding                   
  and clear meaning of Article 8, Section 4.  Over the years,                  
  the framers' intentions have been subverted by a lack of                     
  guidelines for sustainable wildlife management.                              
                                                                               
  MR. SHEPERD stated (indiscernible) constitutional mandate to                 
  manage replenishable wildlife resources for maximum                          
  sustained yield has become common with those who advocate a                  
  no-action preservation and philosophy.  (Indiscernible)                      
  forward and does not suggest conserve and preserve, and                      
  requires maintenance of replenishable resources at higher                    
  levels of productivity.  Rather than for Alaska to design                    
  the opportunity, there are millions and millions of dollars                  
  in economic, (indiscernible) and subsistence benefits from                   
  consumptive use and replenishable wildlife resources.                        
  (Indiscernible) Constitution mandates action by the                          
  legislature and state management agency.  He told committee                  
  members they can be assured that the needs of all user                       
  groups will be met by simply following the original                          
  understanding of maximum sustained yield.  Passage of SB 77                  
  will redirect management of the state's replenishable                        
  resources to the benefit of all.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 485                                                                   
                                                                               
  CAROL JENSEN, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                   
  stressed that SB 77 is only fair to the Fairbanks and Tok                    
  areas for their recreational hunters.  It completely ignores                 
  the desires and wishes of the remaining people in Alaska and                 
  those in the lower 48 who own the wildlife.  It goes without                 
  saying that the only selfish people being heard from are the                 
  sport and recreational hunters urging passage of SB 77.  She                 
  stressed that subsistence hunting is allowed in national                     
  parks and in all refuges, sanctuaries and monuments, sport                   
  and subsistence hunting is allowed.  She said she plans to                   
  fax the rest of her testimony to the committee.  She                         
  expressed her opposition to SB 77.                                           
                                                                               
  Number 515                                                                   
                                                                               
  TRACY ABELL, ALASKA CHAPTER, SIERRA CLUB, ANCHORAGE,                         
  testified via teleconference, and stated the club is opposed                 
  to passage of SB 77.  She said the club is against a policy                  
  which will artificially boost game species populations at                    
  the expense of other animals.  It is particularly disturbing                 
  that no attempts will be made to reduce hunting pressure or                  
  to study other alternatives before predators will be                         
  systematically killed.  She stressed it is bad public policy                 
  to mandate the killing of a species as the first and only                    
  wildlife management tool.  Alaska's wildlife should not be                   
  managed for the full benefit of hunters and trappers.                        
  Predator control programs are short sighted and can only                     
  result in a damaged ecosystem.                                               
                                                                               
  SANDRA ARNOLD, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                  
  expressed her strong opposition to SB 77.  She said she is                   
  not against hunting, she is not an animal rights fanatic and                 
  she is not against wildlife management.  She stressed she is                 
  against intensively micromanaging wildlife to benefit a                      
  small percentage of Alaskans, up against artificially                        
  inflating game species in certain fixed areas all at the                     
  expense of other species.                                                    
                                                                               
  MS. ARNOLD stated she cannot understand why the state wants                  
  to perpetuate this controversy, further dividing Alaskans,                   
  and making a mockery of the public process for setting                       
  wildlife decisions.  She said a letter received from                         
  Representative James stated that the committee values                        
  Alaska's uniquely open, public process for setting wildlife                  
  regulations, yet SB 77 shuts out the public by stripping the                 
  Board of Game of any flexibility.  The State Constitution                    
  says wildlife belongs to all Alaskans and no where does it                   
  say that it will be intensively managed in such a way to                     
  benefit one special interest group.                                          
                                                                               
  MS. ARNOLD pointed out that the goal of SB 77 is not to                      
  increase wildlife for everyone but to increase hunting.  She                 
  believed that SB 77 also increases hunting convenience and                   
  guarantees success as well.  She asked why the state is                      
  considering a bill which will erase the challenge of hunting                 
  which by definition includes the possibility of failure.                     
  Many people have said, in defense of SB 77, hunters pay fees                 
  and hunters pay for game management, so therefore wildlife                   
  belongs to them.  She stressed wildlife belongs to all                       
  Alaskans.  She felt SB 77 is a welfare bill for people who                   
  eat meat.  Nonconsumptive users of wildlife will gladly pay                  
  their way into having a say in wildlife management if given                  
  a meaningful way to do so.                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. ARNOLD said in regard to high levels of sustained yield,                 
  that is an oxymoron.  Contemporary wildlife journals say                     
  that sustained yield is not definable, yet Senator Sharp                     
  purports to define it in a three page bill.  She stated                      
  while she realizes that wildlife must be managed, she                        
  believes the language in SB 77 does more to reflect a                        
  political agenda which provides for the long term viability                  
  of Alaska's wildlife.  She urged committee members to reject                 
  SB 77.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 590                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROD ARNO, PRESIDENT, ALASKA OUTDOOR COUNCIL, PALMER,                         
  testified via teleconference, and urged passage of SB 77.                    
  He said he would like the opportunity to continue his                        
  Alaskan lifestyle as an active participant in the local                      
  ecosystem.  As a part of the statewide comprehensive outdoor                 
  recreation plan of 1992, a survey was completed.  In that                    
  survey, 35 outdoor activities were listed and Alaskans rated                 
  their preference.  In fifth place on the survey was that                     
  Alaskans want more hunting opportunities; on activities                      
  Alaskans did not get to participate in, sport hunting was                    
  14th; and wildlife watching was 35th.  He stressed Alaska                    
  residents would like to continue the opportunity to hunt.                    
                                                                               
  MR. ARNO stated currently there are numerous indicators                      
  there will be a decline in hunting opportunities,                            
  particularly on federal land and gave examples of the                        
  indicators.  He said the opportunity for any game management                 
  on federal lands, which is over 60 percent of the state, to                  
  enhance wildlife population for human use is threatened by                   
  national drives for biodiversity, ecosystem management.                      
  Intensive game management for human use on state owned land                  
  is the best plan.  The inability of the Board of Fisheries                   
  to address the need of sport fishermen adequately is a clear                 
  indicator of the need for a legislative mandate to the Board                 
  of Game to manage game intensively for human use.  He urged                  
  passage of SB 77.                                                            
                                                                               
  Number 668                                                                   
                                                                               
  OLIVER BURRIS, TANANA VALLEY SPORTSMENS ASSOCIATION,                         
  FAIRBANKS, testified via teleconference, and stated the                      
  association firmly supports the committee substitute for SB
  77.                                                                          
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-17, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. BURRIS stated there are depressed wildlife populations                   
  in the interior and the Board of Game needs policy direction                 
  from the legislature and an interpretation of the                            
  constitutional mandate for sustained yield.                                  
                                                                               
  TOM SCARBOROUGH, FAIRBANKS, testified via teleconference,                    
  and expressed support of SB 77.  He felt the Board of Game                   
  needs a clear direction on management.  SB 77 allows for                     
  flexibility in intensive management.  Intensive management                   
  will benefit all users, both consumptive and nonconsumptive,                 
  particularly the visitor industry.                                           
                                                                               
  Number 033                                                                   
                                                                               
  GREG MACHACEK, ALASKA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION,                     
  NORTH POLE, testified via teleconference, and expressed                      
  support of SB 77.  He echoed concerns which Senator Sharp                    
  stated regarding the lack of present management.  He agreed                  
  with Mr. Kelleyhouse that the definition will prevent                        
  shortages in most cases, and might help resolve the                          
  conflicts between rural and urban hunters.  In order to                      
  hunt, there must be plenty of animals.                                       
                                                                               
  Number 045                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARY VAN DUSEN, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                 
  expressed opposition to SB 77.  She felt most Alaskans                       
  oppose SB 77.  She stated she might go outside and let                       
  people know on national television that not all Alaskans                     
  support SB 77.  She stressed this is her state and some of                   
  it belongs to those outside.                                                 
                                                                               
  STEPHEN WELLS, ALASKA WILDLIFE ALLIANCE, ANCHORAGE,                          
  testified via teleconference, and stated the alliance is                     
  opposed to SB 77.  This bill will require the Board of Game                  
  to adopt regulations for intensive management.  If wildlife                  
  management direction is legislated, why pretend a value or                   
  consider public input into the decision making process.                      
  Regardless of whether or not there is an agreement on how                    
  wildlife should be managed, it should be agreed that                         
  everyone deserves to have a voice.  He stressed SB 77 is a                   
  regressive attempt to stifle public input.                                   
                                                                               
  MR. WELLS said the cost of conducting state funded predator                  
  control programs are extremely high.  The current wolf                       
  reduction program is less than halfway completed and the                     
  cost to date is $163,000.  The state has claimed to have                     
  killed 84 wolves so far which means the state has spent                      
  almost $2,000 per wolf.  The dollar figures do not include                   
  trips made to Washington, D.C., promoting wolf control or                    
  wolf control related litigation.  Predator control programs                  
  have always been and will always be expensive to the state.                  
                                                                               
  MR. WELLS questioned why there is no fiscal note attached to                 
  SB 77.  He also questioned the need for the bill.  He                        
  pointed out that the Board of Game has the power to                          
  authorize all of the action called for in the bill.  The                     
  Board of Game has not only shown its willingness, but its                    
  exuberance in authorizing intensive management action,                       
  including predator control.  He stressed there is no lack of                 
  consideration by the board in the interest of consumptive                    
  users of wildlife.  He said he did not understand why the                    
  legislature should create an even more unfair situation by                   
  forcing extreme management actions such as predator control,                 
  and disregard public input.  He said the alliance urges                      
  committee members to reject this attempt to circumvent                       
  public process and reject SB 77.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 095                                                                   
                                                                               
  TERRY BURRELL, ANCHORAGE, testified via teleconference, and                  
  expressed opposition to SB 77.  She said SB 77 asks Alaskans                 
  to redefine sustained yield and to substitute a mandate for                  
  higher human harvest at any cost.  She urged committee                       
  members to reject SB 77.                                                     
                                                                               
  GEORGE MATS, ANCHORAGE AUDUBON SOCIETY, ANCHORAGE, testified                 
  via teleconference, and expressed opposition to SB 77.  He                   
  read several lines from the bill.  He said intensive                         
  management is expensive management.  He added if there is a                  
  need to improve the availability of moose, road kills should                 
  be looked at.                                                                
                                                                               
  GORDON HABER, PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE SCIENTIST, DENALI PARK,                  
  testified via teleconference, and urged committee members                    
  not to pass SB 77.  He felt a better alternative could be                    
  used to accommodate diverse interests with regard to the use                 
  of wildlife resources without resorting to intensive                         
  management, which means wolf and bear reductions.  Referring                 
  to game management unit 28, he said ADF&G has said by                        
  reducing wolves in that area, it can assure a stable caribou                 
  population and harvest, but added there is nothing known                     
  about the biology of caribou to give assurance that is                       
  possible.  He noted the caribou population in the state has                  
  tripled in number over the past 15 years.  He stressed there                 
  is a hunter distribution problem, not a caribou supply                       
  problem.                                                                     
                                                                               
  MR. HABER asked committee members to consider one of the                     
  self defeating ironies of the intensive management of unit                   
  28.  ADF&G's objective is to produce more harvest                            
  opportunities, but in fact, the caribou population is 20-30                  
  percent above its most productive size and as it continues                   
  to increase, the maximum sustainable yield will continue to                  
  decrease.                                                                    
                                                                               
  ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the committee will meet Friday,                  
  February 18, at 8:15 a.m. to hear SB 46, HB 401 and SJR 13                   
  if time permits.                                                             
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  There being no further business to come before the House                     
  Resources Committee, Chairman Williams adjourned the meeting                 
  at 10:05 a.m.                                                                
  BILLS NOT HEARD                                                              
                                                                               
  SJR 13 - EXPORT OF ALASKA OIL                                                

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