Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/10/2003 01:05 PM House RES
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+ teleconferenced
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 10, 2003
1:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair
Representative Hugh Fate, Co-Chair
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Carl Gatto
Representative Cheryll Heinze
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Beth Kerttula
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
TAPES
03-4, SIDE(S) A & B
CO-CHAIR MIKE CHENAULT convened the meeting of the House
Resources Standing Committee at 1:05 p.m. Representatives
Chenault, Fate, Masek, Gatto, Heinze, Lynn, Wolf, and Guttenberg
were present at the call to order. Representative Kerttula
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
Number 0144
KEVIN BROOKS, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), gave a breakdown of
the six divisions within the department. He indicated the
department has an operating budget of [$135] million, with very
little coming from the general fund: about $30 million comes
from the general fund; $50 million comes from federal funds; $25
million comes from ADF&G, with some user fees from sport fishing
and commercial fishing; and ADF&G collects fees on guns,
ammunition, tackle, et cetera, and fees for the sale of fishing
and hunting licenses. One strength of the program is that it's
on-site and available in more than 40 communities across the
state to help manage the resource. He further discussed the
administrative services of the department and indicated that
there are 1,800 positions, which double in the summer months.
Number 0813
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO expressed disappointment in not having
Kevin Duffy, acting commissioner of ADF&G, available to speak to
the committee and address his expectation for the department to
manage things more efficiently.
MR. BROOKS apologized on behalf of Mr. Duffy and explained that
the commissioners were called to a conference with the governor.
Number 1003
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK expressed interest in knowing what amount
of revenue the state made on the king salmon stamp.
MR. BROOKS said he would provide a spreadsheet for 2002.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said she'd be interested in information
specifically for the Upper Susitna drainage area and for an
update on the Pittman-Robertson funds.
Number 1133
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked about the efficiencies of ADF&G and
said at present they were less than acceptable. He requested a
copy of the department's social and economic impact study on the
Kenai king salmon run, which cost the state $40,000. He was
interested in knowing when the study would be made public and
indicated the study should be made available to the Board of
Fisheries and not try to circumvent the public process.
Number 1263
KELLY HEPLER, Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, said the division planned to
provide two bodies of science, and that the contract to the
board item was not in the budget survey due this week.
Number 1420
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said it was a static overview without
the budget and a view of where the new administration is going.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO talked about Project WILD and the
educational program goals for children in kindergarten through
12th grade. He expressed reservations about the department's
going into schools with a particular philosophy, as opposed to
presenting information that is scientifically based.
Number 1735
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT said this meeting was an overview to
hear about the department's responsibilities and an opportunity
to ask questions. He suggested the committee work to correct
problems at a later time.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO indicated that he felt obligated to put
forth questions and get some answers regarding his concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF stated his understanding that the department
will work under the new governor's direction. He mentioned
maximum sustained yield and protecting the environment.
Number 1990
DOUG MECUM, Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, provided a handout of the 2003
overview and key accomplishments for the division. He
highlighted areas of personal use; subsistence management;
management of waters and research up to 200 miles out; shellfish
and groundfish; and the salmon treaty negotiations. He
indicated the division's budget is $124 million, with 80 percent
coming from the general fund. He said biologists have seen a
decline of a billion-dollar salmon industry over the last
several years. He indicated that the halibut [population] went
from 130 million to 140 million fish, and currently, it's at its
lowest value, which is half of recent 5-year values. He spoke
on the subsistence issue, navigable waters, and the future of
mariculture. He indicated passage of HB 208 required DNR
[Department of Natural Resources] to have [80] sites but that it
nominated 190 sites.
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE inquired about current sites for geoduck
farming and asked how successful they have been.
MR. MECUM responded that three permits had been issued out of
the several that have been applied for. He anticipated that up
to 20 will be permitted, but they are in the initial stage.
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE brought up a lawsuit pending over a denial
of a permit. She indicated the estimated cost is $4 to $5
million. She offered her belief that common stock was
transferred with the permits and indicated the issue is in the
Alaska Supreme Court.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE discussed the subsistence board's decision
on subsistence use for cash for the [Yukon-Kuskokwim] Region and
the need to implement more commercial fisheries.
MR. MECUM said the board has not finalized it's position on the
rule, but he thinks they should appeal the decision.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked who develops the division's missions.
He indicated that the board should work very closely with the
legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked about developing test fisheries in
Southeast Alaska for geoducks, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK brought up the tax relief issue for those
fishermen who are not able to make their tax payments.
MR. MECUM offered to speak with the Department of Revenue and
noted that there are 14 pieces of current legislation that
address this issue, such as the "buy-back" tax relief.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO stated that he would have questions for
Kevin Duffy regarding the guiding principles and scientific
integrity he has worked under for the last 21 years.
MR. HEPLER spoke about the division's $30-million budget [and
indicated] that no general funds are used; the division employs
21 field officers; oversees three hatcheries, which combine both
private and nonprivate entities; and is looking to develop more
sites and have more boat launches.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if they are also responsible for
training [Fish & Wildlife Protection troopers] and inquired
about the survey or study that was done.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN mentioned resident and nonresident fishing
licenses and asked about the fees collected.
MR. HEPLER answered that it was nearly impossible to break out
the fee amount on the different types of licenses. Some are for
one to three days, and some people purchase a king salmon stamp;
the revenues are three to one.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF mentioned the Chris Strauss (ph) informal
program and [indicated the program] is not being funded.
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE talked about training public safety
officers on fish protection and regulations regarding
violations.
CO-CHAIR FATE asked if the numbers are cut, how would it affect
the enforcement program because it doesn't entail management and
science.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if they had seen the white paper that
referenced the survey and staying away from catch-and-release
fishing for early-run king salmon, with field notes for Mary
[Pete].
MR. MECUM indicated he would provide numbers on licensing to all
members.
Number 2749
MARY PETE, Director, Division of Subsistence, Alaska Department
of Fish and Game, discussed various aspects of the division and
indicated that it contains a research division, which makes
recommendations to the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game.
She said a technical paper series covering baseline studies,
complete with social and economic issues, and the information is
available from the 1980s. The division's staff consists of 28
full-time employees and 60 to 70 part-time employees. It
monitors harvests across the state. She indicated the budget
consists of $224,000 out of the general fund, $1 million in
[Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA)]
receipts, $100,000 from inter-agencies, $70,000 from (indisc.),
and $2.2 million in federal dollars; the division acts as a
pass-through to the community for contract dollars.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG asked about personal-use issues,
specifically, the dipnet fishery in Chitna and meeting criteria
for traditional use, using the definition of "customary long-
term" and not commercial, which meets the state's criteria. He
indicated information was collected in 1984; over 500 permit
holders in Chitna and Glennallen were interviewed; and the
report was submitted to the board and had to meet pretty high
criteria. He asked if there is new information to reconsider
the finding.
MS. PETE said yes, a 2000 survey and interview defined the
criteria under "Sections 1, 3, and 8," with Section 1 being
"customary," Section 3 being intergenerational knowledge, and
Section 8 allowing for diversity of uses. She discussed whether
the pattern meets the established criteria and suggested the
board believed the pattern did not meet the criteria for
subsistence use.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO requested further information on Project
WILD.
Number 2299
MATT ROBUS, Acting Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation,
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said the division has 260
employees with 23 locations around the state, including 4 main
headquarters and 18 regional offices. He indicated there is a
$27-million budget: $32,000 comes from the general fund, and
the rest comes from user-paid organizations and waterfowl
stamps, licenses, and fees. He indicated the regulatory system
is monitored by area biologists; they oversee status of wildlife
populations, work with the Board of Game to manage hunts and
drawings, and work with the Tier II permits. He indicated the
workload increased with federal programs, which sometimes have
different rules and goals; the division also has an educational
program with grants from Washington, D.C. The wildlife program
includes economic opportunities, improving tourism, rural
villages, and overseeing nongame research on animals like sage
grouse, sea lions, black-tailed ground hog, and so forth. He
indicated they receive $6 million to $7 million from Pittman-
Robertson funds, $4 million from WCRP [Wildlife Conservation
Restoration Program], and $4 to $6 million from Congress in
special grants.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE commented on viewing wildlife as an industry
within the state and wanted to know if ADF&G was receiving any
money for this.
MR. ROBUS explained that the department receives a small amount
of funding for things such as the Round Island Sanctuary, McNeil
River, and Pack Creek in Southeast Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG suggested that $300,000 comes from
[ADF&G]; federal money is becoming available, and they can
garner funds from nonconsumptive users that can be used to match
other federal dollars.
MR. ROBUS said some funds are available with a one-to-three
match, and suggested it's very complicated. He indicated some
of the funding is 50:50. He said $250,000 comes from the
general fund; $30,000 is for gathering data on the ferret,
prairie dog, grouse, et cetera, - for wildlife that may not have
enough information collected to be able to say they are in fair
shape. For example, they are looking at harbor seals to be able
to argue biological status. He indicated another issue is the
governor's reorganizational move for [the Division of Habitat
and Restoration] to DNR. Title 16 provides that the division
will protect, maintain, restore, and enhance lands and allow for
responsible use; these lands include refuges, critical habitat
areas, special areas, and special projects.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF discussed the habitat study and the
methodology used for collecting data on stream bank restoration
reports, and talked about the use of "319 funds".
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked for background information on the
Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP).
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA postulated questions regarding how the
reorganizational move would be made and asked about oversight of
the permitting of land and water use under Title 16.
MR. ROBUS stated that there are 35 positions moving to DNR and
21 will remain with ADF&G. The Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat
Area and the EXXON Valdez settlements would be staying with the
division as well. It is possible that up to as many as 50
positions will be cut.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF expressed concerns over habitat and king
salmon early runs, and wanted to know how many permits [are
issued] per year and the turnaround time. He also wanted to
know how many are denials.
MR. ROBUS, in response, said about 15 to 17 days on average and
that he wasn't sure about the number of denials, but felt it was
low.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF indicated he thought it was only 15 or 16
denials.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said they are required to approve
permits yearly.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO addressed [Ms. Pete] and reiterated the
need to strike a balance in Alaska. He asked about the need to
grow more moose if there is a problem with too few moose or if
the problem is the quality of the habitat.
DIANE COTE, Executive Director, Board of Fisheries, Board
Support Section, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, explained
they also have some oversight of game, but mostly deal with fish
issues. She indicated the board includes administration and
technical support; is responsible for public notice of board
meetings, and other general duties; meets four to five times a
year; and has six full-time employees that work closely with an
advisory committee and provide support. There are 81 committees
with about 900 seasonal persons all across the state, and the
board depends on public opinion to make decisions.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA mentioned the length of the board
meetings and said several of her constituents would like the
board to consider managing its time better.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG asked about the makeup of the boards
and suggested a broad geographical makeup would work best.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee was adjourned at 2:36 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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