Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 124

03/27/2006 02:00 PM House RESOURCES


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
Until 1:00 PM Wed, 03/29/06
*+ HCR 30 AK CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMMISSION TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHCR 30(RES) Out of Committee
*+ HB 307 KNIK RIVER PUBLIC USE AREA TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         March 27, 2006                                                                                         
                           2:03 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jay Ramras, Co-Chair                                                                                             
Representative Ralph Samuels, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Jim Elkins                                                                                                       
Representative Carl Gatto                                                                                                       
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux                                                                                                 
Representative Kurt Olson                                                                                                       
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative Harry Crawford                                                                                                   
Representative Mary Kapsner                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30                                                                                              
Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHCR 30(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 307                                                                                                              
"An Act creating the Knik River Public Use Area."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD AND HELD                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HCR 30                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: AK CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMMISSION                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOULE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
02/08/06       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/08/06       (H)       RES, FIN                                                                                               
03/27/06       (H)       RES AT 2:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 307                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: KNIK RIVER PUBLIC USE AREA                                                                                         
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STOLTZE                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
05/07/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/07/05       (H)       RES, FIN                                                                                               
03/27/06       (H)       RES AT 2:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HCR 30 as sponsor.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MIKAYLA SAITO, Intern                                                                                                           
to Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                  
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HCR 30.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
GLENN JUDAY, Ph.D., Professor                                                                                                   
University of Alaska - Fairbanks                                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MIKE BRADLEY                                                                                                                    
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium                                                                                          
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JOHN KREILKAMP, Vice President                                                                                                  
Alaska Operations                                                                                                               
Cruise West                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
TIMOTHY TREUER                                                                                                                  
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN DAVIES, Chair                                                                                                             
Treasury Board                                                                                                                  
Alaska Chapter                                                                                                                  
The Nature Conservancy                                                                                                          
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BUCK LAUKITIS                                                                                                                   
North Pacific Fisheries Association                                                                                             
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
RICK STEINER                                                                                                                    
University of Alaska - Anchorage                                                                                                
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 30.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as the sponsor, presented HB 307.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DICK MYLIUS, Acting Director                                                                                                    
Division of Mining, Land and Water                                                                                              
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HB 307.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
TODD CLARK, President                                                                                                           
Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 307.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  JAY   RAMRAS  called   the  House   Resources  Standing                                                             
Committee  meeting  to  order at  2:03:57  PM.    Representatives                                                             
Ramras, Samuels, Elkins, Gatto,  Olson, Seaton, and Crawford were                                                               
present  at  the  call  to order.    Representatives  LeDoux  and                                                               
Kapsner arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HCR 30-AK CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMMISSION                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION  NO.  30,  Creating  an  Alaska                                                               
Climate Impact Assessment Commission.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  moved to adopt  CSHCR 30,  Version 24-LS1605\F,                                                               
Kane,  3/24/06,  as  the  working   document.    There  being  no                                                               
objection, Version F was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE,  Alaska State Legislature, presented                                                               
HCR 30 as sponsor.  He  opined that it's important for the future                                                               
of  Alaska to  create the  Climate Impact  Assessment Commission.                                                               
Alaska  is  beginning  to  see the  impacts  of  climate  change,                                                               
especially in coastal  communities.  He said  the legislature, by                                                               
nature, is  a reactive  body.   "We don't plan  very well."   The                                                               
commission would  consist of: two senators,  two representatives,                                                               
a  member  from   the  Denali  Commission,  a   member  from  the                                                               
University  of Alaska,  a member  from the  Alaska Federation  of                                                               
Natives,  a  member  from the  Alaska  Conservation  Alliance,  a                                                               
member knowledgeable  in engineering,  two members  who represent                                                               
affected Alaska  communities, two members who  represent affected                                                               
Alaska businesses, a  member knowledgeable in fish  and game, and                                                               
a member  from the  Alaska Youth for  Environmental Action.   The                                                               
group would be  able to assess the impacts of  climate change and                                                               
advise  the legislature  as to  what  it needs  to do.   He  said                                                               
communities  are  already  being  threatened by  erosion  due  to                                                               
global  warming, which  is impacting  subsistence activities  and                                                               
Alaska's fish and game resources.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:11:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said  the fiscal note is equal  to less than                                                               
one  salary "that  we pay  to Arctic  Power, and  we're not  sure                                                               
we're getting a  great deal of satisfaction from them."   He then                                                               
remarked  that evidence  for global  warming  is nonexistent  and                                                               
referred to  a novel by Michael  Crichton as the premier  book of                                                               
the decade  dealing with global warming.   He said the  book will                                                               
never become a Hollywood movie since  it tries to debunk the fact                                                               
that the  planet is experiencing  global warming.  He  added that                                                               
the  author   says  the  temperature   fluctuation  may   not  be                                                               
happening; "we  don't really  know" because  of the  influence of                                                               
"heat islands."   He said satellites create  pure data unaffected                                                               
by heat  islands, and the  satellites only indicate a  warming of                                                               
5/100 of 1  degree.  Representative Gatto repeated  that there is                                                               
no  evidence for  global warming.    He said  a commission  can't                                                               
compare  with satellite  data and,  "we're duplicating  something                                                               
that is already being done hundreds of times over."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE  expressed his concern with  the legislature                                                               
being  able  to  deal  with  future  issues  as  readily  without                                                               
Alaska's own expertise.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:15:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON  referred  to  page 3,  lines  6-7,  which                                                               
reads,  "the  public  members  of   the  commission  may  receive                                                               
compensation" and  asked if  compensation is  in addition  to per                                                               
diem and if it comports with other commissions.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MIKAYLA SAITO,  Intern to  Representative Reggie  Joule, referred                                                               
to the fiscal note, which reads, in part:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Travel  costs for  the legislators  and public  members                                                                    
     are included  in this fiscal  note. ...  The Commission                                                                    
     will have  a contractual budget for  phone, advertising                                                                    
     and  other  expenses  and  a   supply  budget  for  the                                                                    
     purchase of supplies and research materials.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
She summarized that compensation consists of per diem and                                                                       
reimbursement for travel.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:17:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOULE  clarified  that the  public  member  seats                                                               
aren't paid positions.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON surmised  that compensation  isn't in  the                                                               
form of a salary.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE said that is correct.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO inquired  as to the amount of  the per diem.                                                               
He mentioned an existing per diem of $400.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked what commission has $400 per diem.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS   answered  that  the  Alaska   Housing  Finance                                                               
Corporation per diem  was increased to $400 last year.   He noted                                                               
that the Juvenile Justice [Advisory  Committee] has a per diem of                                                               
$35 and the Permanent Fund  [Corporation Board of Trustees] has a                                                               
per diem of $400.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE  clarified that  the [Alaska  Climate Impact                                                               
Assessment Commission] wouldn't have a high per diem.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:19:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   JOULE,   in   response   to   Co-Chair   Ramras,                                                               
acknowledged that issues regarding permafrost are likely.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS  noted  that  this  resolution  doesn't  mention                                                               
involvement of the University of Alaska.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAITO said there is a University of Alaska commission seat.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS  asked, "Why is  there not a  closer relationship                                                               
with  the  University  since  so   much  of  this  presumably  is                                                               
scientifically anchored?"                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:22:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOULE explained  that  he attempted  to keep  the                                                               
number of  members relatively  low.  He  expressed his  hope that                                                               
the  University of  Alaska, the  Department  of Transportation  &                                                               
Public Facilities, the Alaska Department  of Fish & Game, and the                                                               
Department of Environmental Conservation  would act as ex-officio                                                               
members.   That  expertise is  necessary,  and while  there is  a                                                               
University of  Alaska seat on  the commission, he hopes  for more                                                               
participation from the University.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:23:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GLENN JUDAY, Ph.D., Professor, University  of Alaska - Fairbanks,                                                               
explained  that  the  earth   has  recently  become  climatically                                                               
different.   He  said data  supporting the  existence of  climate                                                               
change in  Alaska is  abundant and referred  to slide  1, showing                                                               
increasing temperatures in southern Alaska.   He showed graphs of                                                               
rising temperatures in  other parts of the state.   He noted that                                                               
the  overnight low  temperatures have  increased the  most.   Dr.                                                               
Juday  referred  to  slide 5  showing  that  the  growing/thawing                                                               
season is now much longer, and  slide 6, which shows that the hot                                                               
summer days  allow for  more wildfires.   He  stated that  all of                                                               
this  warming produces  many  effects, for  example,  sea ice  is                                                               
thinner and  is currently at  a record  low extent in  the Arctic                                                               
ice pack, break-up on rivers  is happening earlier, the length of                                                               
the growing  season has increased,  lakes are  drying, permafrost                                                               
temperatures  are warming  with  some thawing,  and glaciers  are                                                               
holding  less  ice.    He   referred  to  slide  7  showing  that                                                               
commercial  white spruce  in central  Alaska grows  less in  warm                                                               
summers, and with additional warming, it won't grow at all.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:29:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. JUDAY,  in response to Representative  Seaton, explained that                                                               
he selected  the scenarios  that produced  the least  warming and                                                               
the most  warming.   The results  suggest that  temperatures will                                                               
eventually  become so  warm that  [white spruce]  trees won't  be                                                               
able to survive.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:30:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  asked whether [scientists]  can extrapolate                                                               
from the data the reasoning behind  the warming and if so, what a                                                               
solution would be.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR.  JUDAY  said  that  greenhouse   gases  have  contributed  to                                                               
warming.    Natural  variability  occurs  but  substantial  human                                                               
influence is additional.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:33:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO,  in regard  to the increase  of CO2  in the                                                               
atmosphere and  warming asked, "Can  you make the  statement that                                                               
those two are inextricably linked?"                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR. JUDAY said  [CO2 and warming] are linked  in every reasonable                                                               
way that  [scientists] are able  to test  them.  He  added, "That                                                               
amounts to a pretty solid and across-the-board case."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO stated  that the  National Aeronautics  and                                                               
Space Administration  (NASA) data  indicate that  temperatures on                                                               
Mars are  increasing.  He  asked, "If  it's a solar  event that's                                                               
occurring  on  Mars  and  we're  in between  the  Sun  and  Mars,                                                               
couldn't we  attribute all of  the activities that  are happening                                                               
here for the  same reason, and that CO2 and  man's activities are                                                               
simply accompanying the other events?"                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DR.  JUDAY replied  no; "Whatever  additional  effect humans  are                                                               
causing  from greenhouse  gases  are adding  to whatever  natural                                                               
background causes.  Both are happening, neither can be ignored."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:35:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE BRADLEY,  Alaska Native Tribal Health  Consortium, discussed                                                               
the  public health  impacts  of  climate change.    He noted  the                                                               
existence of melting permafrost;  increased drought magnitude and                                                               
frequency;   increased   storm  severity,   including   increased                                                               
precipitation  and wind;  and accelerated  coastal and  riverbank                                                               
erosion.   He noted  that all  have public  health impacts.   The                                                               
majority of  problems will  involve sanitation  infrastructure in                                                               
communities.   Parasitic diseases  that are  spread by  water are                                                               
moving north,  and he  added that  when the  quality of  water is                                                               
degraded, personal hygiene suffers.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:38:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN KREILKAMP,  Vice President, Alaska Operations,  Cruise West,                                                               
said  Cruise West  supports an  Alaska Climate  Impact Assessment                                                               
Commission.   The commission would  assess current  and potential                                                               
impacts  of climate  warming on  Alaskans, the  economy, and  the                                                               
natural resources,  and make  recommendations to  the legislature                                                               
to help  communities plan better  for the effects of  the warming                                                               
environment.  He said the  commission won't solve global warming,                                                               
but it  makes sense to  have a  commission that would  help study                                                               
and analyze  how docks, bridge,  roads, and  other transportation                                                               
infrastructure will be impacted.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:41:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIMOTHY  TREUER,  Alaska  Youth for  Environmental  Action,  said                                                               
climate change, regardless  of the cause, is  having a tremendous                                                               
impact  on  Alaska  industries, cultures,  communities,  and  the                                                               
livelihood of  many Alaskans, particularly  the youth.   He said,                                                               
"Creating  this commission  would  be a  very positive  proactive                                                               
step to address these problems  now before they become greater in                                                               
scope and magnitude and we have to react to them."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN DAVIES,  Chair, Treasury Board, Alaska  Chapter, The Nature                                                               
Conservancy, remarked that it's  very obvious that global warming                                                               
is happening and  that Alaska is on the forefront.   He said that                                                               
regardless  of  the  cause,  it makes  sense  to  understand  the                                                               
phenomenon and create a business plan for dealing with it.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:44:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BUCK  LAUKITIS,  North  Pacific Fisheries  Association,  remarked                                                               
that  undoubtedly Alaska,  as  a coastal  resource  state, is  at                                                               
significant risk  if warming  trends continue.   He said  that it                                                               
would  be   prudent  to  establish  a   systematic  framework  to                                                               
contemplate  this  debate  and begin  to  establish  policies  to                                                               
address  mitigation  options.     Storm  intensity  seems  to  be                                                               
correlated with  ocean warming and  the last few years  have been                                                               
some of  the stormiest springs  and falls  on record.   These are                                                               
safety  issues as  well as  insurance  considerations for  boats,                                                               
crew, and  port infrastructure, he  said.  The North  Pacific has                                                               
gone through  extended periods of  relative warmth  and coolness,                                                               
with certain  species doing well  and others suffering.   He said                                                               
the  current concern  is whether  there's an  unprecedented cycle                                                               
without   a   corresponding   cool   cycle   that   throws   fish                                                               
distributions, overall  marine productivity,  and run  timing all                                                               
out of whack.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:47:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RICK STEINER, University of Alaska  - Anchorage, said he supports                                                               
HCR 30,  which he characterized  as win-win.  Almost  all western                                                               
states have  state-government efforts to address  climate change.                                                               
He said it's  a function of the government to  protect the health                                                               
and welfare of  its citizens, protect state  property, and wisely                                                               
manage the  state's natural  resources.   He said  climate change                                                               
is, above all, an economic issue.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:49:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  pointed out that  when the seasons  get shorter                                                               
for drilling,  it impacts resource  development and  the economy.                                                               
He  wholeheartedly  agrees with  HCR  30,  but  said to  be  very                                                               
careful that with the formation  of the commission that Alaska is                                                               
not  taking   a  position  on   the  cause  of   global  warming.                                                               
Therefore, he  suggested that HCR 30  relates Alaska's acceptance                                                               
of  the fact  that the  climate is  changing and  what Alaska  is                                                               
doing to prepare.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS moved  that the committee adopt  Amendment 1, as                                                               
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 29:                                                                                                           
          Delete "Alaska Conservation Alliance"                                                                                 
          Insert "Department of Natural Resources"                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  said the Department of  Natural Resources (DNR)                                                               
houses  the  regulatory  environment  for fish,  game,  oil,  and                                                               
timber.  He  noted that the Alaska Conservation  Alliance will be                                                               
an excellent source  of information, but the  committee must take                                                               
care  with regard  to the  perception [the  commission] presents.                                                               
He  recalled  Representative  Joule's  earlier  comment  that  he                                                               
avoided  naming  a  department  as a  member  of  the  commission                                                               
because the  departments could be  used as a resource.   However,                                                               
he  opined  that DNR  covers  all  land  use and  the  regulatory                                                               
environment and thus specifying DNR would be appropriate.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRAWFORD objected.   He  related his  belief that                                                               
more information is  better.  He acknowledged the  desire to keep                                                               
the commission small, and he didn't  want to limit the input that                                                               
goes into  the commission.   Furthermore, he recalled  that there                                                               
was a good  reason to have a member from  the Alaska Conservation                                                               
Alliance.    Therefore, he  expressed  his  preference for  DNR's                                                               
membership to be an addition rather than a deletion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:53:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAPSNER  said having  a  member  from the  Alaska                                                               
Conservation Alliance is just one more Alaskan at the table.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS commented  that to have a member with  a real or                                                               
perceived bias  is problematic.   If the perception is  that this                                                               
commission is skewed either way, the results will be tainted.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:55:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE noted that  originally the membership of the                                                               
commission  didn't  include  the  Alaska  Conservation  Alliance.                                                               
However, balance  is achieved by  including it.  He  said, "We're                                                               
looking  to have  people  from the  oil industry  on  here."   In                                                               
response  to  Representative  Olson,  he  said  that  the  Alaska                                                               
Conservation Alliance requested a seat on the commission.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:56:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote  was taken.    Representatives Gatto,  Elkins,                                                               
LeDoux, Olson, Seaton, Ramras, and  Samuels voted in favor of the                                                               
adoption of  Amendment 1.   Representatives Crawford  and Kapsner                                                               
voted against it.   Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted  by a vote                                                               
of 7-2.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS then  referred to page 3, line  5, and expressed                                                               
his  desire to  replace the  youth representative  recommended by                                                               
the  Alaska Youth  for Environmental  Action  group with  someone                                                               
recommended by  the University  of Alaska Board  of Regents.   He                                                               
opined that a youth representative  from the University of Alaska                                                               
would provide a broader background.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOULE agreed  that including  representation from                                                               
the University Board of Regents would broaden it quite a bit.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS expressed his hope  that Youth for Environmental                                                               
Action  would lobby  the University  of Alaska  Board of  Regents                                                               
with its selection, although other groups would too.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:58:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS moved  that the committee adopt  Amendment 2, as                                                               
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 5:                                                                                                                 
     Delete "Alaska Youth for Environmental Action group"                                                                       
     Insert "University of Alaska Board of Regents"                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SEATON  objected   and  asked   if  the   member                                                               
represents Alaska  youth or another university  representative on                                                               
the commission.   He  opined that  in order  to obtain  the broad                                                               
impact desired, the member should be a youth representative.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:59:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   SAMUELS   said   the   representative   specified   in                                                               
subparagraph (B) will be a  professor while the representative in                                                               
subparagraph (I) will be a youth who is not a professor.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON removed his objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:00:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX  asked if the  sponsor would consider  it a                                                               
friendly  amendment  to  Amendment  2  to  add  "based  upon  the                                                               
recommendations of  Board of Regents  and ...  Alaska Association                                                               
of School Boards to gather the high school-aged youth."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOULE opined  that  the important  thing is  that                                                               
young people are involved.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS  suggested that  the  resolution  refer to  the                                                               
University of Alaska  Board of Regents but include  a letter from                                                               
the sponsor to request notification of the various youth groups.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said that solves her problems.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS, upon  hearing no  further objection,  announced                                                               
that Amendment 2 was adopted.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:02:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS moved  that the committee adopt  Amendment 3, as                                                               
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 13:                                                                                                           
          Delete "terminated"                                                                                                   
          Insert "re-evaluated"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, Amendment 3 was adopted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO moved that  the committee adopt Amendment 4,                                                               
as follows:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 11:                                                                                                           
          Delete "shall"                                                                                                        
          Insert "may"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRAWFORD   objected  and   inquired  as   to  why                                                               
Representative Gatto is suggesting such a change.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  explained that  if both  the House  and the                                                               
Senate Resources Standing Committees  are forced to provide staff                                                               
to  this  commission,  then  a fiscal  note  should  be  created.                                                               
Therefore, he opined  that it shouldn't be a  requirement for the                                                               
committees to assign staff to the commission.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:04:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS informed the committee  that if HCR 30 passes he                                                               
would assign Tim Benintendi to be staff to the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS pointed  out that  the House  Resources Standing                                                               
Committee staff  is session-only staff  and thus it  adds another                                                               
wrinkle to the situation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he prefers the "may" language.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he would  defer to the wishes of the                                                               
sponsor.   [Representative  Crawford indicated  that he  withdrew                                                               
his objection to Amendment 4.]                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:05:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS,  upon hearing  no further  objections, announced                                                               
that Amendment 4 was adopted.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  moved that the committee  adopt Conceptual                                                               
Amendment 5, as follows:                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 7, following "compensation":                                                                                  
          Delete ","                                                                                                            
          Insert "for"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO objected and  inquired as to the possibility                                                               
of striking the word "compensation".                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:06:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON   said  Legislative  Legal   and  Research                                                               
Services may  have included it for  clarification, but Conceptual                                                               
Amendment 5  reflects his understanding that  the compensation is                                                               
for per diem and reimbursement of expenses.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO withdrew his objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS,   upon  determining   there  were   no  further                                                               
objections, announced that Conceptual Amendment 5 was adopted.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:06:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  moved to report CSHCR  30, Version 24-LS1605\F,                                                               
Kane,  3/24/06,  as amended,  out  of  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being                                                               
no  objection,   CSHCR  30(RES)  was  reported   from  the  House                                                               
Resources Standing Committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:07:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 307-KNIK RIVER PUBLIC USE AREA                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  final order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE  BILL NO. 307,  "An Act  creating the Knik  River Public                                                               
Use Area."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE,  Alaska State Legislature, presented                                                               
HB  307  as  sponsor.   He  said  the  affected  area is  in  his                                                               
district,  and  he  attempted  to   balance  multiple  use,  good                                                               
management,  and   habitat  protection.    He   held  two  fairly                                                               
extensive  public  hearings  in   Butte  and  has  had  countless                                                               
meetings with  people in support  of, as  well as not  in support                                                               
of,  this  bill.     He  said  the  most   prevalent  concern  is                                                               
enforcement and resources.   He noted that he  has worked closely                                                               
with the Department  of Natural Resources (DNR)  and the Attorney                                                               
General's Office on  this bill, and the  enforcement language has                                                               
drastically  changed from  the original  version.   His  proposed                                                               
amendment would  allow outside  entities to  support enforcement.                                                               
He  remarked  that  the  Matanuska-Susitna  motorized  users  are                                                               
skeptical  of a  management  plan,  but he  convinced  them of  a                                                               
multiple-use  plan that  protects habitat.   He  stated that  the                                                               
Butte  Community  Council  endorsed  the bill.    The  Matanuska-                                                               
Susitna  Borough endorsed  the concept  of a  public use  area in                                                               
their resolution, without endorsing this actual bill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:15:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  moved to adopt  CSHB 307,  Version 24-LS0737\I,                                                               
Bullock,  3/15/06,  as the  working  document.   There  being  no                                                               
objection, Version I was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DICK  MYLIUS,  Acting  Director,  Division of  Mining,  Land  and                                                               
Water,  Department of  Natural Resources,  said the  division had                                                               
concerns with  the original  draft, which  has been  addressed in                                                               
the CS.  He affirmed that the  concept of a public-use area has a                                                               
lot  of   public  support,  but  there   are  concerns  regarding                                                               
management.    He  explained  that  this  bill  would  set  aside                                                               
approximately 264,000 acres  of state land as  a public-use area,                                                               
which is  a multiple-use  area open  to mining  and logging.   He                                                               
noted that it would start near  Butte, and the western end of the                                                               
area is  within a mile of  the old Glen Highway,  which has trail                                                               
access and  fairly heavy public use.   Some of the  areas further                                                               
to the  east are  more remote,  including a  portion of  the Knik                                                               
Glacier and  some valleys that  drain south into the  Knik River.                                                               
It  includes a  large  area of  the Knik  River  flats, which  is                                                               
popular for off-road  vehicle use.  He said this  bill requires a                                                               
management plan from DNR because  there are competing ideas as to                                                               
how  this area  should  be managed.   This  bill  also gives  DNR                                                               
enforcement authority,  which is important because  of the area's                                                               
extensive abuse  by the public.   He referred to an  Alaska State                                                               
Trooper report on  the activities they have been called  for.  It                                                               
is a dumping ground for people  to trash and burn vehicles, and a                                                               
management presence is necessary, he opined.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:20:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about any current designations.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. MYLIUS  responded that it's  just general state land  with no                                                               
particular designation.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX asked  why page  2, Section  41.23.190(c),                                                               
reads, "The  Knik River Public Use  Area may not be  managed as a                                                               
unit of the state park system."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE said it's  a different type of management,                                                               
and there is  language which will allow park  enforcement but not                                                               
management and promulgation of regulations.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:24:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON   asked  whether  citation   authority  is                                                               
included in arrest authority.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MYLIUS  confirmed that  citation  authority  is included  in                                                               
arrest  authority.   He  mentioned  that  the Attorney  General's                                                               
Office helped draft the bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRAWFORD  asked,  "Are  there  any  private  land                                                               
holders in this area, and would  this change the way they're able                                                               
to manage their land?"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:25:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STOLTZE  surmised  that there  are  private  land                                                               
holders  and explained  that since  it is  state land,  this bill                                                               
would not affect their use of their land.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. MYLIUS clarified that only  state land and water are included                                                               
in this bill.   He said there are some  private lands within this                                                               
geographic area, primarily owned by the Eklutna Corporation.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said page  2, [Section 41.23.190](d) reads,                                                               
"With  the  assistance  of  the   United  States  Army  Corps  of                                                               
Engineers, the  commissioner shall identify wetland  areas within                                                               
the Knik  River Public  Use Area and  provide for  the protection                                                               
and use  of the wetland areas  in the management plan."   He said                                                               
the  Army Corps  of Engineers  produced a  Geographic Information                                                               
Systems (GIS) map from satellite  data on the Kenai Peninsula and                                                               
classified  the entire  lower  peninsula as  wetlands.   "Are  we                                                               
setting ourselves up for a problem?" he asked.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MYLIUS responded  that DNR  is simply  requesting help  with                                                               
identifying wetlands.   He added  that because the Army  Corps of                                                               
Engineers  has regulatory  authority  over wetlands,  it will  be                                                               
useful to have its assistance in identifying those areas.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON stated  that he  wants DNR  to investigate                                                               
what  has happened  on the  lower  Kenai Peninsula  with the  GIS                                                               
identification of all of Homer [as wetlands].                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:28:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TODD CLARK,  President, Alaska Outdoor Access  Alliance, said the                                                               
alliance is  comprised of many access  organizations, mostly from                                                               
Southcentral  Alaska.    The  objective of  the  alliance  is  to                                                               
maximize the  legitimate use of a  resource similar to this.   He                                                               
mentioned that  motorized users recognize  that there's a  lot of                                                               
illegal use [of this area],  but they're reluctant to support any                                                               
form of  management.  Management  is necessary, and  the specific                                                               
provisions that users  are most interested in  are the protection                                                               
for existing trails  and the management objective  that this area                                                               
be a  destination for motorized  users.   In regard to  the lakes                                                               
and streams  in this  area, the  salmon population  is excellent,                                                               
the moose  population is optimal  for the amount of  habitat, and                                                               
waterfowl are healthy and strong.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:33:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MYLIUS, in response to Representative Gatto, confirmed that                                                                 
mining will be allowed, but it will require a permit.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[HB 307 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:34:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The House Resources Standing Committee meeting was recessed at                                                                  
3:34 p.m. to a call of the chair.                                                                                               

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