Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/08/1999 01:35 PM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 8, 1999
1:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Scott Ogan, Co-Chair
Representative Jerry Sanders, Co-Chair
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Ramona Barnes
Representative Jim Whitaker
Representative Mary Kapsner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Harris
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Reggie Joule
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 am
Opposing the closure of the former Mount McKinley portions of
Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine use.
- MOVED SJR 5 am OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SJR 5
SHORT TITLE: SNOWMACHINE USE IN DENALI NAT'L PARK
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) HALFORD, Kelly Pete, Taylor, Wilken,
Donley, Ward, Leman, Miller, Pearce, Green; REPRESENTATIVE(S)
Coghill, James, Therriault, Barnes
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
1/27/99 99 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
1/27/99 99 (S) RES
2/01/99 127 (S) COSPONSOR(S): GREEN
2/03/99 (S) RES AT 3:00 PM BUTROVICH ROOM 205
2/03/99 (S) MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
2/03/99 (S) MINUTE(RES)
2/04/99 155 (S) RES RPT 5DP 1NR
2/04/99 155 (S) DP: HALFORD, MACKIE, PARNELL, TAYLOR,
2/04/99 155 (S) GREEN; NR: LINCOLN
2/04/99 155 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.RES)
2/05/99 (S) RLS AT 11:20 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
2/05/99 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
2/08/99 185 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR AND 1OR 2/10/99
2/10/99 214 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2/10/99 214 (S) AM 1 OFFERED BY HALFORD
2/10/99 214 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
2/10/99 215 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
2/10/99 215 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SJR 5 AM
2/10/99 216 (S) PASSED Y18 N2
2/10/99 218 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
2/16/99 220 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
2/16/99 220 (H) WTR, RESOURCES
2/16/99 228 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): COGHILL, JAMES
2/17/99 240 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): THERRIAULT
2/23/99 (H) WTR AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
2/23/99 (H) MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
2/23/99 (H) MINUTE(WTR)
2/24/99 298 (H) WTR RPT 4DP 2NR
2/24/99 299 (H) DP: MASEK, PHILLIPS, COWDERY, BARNES;
2/24/99 299 (H) NR: GREEN, JOULE
2/24/99 299 (H) SEN ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.RES) 2/4/99
2/24/99 299 (H) REFERRED TO RESOURCES
2/24/99 309 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): BARNES
3/08/99 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
BRETT HUBER, Legislative Assistant
to Senator Rick Halford
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 121
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4958
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 5 am on behalf of prime sponsor.
MICHAEL EASTHAM
Snowmads Snowmachine Club
P.O. Box 3646
Homer, Alaska 99603
Telephone: (907) 235-0771
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 5 am.
DICK BISHOP
Alaska Outdoor Council
P.O. Box 73502
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
Telephone: (907) 455-4262
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 5 am.
BILL EASTHAM, President
Mat-Su Motor Mushers
HC03 Box 8286
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Telephone: (907) 745-3943
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 5 am.
NANCY MICHAELSON
Sierra Club, Alaska Chapter
241 East 5th, Number 205
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 276-4048
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SJR 5 am.
CLIFF EAMES
Alaska Center for the Environment
519 West 8th, Number 201
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 274-3647
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SJR 5 am.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-12, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR SCOTT OGAN called the House Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Members present at the call to order
were Representatives Ogan, Sanders, Masek, Barnes and Kapsner.
Representative Whitaker arrived at 1:37 p.m. Representatives
Morgan and Joule were excused.
SJR 5 am - SNOWMACHINE USE IN DENALI NAT'L PARK
CO-CHAIR OGAN brought before the committee Senate Joint Resolution
No. 5 am, opposing the closure of the former Mount McKinley
portions of Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine use.
Number 0064
BRETT HUBER, Legislative Assistant to Senator Rick Halford, Alaska
State Legislature, came forward on behalf of the prime sponsor to
present the resolution. He told members that SJR 5 is designed to
send a clear message to the U.S. Department of the Interior, to the
National Park Service (NPS), and to Alaska's congressional
delegation that the Alaska State Legislature opposes a closure of
Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine access. An
equally important message carried by the resolution is a message to
Alaskans that the legislature supports their continued access to
public lands.
MR. HUBER asked whether either Mr. Leaphart, Executive Director,
Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA), or Ms.
Cunning, Alaska Native Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)
program coordinator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, was on
teleconference. He noted that both had provided background in
hearings on SJR 5 in the Senate Resources Committee and the House
Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations.
CO-CHAIR OGAN indicated neither was on line. He asked whether
members wished to have Mr. Huber provide further background, then
mentioned that he himself was on the CACFA commission and had heard
quite a lot about it during the previous year's meeting.
Number 0276
MICHAEL EASTHAM, Snowmads Snowmachine Club, testified via
teleconference from Homer, expressing total support for SJR 5. He
said many Alaskans who work during the summer aren't able to join
the thousands of tourists that go into McKinley Park on buses or in
their vehicles. He hasn't heard of studies about the impact on the
animals or the environment by NPS vehicles. And now in the winter,
Alaskans who like to recreate with snowmachines face efforts to
close the park "to us that make our livelihood and live here in
Alaska, and yet keep it open to those outside tourists that like to
come here and visit." Mr. Eastham said many users of the park are
"camping with these animals or hiking all over them," and yet there
has been no mention of their impact. He believes snowmachine users
are being singled out as causing a great impact, but that there are
a lot of faults to that point.
Number 0434
DICK BISHOP, Alaska Outdoor Council, testified via teleconference
from Fairbanks. He said the Alaska Outdoor Council strongly
supports SJR 5 and applauds the Senate for promptly addressing this
issue by pointing out that the National Park Service (NPS) has not
followed ANILCA's requirements regarding regulations banning the
use of snowmachines in most of the old McKinley Park. As he
understands them, those regulations may actually increase concern
about potential resource disturbance by concentrating a lot of use
in a limited area. The NPS has condoned similar illegal rule
making by park superintendents in the past, over the consistent
notification and objections of the state, of the CACFA and of
Alaskan citizens. He mentioned a lawsuit by the Alaska State
Snowmachine Association, challenging this illegal and high-handed
rule making.
MR. BISHOP told members there may good reason to regulate or
prohibit snowmachine uses in parts of the old McKinley Park;
however, the NPS has not approached the question legally or in good
faith, nor has it shown a compelling factual basis for the
regulations. Mr. Bishop said this NPS action cannot go
unchallenged. He concluded by asking where Governor Knowles and
the Attorney General are in this issue, and why the Governor is
"sailing forth under Alaska's flag in Glacier Bay to challenge the
federal action, but is not even a speck on the snowfields of
Denali."
Number 0680
BILL EASTHAM, President, Mat-Su Motor Mushers, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage, noting that he is Michael Eastham's
brother. He told members his organization supports this
resolution, and they agree with Mr. Bishop's position
wholeheartedly.
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES pointed out that several years ago, after the
railroad had accidentally killed about 800 moose, the Mat-Su Motor
Mushers broke trail along the railroad track, saving the lives of
numerous moose. She thanked the organization for those efforts.
Number 0775
NANCY MICHAELSON, Sierra Club, Alaska Chapter, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage, noting that statewide the
organization has 1,300 members. She stated:
The Sierra Club in Alaska opposes the passage of this joint
resolution. We support the closure of the old Mount McKinley
Park to motorized uses. We do not agree with the
interpretation that old Mount McKinley ... National Park was
ever opened to motorized uses. We see this as an issue based
on a technical problem. There has never been any language or
legislative history that points to Congress' meaning to allow
for motorized uses in the old park. Indeed, three things
Congress did do indicated its intent to strengthen the park
protection through the years. And these things include: one,
they made the original park all wilderness; two, they expanded
the park; three, in 1976 they closed it to mining with the
Mining in the Parks Act.
Also, regarding the requirement that findings of snowmachine
use ... needs to be shown to be detrimental to the park, we
take issue with the reference in the resolution that proof of
detrimental impact must come from the specific area itself.
Your resolution conveys that you mean that we must impact or
ruin an area to prove the area will be ruined, and take steps
to protect it only after the fact.
Look how lucky we are to have this magnificent national park
in our state. The scenic and wildlife values of Denali
National Park, no matter the season, depend on nondisturbance
... of winter and summer habitat. We urge you not to accept
[Senate] Joint Resolution 5. We believe that the entire old
portion of Mount McKinley National Park should be closed to
all motorized uses, and we support protective regulations to
that purpose.
Number 0934
CLIFF EAMES, Alaska Center for the Environment, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage, specifying that his organization has
offices in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna area, with more than
9,000 members, the vast majority of whom are Alaskans. He stated:
We oppose this resolution. Recreational snowmobiling, we
recognize, is a popular sport. But it's not the only popular
winter recreational activity. It also certainly is a
legitimate sport, but it frequently conflicts with other types
of winter recreation, as well as with Alaskans' quiet
enjoyment of their homes and remote cabins.
The only way to resolve these conflicts, in many instances, is
to separate these incompatible activities by managing some
public lands for motorized recreation, and some for quiet
recreation. With millions of acres of public lands in Alaska,
it shouldn't be hard to provide lots of opportunities for all
winter recreationists to enjoy their preferred sports. But in
recent years, the state of Alaska has decided to manage nearly
all state-owned lands for motorized recreation, making other
recreationists second-class citizens, at best.
This is not fair, plain and simple. But it certainly makes it
even more important that the federal government step in and
try to right this inequitable imbalance. For this and other
reasons, we support closing one-third of Denali National Park
and Preserve to snowmobiling, which at the present time leaves
the four million other acres of the park and preserve open to
snowmobiling. Finally, the extensive public comment on this
issue, both inside and outside of Alaska, fully supports the
park service's decision.
CO-CHAIR OGAN asked whether there were questions, or whether anyone
else wished to testify; there was no response.
Number 1098
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion to move SJR 5 am out of
committee with any accompanying fiscal notes; she asked unanimous
consent. There being no objection, SJR 5 am moved out of the House
Resources Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1113
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:48 p.m.
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