02/06/2006 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic | 
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB360 | |
| HB380 | |
| HB395 | |
| Adjourn | 
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 360 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 380 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 395 | TELECONFERENCED | |
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                        February 6, 2006                                                                                        
                           01:05 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 Harry Crawford                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative Mary Kapsner                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 360                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to the  regulation of public accommodation water                                                               
supply systems."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 360 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 380                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to the powers  and duties of the commissioner of                                                               
environmental   conservation;   relating   to   animals,   animal                                                               
products,  agricultural  products,   and  the  transportation  of                                                               
animals  and   animal  products;  relating  to   the  employment,                                                               
appointment,  and   duties  of   a  state  veterinarian   by  the                                                               
commissioner  of  environmental  conservation;  relating  to  the                                                               
powers  of  the  commissioner   of  natural  resources  regarding                                                               
agricultural products; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 380(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 395                                                                                                              
"An Act extending the period of the fire season."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 395 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 360                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: REGULATION OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER                                                                                
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MEYER                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/13/06       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/13/06       (H)       RES, FIN                                                                                               
02/06/06       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 380                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ANIMALS & ANIMAL OR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS                                                                          
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MEYER                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/18/06       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/18/06       (H)       RES, FIN                                                                                               
02/06/06       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 395                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: FIRE SEASON START DATE                                                                                             
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) OLSON                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/25/06       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/25/06       (H)       RES, FIN                                                                                               
02/06/06       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HB 360 and HB 380.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
JERRI VAN SANDT                                                                                                                 
Division of Public Health                                                                                                       
Department of Health and Social Services                                                                                        
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 360.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
KRISTIN RYAN, Director                                                                                                          
Division of Environmental Health                                                                                                
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)                                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided clarity on HB 360.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DENNIS WHEELER                                                                                                                  
Advisory Section Manager                                                                                                        
Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA)                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that RCA has no jurisdiction over                                                                 
facilities covered in HB 360.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MIKE PAWLOWSKI, Staff                                                                                                           
to Representative Kevin Meyer                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HB 380.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. BOB GERLACH, State Veterinarian                                                                                             
Division of Environmental Health                                                                                                
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 380.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
LOUISA CASTRODALE, Epidemiologist                                                                                               
Division of Public Health                                                                                                       
Department of Health and Social Services                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 380.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
LARRY DEVILBISS, Director                                                                                                       
Division of Agriculture                                                                                                         
Department of Natural Resources                                                                                                 
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 380.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff                                                                                                           
to Representative Kurt Olson                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 395 on behalf of Representative                                                                
Kurt Olson, sponsor.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
GARY POWELL, State Fire Marshal                                                                                                 
Division of Fire Prevention                                                                                                     
Department of Public Safety                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 395.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
LYNN WILCOCK, Chief,                                                                                                            
Fire and Aviation                                                                                                               
Division of Forestry                                                                                                            
Department of Natural Resources                                                                                                 
Fort Wainwright, Alaska                                                                                                         
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 395.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CRAIG GOODRICH, Fire Chief                                                                                                      
Municipality of Anchorage                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 395.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL DAVIDSON                                                                                                                
Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association                                                                                   
Girdwood, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 395.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:05:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  JAY   RAMRAS  called   the  House   Resources  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting to order at  1:05 p.m.  Representatives Ramras,                                                               
Samuels,  Gatto, Elkins,  Olson and  LeDoux were  present at  the                                                               
call  to  order.    Representative  Crawford  arrived  while  the                                                               
meeting was in progress.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 360-REGULATION OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE  BILL NO.  360, "An  Act relating  to the  regulation of                                                               
public accommodation water supply systems."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, Alaska  State Legislature, sponsor of                                                               
HB 360, said there is a  lack of monitoring and regulating public                                                               
drinking water  systems that serve  25 people  or less.   He said                                                               
publicly  used wells  are monitored  if they  serve more  than 25                                                               
people.   He gave examples  of trailer parks,  daycare facilities                                                               
and  assisted  living  homes,  which often  have  fewer  than  25                                                               
people.  He said it is a public health concern.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:08:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked how the bill will impact villages.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if a fourplex is a public facility.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEYER  said  the   definition  of  public  is  in                                                               
statute.  A  fourplex would be considered private,  but a private                                                               
residency  used  as  a  bed and  breakfast  would  be  considered                                                               
public.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if a duplex would apply.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEYER  said a  rental  property  does not  apply,                                                               
unless it serves  more than 25 people.  The  definition of public                                                               
accommodation is pretty broad, he noted.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS   read  the  statutory  definition   of  public                                                               
accommodation.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:12:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER said there are many wells in Anchorage.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JERRI VAN SANDT, Division of  Public Health, Department of Health                                                               
and Social  Services, said  she is speaking  for the  director of                                                               
the Division  of Public Health.   She said the  division supports                                                               
HB 360 because it provides  clear authority to protect the public                                                               
by reviewing water supplies for  small facilities.  She said that                                                               
those involved with  certification licensing don't want  to be in                                                               
the water inspection  business; it is outside of  their scope and                                                               
expertise.    The  bill  will  clarify  that  the  Department  of                                                               
Environmental  Conservation has  the authority  to inspect  water                                                               
systems, and  problems can then  be communicated to  the Division                                                               
of Public Health and dealt with through licensing.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
KRISTIN  RYAN,   Director,  Division  of   Environmental  Health,                                                               
Department  of Environmental  Conservation (DEC),  said that  the                                                               
regulation of public  water systems falls within  the Division of                                                               
Environmental Health, and  it is limited to  systems serving more                                                               
than 25 people.   The systems falling through the  cracks are the                                                               
facilities with  25 people or  less that provide services  to the                                                               
public, she  said.  She noted  that there is often  an assumption                                                               
that water is  safe to drink at places like  day care centers and                                                               
gas  stations, for  example.    She said  there  are problems  in                                                               
restaurants because  the division can  regulate many of  them for                                                               
food but  not for water.   She stated that the  regulations would                                                               
not  include  residential  units  such as  homes,  apartments  or                                                               
duplexes.   The  intent  is  to get  to  facilities that  provide                                                               
services to the public.  She  said it has been "buyer beware" for                                                               
renters or homeowners.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:17:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked about the cost to private industry.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  RYAN  said   she  estimates  that  there   are  about  3,000                                                               
facilities in  Alaska that will  be affected by  the legislation,                                                               
which  requires an  annual test  of  nitrate and  coliform.   The                                                               
tests  cost about  $30 each,  she said.   If  the drinking  water                                                               
source is  surface water, the  division would require  the system                                                               
to be designed by an engineer with those associated costs.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS  surmised that  there  will  be no  impact  for                                                               
businesses on the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility system.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN said  those water systems are regulated  by an elaborate                                                               
federal system.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS asked  if  there have  been  any problems  that                                                               
created an impetus for the legislation.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN said there have  been outbreaks from waterborne diseases                                                               
around the globe.  It is  the number-one reason that children die                                                               
in the  world.  She  said there are  no instances in  Alaska that                                                               
she is  familiar with, but she  said people have died  of E. coli                                                               
from private wells in other states.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS asked about noncompliance.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN said the samples would be required and tested at DEC-                                                                  
approved  facilities.   It would  fall to  DEC to  deal with  any                                                               
noncompliance.   For  a sample  with a  health concern,  DEC will                                                               
issue  a boil-water  notice immediately.   If  a facility  is not                                                               
sampling, DEC will do  incremental enforcement, initially issuing                                                               
a notice of  violation.  She noted that the  standard practice of                                                               
DEC is to help people comply.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:22:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS asked about a fourplex with a daycare.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN  said a daycare would  be providing a service  and would                                                               
need to comply.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:23:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN  said when DEC was  created it was required  to regulate                                                               
public  water systems.    She said  then  the federal  government                                                               
tightened up  its definition of  what public water  system meant,                                                               
and  it included  nearly everything.    At that  point the  state                                                               
decided  to  take on  its  own  regulation  and funding  for  the                                                               
smaller  systems,   including  everything   except  single-family                                                               
homes,  but the  funding  was  not sufficient.    Four years  ago                                                               
reductions  were  made in  the  DEC  budget,  and this  area  was                                                               
completely  cut.   This  legislation brings  back  the funds  and                                                               
restricts regulations to places that serve the public.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:26:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked about a village safe water program.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN  said that program  constructs public water  systems for                                                               
rural Alaska communities, but they  serve more than 25 people, so                                                               
the bill will have no impact on such systems.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:26:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX asked  if all  the houses  in a  community                                                               
with a safe water system use that water.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  RYAN  said  hopefully,  but  even  in  Anchorage  there  are                                                               
thousands  of people  on  private wells.   She  said  there is  a                                                               
Wendy's Restaurant on a private well in the middle of Anchorage.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS asked  about small  one-person businesses  that                                                               
may have no knowledge of the bill passing.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN said the intent is  to regulate places that supply water                                                               
to the public.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:28:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO asked  about testing  lead and  other heavy                                                               
metals.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. RYAN said DEC will only  require tests for total coliform and                                                               
nitrates;  chronic  contaminates  aren't  as much  of  a  concern                                                               
because the risks are lower.   When the water is being tested for                                                               
the  required contaminants,  people have  the option  to pay  for                                                               
testing of  additional contaminants,  she said.   She  added, "We                                                               
really wanted to just capture  the bare minimum, immediate health                                                               
risk."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:29:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DENNIS WHEELER,  Regulatory Commission of Alaska  (RCA), said the                                                               
RCA would not be involved in the systems described in HB 360.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:31:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS  moved to  report HB 360  out of  committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
Hearing  no objections,  HB 360  was  reported out  of the  House                                                               
Resources Standing Committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:32:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 380-ANIMALS & ANIMAL OR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced  that the next order  of business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL NO. 380, "An  Act relating to the powers and duties                                                               
of the  commissioner of  environmental conservation;  relating to                                                               
animals,   animal  products,   agricultural  products,   and  the                                                               
transportation of  animals and animal  products; relating  to the                                                               
employment, appointment,  and duties  of a state  veterinarian by                                                               
the commissioner  of environmental conservation; relating  to the                                                               
powers  of  the  commissioner   of  natural  resources  regarding                                                               
agricultural products; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, Alaska  State Legislature, sponsor of                                                               
HB 380,  said the statutory  duties and powers of  Alaska's state                                                               
veterinarian  have not  been  changed since  1949.   The  statute                                                               
refers  to  fur  farms  and   other  anachronisms  and  gives  no                                                               
authority  to  quarantine  an  animal  unless  it  is  considered                                                               
livestock,  which   limits  options  during  a   potential  avian                                                               
influenza  outbreak,  for  example.   Current  statute  makes  it                                                               
unclear  who would  be  in  charge during  such  an outbreak,  he                                                               
noted.     He  said  various   agencies  jointly  came   up  with                                                               
suggestions that are written into HB 380.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:34:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE PAWLOWSKI,  Staff to Representative Kevin  Meyer, said there                                                               
is an amendment suggested by  the Department of Health and Social                                                               
Services.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS   moved  Amendment   1  as   follows  (original                                                               
punctuation provided):                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Insert a new section:                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     *Sec.__. AS47.05.012(9) is amended to read:                                                                                
         (9) the compendium of animal rabies prevention                                                                         
       and control [2002,] published by the United States                                                                       
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO asked  if  the state  veterinarian has  the                                                               
power to enter private property.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
DR. BOB  GERLACH, State  Veterinarian, Division  of Environmental                                                               
Health, Department of Environmental  Conservation, said only with                                                               
respect to a  specific species in statute.  He  noted an instance                                                               
of  prairie dogs  spreading monkey  pox in  the Midwest,  and the                                                               
state veterinarians did  not have the ability to  go onto private                                                               
land, so they quarantined the area.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO said  he is  concerned  about rapid  global                                                               
movements of animals,  and there may be  unknown vectors creating                                                               
an  emergency situation.   "Would  this bill  allow you  to seize                                                               
upon a  situation that comes before  us that seems a  crisis, and                                                               
allow  you  to  act  very quickly,"  gaining  access  to  private                                                               
property in the interest of public health?                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:39:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. GERLACH  said HB 380  "would allow the state  veterinarian to                                                               
take action and control a  disease outbreak that was initiated by                                                               
a species, a novel species, or any animal."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. PAWLOWSKI said to look at  Section 3 regarding the ability to                                                               
inspect premises.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  said, "I would  like to know  that somebody                                                               
in the  state doesn't need to  have the troopers come  with them"                                                               
in the case of non-cooperating property owners.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DR. GERLACH said  the bill would give the power  to quarantine an                                                               
animal to  a premise and  then decide if extermination  is called                                                               
for.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:41:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.   GERLACH   provided   the  following   testimony   (original                                                               
punctuation provided):                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
       The current rapid pace of disease emergence at the                                                                       
                             st                                                                                                 
     beginning   of  the   21   century   has  created   new                                                                    
     challenges  for the  management and  control of  animal                                                                    
     and  public  health  diseases.  The  emergence  of  new                                                                    
     diseases   has  been   primarily  associated   with  an                                                                    
     increased  interaction   with  animals.    It   is  now                                                                    
     recognized  that  over  70%  of  the  newly  identified                                                                    
     infectious  disease affecting  human  health and  human                                                                    
     economies are  zoonotic diseases (animal  diseases that                                                                    
     infect people).   In the  past the  infectious diseases                                                                    
     categorized  according to  a convenient  but artificial                                                                    
     system:                                                                                                                    
     diseases of livestock,                                                                                                     
     diseases of wildlife,                                                                                                      
     diseases of pets,                                                                                                          
     diseases of humans.                                                                                                        
     Infectious  diseases   are  rarely  restricted   to  an                                                                    
     individual  species  and  are   not  contained  by  any                                                                    
     artificial geographic or political boundary.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Diseases  can be  introduced to  a new  area through  a                                                                    
     number  of routes.   For  examples let  us look  at the                                                                    
     recent  outbreaks of  some  highly publicized  emerging                                                                    
     disease and how they were spread.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
   import and export of animals (Monkey Pox- rodents from                                                                     
     Africa)                                                                                                                    
   transportation of animal products (Bovine Spongiform                                                                       
     Encephalopathy -  Mad Cow Disease- meat  and bone meal,                                                                    
     animal feeds)                                                                                                              
   movement of food products (E. coli O-157- ground meat,                                                                     
     Salmonella-meats   and    vegetables,   Listeria-cheese                                                                    
     products)                                                                                                                  
   animal movement/migration (Avain Influenza-waterfowl,                                                                      
     Chronic Wasting Disease-white tailed deer)                                                                                 
   insect vectors (West Nile Virus- mosquitoes, Lyme                                                                          
     Disease-ticks).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     There are  also threats to public  health from diseases                                                                    
     that  have  been recognized  for  many  years and  were                                                                    
     thought to be under  control. These disease agents have                                                                    
     re-emerged recently  to cause  new problems due  to the                                                                    
     presence  in  a new  population  or  group of  animals.                                                                    
     For  example;  outbreaks   of  two  zoonotic  diseases,                                                                    
     tuberculosis   and   brucellosis,   in   wildlife   and                                                                    
     livestock   have  resulted   in  Minnesota,   Michigan,                                                                    
     Montana,  California, Arizona,  and Utah  loosing their                                                                    
     status as disease free states.   Other disease have re-                                                                    
     emerged as a threat due  to genetic mutations that make                                                                    
     the   pathogen   more   resistant  to   commonly   used                                                                    
     antibiotics.   Antibiotic resistant strains of  E. coli                                                                    
     O-157,   Salmonella   and    tuberculosis   have   been                                                                    
     identified   resulting  in   increased  morbidity   and                                                                    
     mortality rates and escalating health care cost.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The  consequences of  all these  disease outbreaks  has                                                                    
     had major impact on both  animal health, public health,                                                                    
     as well as regional and national economies.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     There  is no  state agency  that has  the authority  to                                                                  
     manage  animals (domestic,  wild  or  exotic) that  may                                                                  
     carry  diseases   that  threaten  the   State's  animal                                                                  
     resources and public health.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The  current authority  of  the  State Veterinarian  is                                                                  
     limited  to  livestock,  poultry  and  animals  on  fur                                                                  
     farms.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     How has the state managed this problem?                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     In the  February of 2004  a veterinarian  reported that                                                                    
     several horses had acutely died  in Kodiak. The disease                                                                    
     investigation was  initiated by the  State Veterinarian                                                                    
     in  collaboration   with  the   USDA,  UAF   and  local                                                                    
     practitioners.   Public Health was notified.  No person                                                                    
     had the  authority to stop  all animal  movement (pets,                                                                    
     livestock,   wildlife,  animals   for  exhibition)   to                                                                    
     prevent the possible spread  of a potentially dangerous                                                                    
     disease   during   this    investigation.   The   State                                                                    
     Veterinarian had the  authority to quarantine livestock                                                                    
     and  poultry only.    All animal  movement  on and  off                                                                    
     Kodiak was curtailed  through the voluntary cooperation                                                                  
     of DOD-US  Coast Guard,  State Dept  of Transportation-                                                                    
     Ferry System, private airline  carriers with the Office                                                                    
     of the  State Veterinarian.   Five horses and  a donkey                                                                    
     died in  the span of  two weeks; fortunately  the cause                                                                    
     of the equine deaths was not an infectious disease.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     In the summer of 2005  a dog kennel owner imported some                                                                    
     ducks into Alaska to train  hunting dogs.   He reported                                                                    
     that 200 of  500 of the ducks had died  over the course                                                                    
     of  2 weeks.  These ducks  are not  considered poultry.                                                                    
     There was a  high level of concern due  to the outbreak                                                                    
     of  Avian Influenza  in Southeast  Asia.   The  disease                                                                    
     investigation    was   coordinated    by   the    State                                                                    
     Veterinarian  in  collaboration  with the  USDA.    The                                                                    
     owner agreed to the  disease control measures that were                                                                    
     instituted   during   the  investigation:   quarantine,                                                                    
     cancellation of  all dog trials scheduled,  sampling of                                                                    
     the  remaining  flock  of ducks.    The  condition  was                                                                    
     treated with an antibiotic and  the deaths ceased.  The                                                                    
     disease was  not the result  of Avian Influenza  or any                                                                    
     other  foreign animal  disease but  caused by  a common                                                                    
     bacterial disease.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     In   the   past   disease  investigations   have   been                                                                    
     successfully managed and  controlled with the voluntary                                                                    
     cooperation of all parties involved.   The state cannot                                                                    
     depend on this  in the future, there needs  to be clear                                                                    
     statuary authority  in situations of an  animal disease                                                                    
     outbreak.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:52:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  RAMRAS  said he  would  like  to  address the  lack  of                                                               
veterinarian programs in Alaska's university system.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:54:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said  the use of imported seed  has caused a                                                               
potato blight in  Alaska.  He asked about airlines  being able to                                                               
transport exotic pets.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DR. GERLACH said the state needs  to be able to control and track                                                               
animal imports  or anything that would  be a vector to  a disease                                                               
that may threaten  Alaska's resources.  The  postal service ships                                                               
live poultry, and it is unregulated, he noted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:57:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LOUISA  CASTRODALE, Epidemiologist,  Division  of Public  Health,                                                               
Department of  Health and Social  Services, said the  director of                                                               
the Division  of Public Health  supports HB 380 and  Amendment 1.                                                               
She explained  that Amendment  1 removes  the specific  year from                                                               
statute  in   reference  to  the  compendium   of  animal  rabies                                                               
prevention and control,  so the compendium can be  referred to as                                                               
it comes out each year, "so it's the most up-to-date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:59:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LARRY  DEVILBISS, Director,  Division of  Agriculture, Department                                                               
of Natural  Resources, spoke  to Representative  Gatto's question                                                               
about potato  and tomato  blight and said  the strains  have been                                                               
narrowed down, and the vector  was likely imported tomato plants.                                                               
He said he supports the legislation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:01:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about importation of tomatoes.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. DEVILBISS  said the major  importers have been  notified that                                                               
plants must be certified or they will not be able to sell them.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:02:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SAMUELS  moved to  report  HB  380  as amended  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.   Hearing no  objections, CSHB 380(RES)  passed out                                                               
of the House Resources Standing Committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HB 395-FIRE SEASON START DATE                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:03:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  final order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL  NO. 395, "An Act extending the  period of the fire                                                               
season."                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
KONRAD JACKSON,  Staff to Representative  Kurt Olson,  sponsor of                                                               
HB 395, said the bill extends  Alaska's fire season by one month.                                                               
Alaska  weather is  changing, and  wildfires have  been beginning                                                               
before May 1 on the southern  peninsula, he stated, as well as in                                                               
the Anchorage bowl.   The early-season fires  can be devastating,                                                               
he noted,  and a quick  and aggressive  attack of these  fires is                                                               
important.   He spoke  of a fire  that was close  to the  town of                                                               
Homer,  and   the  southern  peninsula   is  just   one  example.                                                               
Buildings and infrastructure are at risk, he said.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:07:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said the  commissioner can already designate                                                               
extended seasons.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON said the bill  puts it into statute, which encourages                                                               
the start  of training and  equipment purchases, but  nothing now                                                               
could prohibit the commissioner from doing so.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:08:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS  asked if there  has been an effort  to log                                                               
beetle-killed forests.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JACKSON said  there has,  but there  are still  "a bunch  of                                                               
standing matchsticks."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:09:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SAMUELS asked if the  commissioner has extended the fire                                                               
season and  why the  fiscal note  is so large  if he  has already                                                               
done so.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON  said money has  been used  "more on a  crisis basis"                                                               
instead  of preparing  ahead of  time, which  may end  up costing                                                               
less.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON said  response time is crucial,  and much of                                                               
the equipment  for the peninsula  is stored  in Palmer.   He said                                                               
the money  would allow the  state to  respond quicker, and  it is                                                               
money well spent.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:11:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if this  bill was precipitated by the                                                               
commissioner not extending the fire season when appropriate.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON said  that when a fire happens  the commissioners say                                                               
"go" without waiting around until a designated fire season.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX  said  the   current  statute  allows  the                                                               
commissioner  to designate  a  fire  season.   She  asked if  the                                                               
commissioner was asked to do so and did not move quickly enough.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  OLSON  said a  fire  service  area in  the  Kenai                                                               
Peninsula has requested an extension  of the fire season, and "it                                                               
hasn't happened."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:13:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if beetle-killed trees are the issue.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON said that is just one of many concerns.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS  said there have  been 11,000  lightening strikes                                                               
in a single day in the Interior.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX  asked if the equipment  in the legislation                                                               
is for the Homer and Kenai areas.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON said it will be statewide.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:14:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GARY  POWELL, State  Fire Marshal,  Division of  Fire Prevention,                                                               
Department of  Public Safety, said  the fire season  is beginning                                                               
earlier  every  year.    He   noted  that  spring  wildfires  are                                                               
primarily man-caused.   Well-trained people and  proper equipment                                                               
need to be  in place before the fires begin,  he stated, and they                                                               
are  needed  for  both  prevention  and  suppression.    He  said                                                               
prevention includes issuing permits and providing education.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked about beetle-killed trees.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:16:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. POWELL  said there are many  efforts in the state,  but there                                                               
are  other sources  of fuel  besides the  spruce trees  that have                                                               
been killed by beetles.  In  the spring, vegetation is still dry,                                                               
creating fuel as well, he added.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:18:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN  WILCOCK,  Fire  Program   Manager,  Division  of  Forestry,                                                               
Department  of  Natural  Resources (DNR),  said  wildfires  occur                                                               
earlier now and are more complicated  to fight.  The problems are                                                               
exacerbated by  fuel conditions and  by increased  development in                                                               
places that are prone to fire.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:19:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  asked about burning beetle-killed  trees in                                                               
the winter.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. WILCOCK  said the carrier fuel  sprouts up in the  spring, so                                                               
the fire could not move from tree to tree during the winter.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:21:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RAMRAS asked about the  fiscal note and the recent large                                                               
supplemental funding  request by  the governor.   He said  if the                                                               
money isn't  allocated now,  he assumes  it will  show up  in the                                                               
supplemental funding request.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. WILCOCK  agreed and said  he can't predict the  upcoming fire                                                               
seasons,  but by  being better  prepared,  large expensive  fires                                                               
might be avoided.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:22:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRAWFORD asked  about  burning each  tree with  a                                                               
weed burner instead of logging each tree.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. WILCOCK  said the  magnitude of the  problem would  make that                                                               
very expensive, but he said  "shearblading" the trees and burning                                                               
them in a pile  can be an effective method.  He  noted that it is                                                               
the  land manager's  responsibility, and  a  lot of  the land  is                                                               
privately  owned  or  owned  by  municipalities  near  population                                                               
centers, where most  of the concern is.  He  said DNR will assist                                                               
and  advise  other  landowners,  but it  can  only  manage  state                                                               
forests.    He  noted  that  the economic  value  of  dead  trees                                                               
declines with time.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:25:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WILCOCK  said  individual   landowners  need  to  take  some                                                               
responsibility, and  simply clearing around buildings  can save a                                                               
structure.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:26:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked  what reduces the economic  value of a                                                               
tree.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. WILCOCK  said wood for pulp  needs to have strong  fiber, and                                                               
decay over time will weaken the fiber.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:28:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRAIG GOODRICH,  Fire Chief, Municipality  of Anchorage,  said he                                                               
supports the  bill so  that seasonal employees  can come  back on                                                               
line early enough  to be trained.   Institutionalizing the longer                                                               
fire season  allows for  better planning,  he added.   He  said a                                                               
campaign fire costs $1 million a  day, so if the funding is spent                                                               
avoiding fires, it is well spent.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:30:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL DAVIDSON, Alaska  Professional Fire Fighters Association,                                                               
said his association favors HB 395.   He said it is proactive and                                                               
may   prevent  a   multimillion-dollar  loss.     From   a  labor                                                               
standpoint,  he said,  large fires  present a  greater danger  to                                                               
firefighters.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  asked if  there has  been much  progress in                                                               
getting landowners to clear fuel.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOODRICH said  he believes there has  been excellent progress                                                               
with homeowners creating defendable homes with fuel mitigation.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if fire  insurance rates decrease if a                                                               
homeowner is able to reduce fire dangers.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOODRICH said  he  does not  know,  but it  is  true in  the                                                               
structural realm.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON  said if a  home is within a  10-mile radius                                                               
of a fire station, it might have an impact.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:35:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO moved  to report  HB 395  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.    Hearing  no  objections,  HB  395  was  passed  out  of                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:36 PM.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
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