Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
03/22/2023 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB83 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 22, 2023
2:44 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tom McKay, Chair
Representative George Rauscher, Vice Chair
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Stanley Wright
Representative Jennie Armstrong
Representative Donna Mears
Representative Maxine Dibert
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Josiah Patkotak
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 83
"An Act reestablishing the Citizens' Advisory Commission on
Federal Management Areas in Alaska; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED HB 83 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Department of Resources, Commissioner
John Boyle - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 83
SHORT TITLE: CITIZEN ADVISORY COMM ON FEDERAL AREAS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAUSCHER
02/27/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/27/23 (H) RES, FIN
02/27/23 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/27/23 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/15/23 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/15/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/15/23 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/22/23 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN BOYLE, Commissioner Designee
Department of Natural Resources
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as commissioner designee to the
Department of Natural Resources.
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:44:53 PM
CHAIR TOM MCKAY called the House Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 2:44 p.m. Representatives Wright, Rauscher,
Saddler, Mears, Armstrong, and McKay were present at the call to
order. Representatives McCabe and Dibert arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
HB 83-CITIZEN ADVISORY COMM ON FEDERAL AREAS
2:45:53 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 83, "An Act reestablishing the Citizens' Advisory
Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska; and providing
for an effective date."
2:46:32 PM
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 83. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed
public testimony.
CHAIR MCKAY noted that there were no amendments.
2:47:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER, as prime sponsor, said HB 83 is long
overdue and encouraged fellow committee members to pass it out
of committee.
2:48:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved to report HB 83 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 83 was reported out of the
House Resources Standing Committee.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner
2:48:52 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that the final order of business would be
the confirmation hearing for the governor's appointee as
commissioner designee to the Department of Natural Resources.
2:49:08 PM
JOHN BOYLE, Commissioner Designee, Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), first noted that it is nice to have moments of
levity in public service. He further commented that everyone is
here to serve fellow Alaskans, and accepting positions in public
service comes with responsibilities. He stated he looked
forward to working with the committee.
2:50:21 PM
CHAIR MCKAY thanked Commissioner Boyle and invited questions
from the committee.
2:50:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS offered Commissioner Boyle her
understanding that the purpose of the commissioner was to be
more of a representative of the government as a whole rather
than partisan interests, and that she had concerns with some of
his comments after the Willow ruling. She said that she hoped
in the future he would stay more in the "neutral zone."
2:51:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER paraphrased the mission statement of DNR
and asked Commissioner Boyle what his priority would be to try
and advance the mission.
COMMISSIONER BOYLE said addressing the pressing energy challenge
with the high cost of energy for all residents in the state,
especially rural communities. When people must spend more for
heating and powering their homes than on their mortgages, it is
not a recipe for sustainability, he said. He stated that an
effort that DNR can embark upon is looking at ways to utilize
the endowment of resources that the state is blessed to have to
provide relief, so there can be abundant and affordable energy.
2:53:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for specifics on how Commissioner
Boyle might use his status as commissioner to advance his goals.
COMMISSIONER BOYLE said there are many initiatives currently
being looked at, such as laying the groundwork for what can be
done for energy alternatives. As a state that sits along the
ring of fire, he explained, there is tremendous potential for
geothermal and its values. He further explained potentials for
different sources of energy that included hydroelectric
generation, wind, solar, and having a major gas line in the
state.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER thanked Commissioner Boyle for his
service and offered his support.
2:57:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE thanked Commissioner Boyle for his
leadership.
2:57:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT thanked Commissioner Boyle for his
willingness to step up for the position.
2:58:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that he is optimistic for
Commissioner Boyle's confirmation and acknowledged the "rough
waters" fiscally that the state faced. He asked Commissioner
Boyle for any idea on how DNR can operate efficiently.
2:58:56 PM
COMMISSIONER BOYLE replied that he was optimistic about the
future of the state. He offered his belief that Alaska is
inspiring and there is great promise. He reiterated the
incredible array of resources the state possessed, and with the
right management, many benefits can be brought to the state and
ultimately to the country. He said one of the greatest assets
DNR has is its people, and he offered a personal example of the
high caliber staff he had worked with. He said he hoped Alaska
would be a place where many generations would want to stay and
build their lives.
3:03:17 PM
CHAIR MCKAY moved to advance the confirmation of John Boyle,
commissioner designee for the Department of Natural Resources,
to the joint session of the House and Senate for consideration.
He reminded members that signing the reports regarding
appointment to boards and commissions in no way reflected
individual members' approval or disapproval of the appointees,
and that the nominations were merely forwarded to the full
legislature for confirmation or rejection. There being no
objection, the confirmation was advanced.
3:04:10 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources meeting was adjourned at 3:04 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 83 Supporting Document SCI AK SCI Kenai 3.21.23 (1).pdf |
HRES 3/22/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 83 |
| john Boyle Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HRES 3/22/2023 1:00:00 PM |