Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/09/1993 05:00 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Eldon Mulder
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Jerry Mackie
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Curt Menard
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
*HJR 28: Supporting increased access near Mt. McKinley
through establishment of a visitor activity area
at Kantishna.
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing.)
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
465-3466
Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of HJR 28
JOSEPH FIELDS, III, DIRECTOR
Kantishna Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 71045
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
451-7906
Position Statement: In favor of HJR 28
GINNY WOOD
1819 Musk Ox Trail
Fairbanks, Alaska 99708
455-4283
Position Statement: Against concept of HJR 28, felt current
access was adequate.
TERI CANERY
1816 Musk Ox Trail
Fairbanks, Alaska 99708
455-4283
Position Statement: Against HJR 28, felt current access
was adequate.
LARRY IRVING, President
Kantishna Group, Inc.
1205 Smythe Street
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
456-4298
Position Statement: Spoke in favor of HJR 28 and the need
to expand services into the park.
CONNEL MURRAY, Director
Division of Tourism
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110801
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0801
465-2012
Position Statement: In favor of HJR 28
CLYDE STOLTZFUS, Chief
Office of Strategic Mgmt. Planning and Policy
Department of Transportation
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: In favor of HJR 28
LENORE SAPPINGTON
Denali Citizens Council
2842 Bass
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
522-1956
Position Statement: Observer; Against HJR 28
CINDY FIELDS
P.O. Box 73303
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
451-7906
Position Statement: Observer; In favor of HJR 28
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HJR 28
SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT KANTISHNA AREA TOURISM DEVELOP'T
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) BRICE, Kott, Mulder, Phillips,
Davies, James
TITLE: Supporting increased access near Mt. McKinley through
establishment of visitor activity area at Kantishna.
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/17/93 361 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
02/17/93 361 (H) TRANSPORTATION
02/17/93 372 (H) COSPONSOR(S): KOTT, MULDER
02/19/93 396 (H) COSPONSOR(S): PHILLIPS
02/24/93 444 (H) COSPONSOR(S): DAVIES
03/03/93 525 (H) COSPONSOR(S): JAMES
03/09/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-9, SIDE A
Number 015
CHAIR FOSTER called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. Chair
Foster requested Representative Brice to brief the committee
on the resolution.
HJR 28: SUPPORT KANTISHNA AREA TOURISM DEVELOP'T
Number 013
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE, PRIME SPONSOR OF HJR 28, stated
that establishing rail access and a visitor area in
Kantishna would help solve the problems of overcrowding and
limited access that Denali National Park is now
experiencing. A rail corridor would provide for controlled
public access, would not add to problems such as vandalism
and littering that are associated with road access, and
provide for a basically environmentally sound option for
public access. Rail access would increase visitor capacity
and create a new way for visitors to experience the park.
This would support the private sector's efforts in adding to
Alaska's economy. This could be accomplished by
establishing a rail utility corridor that could be leased
from the state by the private sector as well as provide for
a visitor activity area in Kantishna.
Number 059
CHAIR FOSTER announced there were people standing by via
teleconference who wished to testify.
Number 065
JOSEPH FIELDS, DIRECTOR, KANTISHNA GROUP, INC., began his
testimony from Fairbanks by referring to last session's
House and Senate versions of HJR 28. He stated that over
the past year the subject of access into the park has
continued to be the subject of much debate. He said they
have been working with the state Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) and are negotiating a recognizance permit
for the first thirty miles of alignment. The railroad they
are proposing would be a public carrier that would meet the
criteria and would provide year around access that the
existing road does not. The project is proposed to be built
from private funds. The Denali Borough Assembly and mayor
have passed a resolution supporting the creation of a
Railroad/Utility Corridor.
MR. FIELDS further stated that the Kantishna Railroad is an
environmentally sound and responsible method for expanding
the tourism infrastructure in Alaska. It doesn't conflict
with existing tour operators in his view, and as an economic
development project it meets the criteria that the new
president has set out in sustaining economic growth, and it
is not a resource extractive project. Tourism is one of the
largest producers of foreign exchange, perhaps affecting the
national balance of trade more directly than any other form
of enterprise. He felt that the park should be accessed by
disabled people and this transportation mode would provide
for that.
Number 225
GINNY WOOD began her testimony from Fairbanks by stating her
concerns of HJR 28 and the possibility of spoiling resources
by crowding too many people into the park. She mentioned
the businesses that currently provide tours in the park
already, and she felt that the tourism trade was being
adequately provided. She voiced her concern for the
businesses that were going to be impacted by HJR 28.
Number 352
LARRY IRVING, PRESIDENT, KANTISHNA GROUP, INC., testified
from Fairbanks that he was aware of the need to expand
services in the area of the Denali National Park and stated
they had turned away half a million visitors a year who
indicated they would spend time and dollars if there were
facilities and transportation into the park. The tourism
marketing efforts have maximized capacity in the summer
season, he said. He felt it would provide significant
economic development opportunity.
Number 362
TERI CANERY, testifying from Fairbanks, spoke against HJR
28, however, her testimony referred entirely to a "road"
system instead of the proposed "railroad" system included in
HJR 28. She felt the addition would change the character of
the park.
Number 574
CONNEL MURRAY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, spoke on behalf of the
project. He mentioned that an increase of people on the
highway made it harder for people to get into the park.
Number 635
CLYDE STOLTZFUS, CHIEF, OFFICE OF STRATEGIC MGMT. PLANNING
AND POLICY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES, spoke in favor of the Kantishna project. He
felt it would relieve the bottleneck that exists around the
existing entrance to the park which has resulted in
escalating land use, traffic, and tourism capacity problems.
He felt improved access would allow tourism industry
expansion.
TAPE 93-9, SIDE B
Number 035
REPRESENTATIVE MACKIE moved HJR 28 from committee with
individual recommendations.
Number 056
CHAIR FOSTER ADJOURNED the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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