Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
04/18/2019 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB123 | |
| SB54 | |
| HJR14 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 54 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 18, 2019
1:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Adam Wool, Co-Chair
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Andi Story
Representative Dave Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Louise Stutes, Co-Chair
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Sara Rasmussen
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 123
"An Act relating to electric-assisted bicycles."
- MOVED HB 123 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 54
"An Act approving the transfer of certain Alaska Railroad
Corporation land; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Urging the Alaska Congressional delegation to pursue
infrastructure funding for a deep draft Arctic port in Nome;
requesting the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities to send a letter from the state to the Alaska
Congressional delegation supporting a deep draft Arctic port in
Nome; and requesting the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities to work collaboratively with the City of Nome on a
deep draft Arctic port in Nome.
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 123
SHORT TITLE: ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WOOL
04/05/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/19 (H) TRA, JUD
04/16/19 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/16/19 (H) Heard & Held
04/16/19 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/18/19 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 54
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA RAILROAD CORP. LAND TRANSFERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL
02/13/19 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/13/19 (S) TRA, FIN
03/12/19 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/12/19 (S) Heard & Held
03/12/19 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/14/19 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/14/19 (S) Moved SB 54 Out of Committee
03/14/19 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/15/19 (S) TRA RPT 4DP
03/15/19 (S) DP: HUGHES, WILSON, SHOWER, KIEHL
03/20/19 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/20/19 (S) Heard & Held
03/20/19 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/28/19 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/28/19 (S) Moved SB 54 Out of Committee
03/28/19 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/29/19 (S) FIN RPT 4DP 5NR
03/29/19 (S) DP: VON IMHOF, MICCICHE, HOFFMAN,
BISHOP
03/29/19 (S) NR: STEDMAN, SHOWER, WIELECHOWSKI,
OLSON, WILSON
04/05/19 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/05/19 (S) VERSION: SB 54
04/08/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/08/19 (H) TRA
04/18/19 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HJR 14
SHORT TITLE: URGING SUPPORT FOR NOME DEEP-DRAFT PORT
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FOSTER
03/25/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/19 (H) TRA
04/18/19 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
TRAVIS SWANGEL
Dutch Harbor, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 123.
MARLA THOMPSON, Director
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Department of Administration
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered the committee's questions about HB
123.
RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff
Senator John Coghill
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 54 on behalf of Senator
Coghill, prime sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HJR 14.
RICHARD BENEVILLE, Mayor
City of Nome
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation in
support of the passage of HJR 14.
JOY BAKER, Port Director
Port of Nome
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information regarding the Port of
Nome during the hearing on HJR 14.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:03:47 PM
CO-CHAIR ADAM WOOL called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives
Drummond, Talerico, Story, and Wool were present at the call to
order. Representative Hannon was also present.
HB 123-ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES
1:04:24 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 123, "An Act relating to electric-assisted
bicycles."
CO-CHAIR WOOL handed the gavel to Representative Drummond.
1:04:32 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:04 p.m.
1:04:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND noted this was the committee's second
hearing on HB 123.
1:05:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND opened public testimony on HB 123.
1:06:05 PM
TRAVIS SWANGEL testified in support of HB 123. He encouraged
Alaska to adopt the federal regulations for electric-assisted
bicycles ("e-bikes"). He predicted an increase in e-bike use.
He encouraged those who have not done so already to try riding
one. Mr. Swangel said that they are similar to regular
bicycles, except that there is an assist to pedaling.
1:08:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY inquired how the Division of Motor Vehicles
would let the public know about HB 123 should it pass.
1:08:34 PM
MARLA THOMPSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV),
Department of Administration, answered that the DMV would update
its media and online information. In response to a follow-up
question from Representative Story, she said the DMV attempts to
advocate the use of helmets; it shows videos in the waiting area
of its offices that include promotion of helmet use.
1:09:57 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked Ms. Thompson what the current law in Alaska
is with regard to helmet use when operating a motorcycle.
MS. THOMPSON stated that she did not have the information in
front of her. Notwithstanding that, she related that those 18
and older [operating] a motorcycle are not required by Alaska
law to wear a helmet.
1:10:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND offered her understanding that those
under 18 and passengers on motorcycles must wear helmets.
MS. THOMPSON responded yes.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND inquired whether those helmet laws were
under DMV or the Department of Public Safety.
MS. THOMPSON said she would find out and get back to the
committee with an answer.
1:11:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND, after ascertaining that there was no
one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB
123.
1:11:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO expressed his support for HB 123, which
he summarized would provide the same definition to e-bikes as
nonmotor-assisted bicycles. He noted that the bill sponsor had
included a provision that "municipalities also have the ability
to provide separate ordinances if they so choose."
1:12:21 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL confirmed Representative Talerico was correct on
both those points.
1:12:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved to report HB 123 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 123 was reported out of the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
1:12:55 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:12 p.m. to 1:14 p.m.
[During the at-ease, Representative Drummond handed the gavel
back to Co-Chair Wool.]
SB 54-ALASKA RAILROAD CORP. LAND TRANSFERS
1:14:00 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that the next order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 54, "An Act approving the transfer of certain
Alaska Railroad Corporation land; and providing for an effective
date."
1:14:23 PM
RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 54 on behalf of Senator Coghill, prime
sponsor. She explained that Senate Bill 86 passed the Senate in
2018; it gave the Alaska Railroad Corporation permission to
manage its property and sell it. The bill died in the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee, but both the Senate
Finance Committee and House Finance Committee felt it was
important "to get land into private hands" and "encourage
economic development." She said language adding five specific
projects was added to House Bill 119 [passed during the
Thirtieth Alaska State Legislature], which dealt with public
corporations. Ms. Moss said one of the land sales was at Otto
Lake. She offered her impression was that the Alaska Railroad
Corporation wanted a description of the land they were leasing.
MS. MOSS directed attention to a map [included in the committee
packet], which shows the parcel at Otto Lake, outlined in
yellow. She stated, "Their intention was to sell the whole
parcel, but the description I used was only for the portion that
had been leased in a long-term lease." She explained that as a
result, [the buyer] was deeded 29.52 acres, when they should
have been deeded 47.24 acres. She said SB 54 would deed the
remaining 17.72 acres of land, which was appraised at $250,000
and bought for $400,000. She explained that the legislature has
already approved the sale but needs to "get the description
right."
1:16:33 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked if the issue had occurred because of
miscommunication between the Alaska Railroad Corporation and...
MS. MOSS interjected, "And me."
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked, "Have they sold the entirety of it yet?"
MS. MOSS answered yes. She added, "The company has paid in full
for the entire 47.24 acres."
CO-CHAIR WOOL concluded that the intent is to "change the bill
so that what they did was in accordance with statute,
basically."
MS. MOSS said, "We're correcting the description of the property
to be sold."
CO-CHAIR WOOL commented that it seems pretty simple.
1:17:32 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that SB 54 was held over.
HJR 14-URGING SUPPORT FOR NOME DEEP-DRAFT PORT
1:18:09 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Urging the Alaska
Congressional delegation to pursue infrastructure funding for a
deep draft Arctic port in Nome; requesting the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities to send a letter from the
state to the Alaska Congressional delegation supporting a deep
draft Arctic port in Nome; and requesting the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities to work collaboratively
with the City of Nome on a deep draft Arctic port in Nome.
1:18:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HJR 14. He stated that the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers began an evaluation of 13 potential sites for a
deep draft Arctic access port in 2012, and in 2015, it selected
the Port of Nome as the preferred site. The proposed joint
resolution asks for three things: for the legislature to urge
the congressional delegation to pursue infrastructure funding
"to extend the ports"; that the Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities (DOT&PF) send a letter to the congressional
delegation in support of a deep draft Arctic port in Nome; and
that DOT&PF work collaboratively with the City of Nome to
provide technical support.
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER clarified that HJR 14 does not ask for
funding from the State of Alaska; the joint resolution has a
zero fiscal note. He said the project has been underway for
some time, and "thanks to previous funding from the state, it is
ready to complete final feasibility and design." He said
passage of HJR 14 would express the legislature's and DOT&PF's
support for "this critical maritime transportation project." He
deferred to the mayor of Nome, Alaska, for more information.
1:20:49 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:21 p.m. to 1:22 p.m.
1:22:45 PM
RICHARD BENEVILLE, Mayor, City of Nome, provided a PowerPoint
presentation in support of HJR 14. He said his time in Norway,
Greenland, and Iceland showed him that those countries and
others are not looking to the future but are living in it. He
said the U.S. is "trying to catch up." He said many people do
not even realize that the U.S. is an Arctic nation. As shown on
the first few slides of the PowerPoint, he related that out of
the 13 communities considered, Nome rose to the top for a number
of reasons, including existing infrastructure, intermodal
connections, upland support, water depth, and navigation
accessibility. He said the City of Nome is just under 100 miles
from the Bering Strait; it has 350 miles of roads; it has a
level four trauma hospital; and it has an airport, with five
different freight companies that fly into it. He said the move
to increase the size of the port should be continued, because
"outside of Dutch Harbor, we're it." He mentioned ships that
visit the Port of Nome.
1:25:41 PM
MR. BENEVILLE pointed to the map on slide 5, which impresses
upon the viewer the current maritime activity in the Arctic by a
variety of vessels, including cruise ships, cargo, and military.
He emphasized that there are only two means by which to navigate
by water from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean: the
Panama Canal and the Bering Strait. He said the focus is on the
far north, and "we need to catch up." He mentioned a visit last
summer with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, Secretary of the U.S.
Navy [Richard Vaughn] Spencer, and the new Commandant of the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) [Karl L. Schultz], and he said all
agreed on the need to "get a lot of these processes - that are
happening offshore - on shore." He talked about the Polar Code,
which mandates that ships not take galley waste and heavy fuels
into the Arctic, and he said that "that is something that we are
looking forward to being able to assist with."
1:27:34 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked how long Mr. Beneville has been the mayor of
Nome.
MR. BENEVILLE answered he is in the middle of his second term,
and he will run another term. In response to another question,
he showed the photo of a cruise chip backed into port, shown on
slide 6. He anticipated that the Port of Nome would be altered
by moving the breakwater over approximately 3,000 feet and
building three finger piers to accommodate the variety of
vessels. To a question about [slide 5], he talked about the
various color-coded vessels on the aforementioned map, and how
crossing the northern route is a cost-saving measure for
shipping companies. He said the melting of ice, which allows
the shipping, is happening three times faster than anyone had
expected. He indicated that permafrost is melting, as well.
1:30:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND relayed that she represents midtown
Anchorage and that the Port of Anchorage requires regular
dredging to be functional. She inquired how often the Port of
Nome would require dredging.
MR. BENEVILLE answered annually. He said the continental shelf
"is just out there," so by extending the causeway another 3,500
feet means "getting closer and closer to deep port." He said,
"So, it'll all be dredged out to 36 feet." He named several
other places in Alaska where the coastal waters are "very
shallow." He said Port Clarence is not shallow, but it does not
have the necessary infrastructure. He said eventually there
will be a series of infrastructures going north, "because the
traffic is going to demand it." He talked about discoveries
that need to be made in the Arctic. In response to
Representative Drummond, he talked about a vessel that comes
from Seward to Nome. In response to a query from Representative
Drummond regarding the handling of waste, he said there are
several different types of waste, including gray water, galley
waste, and mechanical waste. There will need to be new
infrastructure to accommodate the waste, including an
incinerator and expansion of an existing gray water treatment
facility. He said [the Alaska Chamber] has long been a
proponent of diversification of economy, and he said a deep
water port in Nome will do just that. He mentioned the idea of
"waste that becomes something else" [rather than being stored in
landfill].
1:36:52 PM
MR. BENEVILLE relayed his upbringing during the Cold War and
said that "we can't forget the past." He said that "we've got
good relationships with Russia," but impressed upon the
committee the strategic importance of Alaska's expansive
coastline. He said there is presently only one ice breaker
vessel, but indicated that may change with the help of U.S.
Senator Sullivan and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski. He mentioned
strategy in relation to protecting subsistence and fisheries.
He stated, "Huge challenge; big opportunities." He spoke of
other countries coming into Arctic waterways and the need for
money to spend to develop the infrastructure "to be able to
handle them." He recalled a time when the City of Nome ran out
of fuel one winter and the effort that was involved in bringing
up fuel from Dutch Harbor. He mentioned "a cold pocket" in the
water below St. Lawrence Island that maintained a fish
population but is now gone. He related that the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is checking its
numbers; he indicated that [changing water temperatures] result
in change of fish populations. He spoke about the adaptability
of the Native populations in the vicinity of Nome and how "what
we're doing" affects them.
1:40:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about community discussions that may
have taken place.
1:40:56 PM
MR. BENEVILLE responded that "the discussions have been many"
and varied, including Native women's rights, assault, housing,
and labor needs. He stated, "The effect has been much broader
than just the port." He offered his understanding that "by and
large," the people of Nome support [a deep draft Arctic port].
He said someone, whose opinion he trusts, opined that the deep
draft Arctic port should be in Nome rather than west of Nome,
because the coastal area at Nome had already been affected. To
that point, he noted that 40 years ago, 30-40 ships called on
Nome, while in 2018, 760 were in port. He said that affects the
environment.
1:44:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO noted there is a large deposit of
graphite near Nome; therefore, he assumes the potential is there
to develop it. He asked if there are other like interests near
Nome.
MR. BENEVILLE stated that Nome has access to gold, although not
to the extent it has in the past. He confirmed there is a
source of graphite inland, which poses concern about routes
going through subsistence land to get it to market. He said
there has been much work and discussion on the issue, but he
thinks [the graphite] would go through the Port of Nome.
1:46:31 PM
MR. BENEVILLE, to the remaining slides of the presentation,
mentioned the USCG cutter, service vehicles, tender buoys, the
"lay down areas" being developed, and a diagram of the extension
of the causeway. He talked about the port's role in exporting
goods. In response to Co-Chair Wool, he said overall, the port
has been open for longer periods of the year [because of climate
change]. He said the ice is still there, but it is thinner and
the water beneath it is warmer.
1:48:42 PM
JOY BAKER, Port Director, Port of Nome, stated the following:
The ocean went to ice-free in February this year, and
the ice between the breakwater broke on ... Monday,
fifteenth of April, which is extremely early. And we
did not get ice that formed to any significance until
... mid-January of this year. ... The old period of
freezing in November and thawing in late May/early
June - we haven't seen that in a number of years.
1:49:23 PM
MR. BENEVILLE stated that the USCG asserted that the Port of
Nome is icebound from October 1 to June 1. He posited that the
port is actually icebound from mid-December to the end of April
or mid-May. He drew attention to a bullet point on slide 12,
which read: "To provide suitable maritime infrastructure for
Arctic tour ships - attracting more ships to the state." He
said "we" considered "what-if" scenarios with the USCG.
1:50:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY sought to clarify that the plan before the
committee has been approved to go forward, and that there have
been several community discussions about it and there would be
more going forward.
1:50:40 PM
MR. BENEVILLE indicated there has been discussion and will be
more. He then remarked on the inevitability of change.
1:51:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER, in response to Co-Chair Wool, reviewed
the three previously stated points in HJR 14 and reiterated that
the proposed joint resolution was accompanied by a zero fiscal
note.
1:52:22 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL expressed appreciation for the presentation.
1:52:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said the project is exciting and she
appreciated hearing from the mayor about it.
[HJR 14 was held over.]
1:53:27 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:53
p.m.