Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
05/10/2022 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR35 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 35 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
May 10, 2022
2:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Grier Hopkins, Chair
Representative Sara Hannan, Vice Chair
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative Mike Cronk
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Harriet Drummond
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 35
Supporting the completion of the Northern Rail Extension;
supporting the increase in defensive capabilities at Fort
Greely, Alaska; and encouraging the development of critical
Arctic infrastructure.
- MOVED CSHJR 35(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 35
SHORT TITLE: NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
02/22/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/22 (H) MLV, TRA
03/01/22 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/01/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/01/22 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/03/22 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/03/22 (H) Moved HJR 35 Out of Committee
03/03/22 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/07/22 (H) MLV RPT 6DP
03/07/22 (H) DP: RAUSCHER, CLAMAN, NELSON, TARR,
STORY, TUCK
05/05/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
05/05/22 (H) Heard & Held
05/05/22 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
05/10/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:33:07 PM
CHAIR GRIER HOPKINS called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 2:33 p.m. Representatives
Hopkins, McCabe, McKay, Hannan, and Cronk were present at the
call to order.
HJR 35-NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSION
2:34:01 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 35, "Supporting the completion of the
Northern Rail Extension; supporting the increase in defensive
capabilities at Fort Greely, Alaska; and encouraging the
development of critical Arctic infrastructure."
2:34:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, as prime sponsor, stated that HJR 35 is a
resolution requesting that the federal government consider an
extension project for the railroad.
2:34:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HJR 35,
labeled, 32-LS1579\B.1, Foote, 5/4/22, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 1, following "of":
Insert "the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and"
Page 2, line 10, following "of":
Insert "Port MacKenzie,"
Page 2, line 12:
Delete "to Delta and Fort Greely"
Insert "from Port MacKenzie to Houstan, Delta
Junction, and Fort Greely"
Page 2, line 17, following "Greely;":
Insert "and
WHEREAS the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska
Railroad have already completed nearly two-thirds of
the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, which brings Port
MacKenzie within 33 miles of the Alaska Railroad rail
line, which is in Houston and extends on to Fairbanks
and the Northern Rail Extension projects; and
WHEREAS the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail
Extension will reduce energy and transportation costs,
improve air quality, increase the efficiency of
shipping bulk commodities and materials to and from
Interior Alaska, and provide direct rail access for
shipments of liquefied natural gas from Cook Inlet to
Fairbanks, North Pole, and beyond; and
WHEREAS the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail
Extension will increase the available supply of
natural gas and reduce energy costs for industry and
residential customers in many Interior Alaska
communities; with increased natural gas supply, that
region will realize additional opportunities for
natural gas conversion, which will aid in achieving
air quality attainment;"
Page 2, line 18, following "of":
Insert "the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and"
Page 2, line 22:
Delete "region"
Insert "Artic"
Page 2, line 25, following "of":
Insert "the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and"
Page 2, line 27:
Delete "region"
Insert "state"
Page 3, line 4:
Delete "Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative"
Insert "U.S. Representative for Alaska"
2:34:57 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS objected for the purpose of discussion.
2:34:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated that Amendment 1 would add language
expressing the importance of Port McKenzie. He explained that
the extension of the railroad would help Fort Greely function
better. He said it would reduce transportation and energy costs
for Alaskan residents in the Interior. He added that some word
changes would also be added by Amendment 1.
2:36:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, in response to Chair Hopkins, explained
that flying into the airport in Anchorage, Port McKenzie is
visible as the square area of land jutting into the water.
2:38:14 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS removed his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was
adopted.
2:38:30 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HJR 35, as amended,
labeled, 32-LS1579\B.3, Foote, 5/10/22, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 2, following "Alaska;":
Insert "encourageing a renewed commitment by the
Alaska Railroad to a community-minded approach to
future rail expansion;"
Page 2, line 17, following "Greely;":
Insert "and
WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature sipports
returning to private landowners the ownership rights
of formerly private land previously conveyed to the
Alaska Railroad that is no longer in use by the
railroad, or for affected landowners to receive
compensation, including a share of all revenue derived
from easements, utility rights-of-way, or other
financial arrangements executed by the railroad; and
WHEREAS the communities, neighborhoods, and
individuals served and affected by rail expansions
should have an active role in planning, considering
alternatives, and confirming decisions made by the
Alaska Railroad regarding rail expansions;"
Page 2, following line 23:
Insert a new clause to read:
"FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State
Legislature encourages the Alaska Railroad to renew
its commitment to a community-minded approach to
future rail expansions, including reporting to the
legislature regarding the railroad's efforts to
improve relations with private landowners,
communities, and neighborhoods impacted by past and
current operations; and be it"
2:38:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK objected for the purpose of discussion.
2:38:40 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS stated that Amendment 2 would add language to
address the concerns expressed by property owners whose property
might be affected by an extension of the railroad.
2:40:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK removed his objection to the motion to
adopt Amendment 2. There being no further objection, Amendment
2 was adopted.
2:40:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN moved to report HJR 35, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 35(TRA) was
reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.
2:41:11 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:41
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR 35 - Amendment 2 Hopkins 5.9.2022.pdf |
HTRA 5/10/2022 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 35 |
| HJR 35 - Amendment 1 McCabe 5.5.2022.pdf |
HTRA 5/10/2022 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 35 |