Legislature(2015 - 2016)FAHRENKAMP 203
01/22/2015 10:45 AM Senate SPECIAL CMTE ON THE ARCTIC
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM &
ARCTIC POLICY
January 22, 2015
10:48 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire, Co-Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Donald Olson
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM &
ARCTIC POLICY
Representative Bob Herron, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Cathy Tilton
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
Senator Lyman Hoffman
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM &
ARCTIC POLICY
Representative Charisse Millett
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATIONS BY PNWER:
ARCTIC FORUM
HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON THE ARCTIC COUNCIL TRANSITION
DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON THE ARCTIC
GOVERNOR AND PREMIERS ROADSHOW ON THE ARCTIC
ROUNDTABLE ON NORTH AMERICAN ARCTIC MARINE AND INTER-MODAL
CORRIDORS
HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to report.
WITNESS REGISTER
MATT MORRISON, Executive Director
Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)
World Trade Center West
2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 460
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information from the Pacific
NorthWest Economic Region.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed his focus on the Arctic Policy
Commission as chair of security.
COLIN SMITH, PNWER Private Sector Chair and Workforce
Development Co-Chair and
Past President, APEG BC
Victoria, BC Canada
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information from the Pacific
NorthWest Economic Region.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:48:40 AM
CO-CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE called the joint meeting of the Senate
Special Committee on the Arctic and the House Special Committee
on Economic Development, Tourism & Arctic Policy to order at
10:48 a.m. Senators present at the call to order were Senators
Stevens and Chair McGuire. Representatives present at the call
to order were Representatives Johnson, Stutes, Ortiz, Wool, and
Chair Herron. Co-Chair Giessel arrived soon thereafter.
^PRESENTATIONS BY PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION (PNWER)
10:50:07 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE welcomed the PNWER delegation and recognized
the four House committee members who were recently sworn into
office. She explained that the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region
(PNWER) was established in statute [in the states of Alaska,
Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon, and the western Canadian
provinces and territories of British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.] She
said PNWER is unique in that the country of Canada and the
country of the United States have come together as a regional
group to discuss areas of economic development, share best
practices, and provide better governance. Another unique aspect
of PNWER is that it provides the interesting perspective of
being a public/private group.
She introduced the PNWER delegation and suggested that new
committee members in particular use them as a resource on a
variety of topics to find out how things are done in Canada.
10:53:28 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL joined the committee.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE stated that the next gathering of the PNWER
group will be during Energy Council and she looks forward to a
robust attendance. She explained that when she was President of
PNWER, she started the Arctic Caucus with the vision that Canada
and the U.S. could work together. Canada has had the leadership
position on the Arctic Council for the past two years and will
pass the torch to the U.S. at the end of April 2015. In years
past they met with Senator Lisa Murkowski, Congressman Don Young
and former Senator Mark Begich in the basement of the capitol
building in Washington, D.C., but the organization and the issue
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has outgrown that room. On March 5, 2015 there will be a
televised hearing in the U.S. Senate with Senator Lisa Murkowski
who is the new chair of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE stated that her vision has been to bring the
issue of the Arctic and Arctic energy forward to show the rest
of the nation how valuable Alaska is when looking at Arctic
issues. She noted that Senator Lisa Murkowski has expressed
interest in introducing the resources in the Chukchi and
Beaufort seas, the potential for shipping routes, the issue of
ANWR, and the National Petroleum Reserve of America. These
topics will be discussed at the Arctic Council meeting in March.
It will be an opportunity to highlight Senator Lisa Murkowski's
work and get the rest of the country to look at the resource
development opportunities in the Arctic and look at how well
Alaska has done in developing Arctic infrastructure.
10:58:22 AM
MATT MORRISON, Executive Director, Pacific NorthWest Economic
Region (PNWER), stated that the last three years have been
successful in bringing together congressional leaders, the
United States Coast Guard, the United States Research Commission
on the Arctic, and the Canadian [Polar] Commission. Annual joint
meetings have been held since the first Arctic Council meeting.
He said he believes that it is in forums like this that action
items are brought forward which highlight the priorities that
Alaska has for the Arctic. He mentioned the importance of having
Ambassador David Balton, Julia Gourley, and the Canadian lead,
and opined that these forums have provided an opportunity to
hear Canada's experience and how it prepared to lead the Arctic
Council.
He highlighted an important point for Alaska is that Canada
sought input from its three Arctic Territories to ask what the
priorities should be for Canada's leadership of the Arctic
Council. The Canadian Premiers reported that the Government of
Canada followed the advice that was given and developed
priorities that were appropriate for the people living in the
North. The appointment of First Nation leader Leona Aglukkaq
from Nunivat as chair of the Arctic Council for the 2013-2015
term is another indicator of the priority that the Government of
Canada places on the Arctic and its people.
MR. MORRISON discussed the roundtable that was held in September
in conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International
Studies to evaluate what Canada did to establish priorities
during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council. He said Canada
and Alaska have similar issues and it was refreshing to hear
Canadian officials say that their priority was the people and
the livelihood of the people who live in the North. He expressed
hope that Admiral Papp, Ambassador Balton, and the Canadian
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leaders would be available to attend the meeting on March 5 to
talk about why Alaska's priorities, especially as identified by
the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Report, are significant and
should be recognized when the U.S. assumes the lead of the
Arctic Council on April 25, 2015.
11:01:56 AM
MR. MORRISON said an important takeaway from the Canadians is to
get involved in the council working groups. This is the best way
to move things forward and ensure that your priorities are
voiced. The reasoning is that the Arctic Council's budget is
small, so whoever shows up has a large stake in what happens. He
said the agenda for the upcoming meeting is being created and
this is an opportunity for the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission
(AAPC) to be front and center. He noted that a topic for
discussion later in this meeting is about the opportunities
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between now and April 26 for Alaska to get the authentic
northern voice of the Arctic out to the rest of the country so
that questions are posed to Alaska rather than Washington, D.C.
The challenge is to craft a North American Arctic vision and
strategy for the people living in the north.
11:05:02 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE stated that the next item on the agenda is a
discussion on how to capitalize on the Arctic Council transition
that will occur in the spring. She asked Representative Herron,
Chair of the House Special Committee on Economic Development,
Tourism, & Arctic Policy, to provide his thoughts on the
transition.
11:05:30 AM
CHAIR HERRON stated his belief that Alaskans have already had
conversations with both Senator Giessel and Senator McGuire
about the Alaska Legislature's strategies for the Arctic Council
transition that will occur in April. He explained that the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) was created by
recommendation from the Alaska Northern Waters Task Force. The
intent of the commission is for the legislature to educate
itself to "think Arctic" because Alaska can't be separated from
the Arctic and the Arctic can't be separated from Alaska. He
said the legislature had to find its footing to meet this goal
and he believes this has been accomplished. The legislature can
work with the federal government and the private sector to
responsibly develop Alaska's resources and protect the land.
CHAIR HERRON stated that the Arctic Economic Council was created
by the Canadians, and he believes that the House and Senate
committees on the Arctic should engage with the council and its
four permanent participants. These indigenous groups are the
Aleut International Council (AIC), the Arctic Athabascan Council
(AAC), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), and [Gwich'in
Council International (GCI). He said the Arctic Policy
Commission and the State Department have had spirited
discussions over the past two years and the legislature has had
to remind that agency to keep the channels of communication
open. He suggested that the legislature continue these
reminders.
11:07:41 AM
Representative Guttenberg joined the meeting via teleconference.
CHAIR HERRON noted that in the State-of-the-State address last
night Governor Walker mentioned that the U.S. would assume the
chairmanship of the Arctic Council and that 15 of the upcoming
20 meetings would be held in Alaska. With this in mind, Chair
Herron suggested that Alaskans, the legislature, and the
executive branch form a host committee to ensure that these
meetings aren't solely facilitated by the State Department.
He further noted that Governor Walker announced the Cabinet
position appointment of Craig Fleener who will work with the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. Some dialog has already begun
and tomorrow there will be a coordination meeting with Mr.
Fleener and Kate Wolgemuth from the Governor's Office in
Washington, D.C.
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CHAIR HERRON highlighted that on January 30 the members of the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission will deliver a report to the
legislature that establishes an implementation plan. The report
asks both the executive branch and the legislature to undertake
certain projects and it outlines projects for the federal
partners. He described the report as a good product and a
starting place for the two Arctic Committees to "think Arctic."
11:12:03 AM
SENATOR OLSON joined the committee.
11:12:14 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said that she recently received emails urging
Americans and the federal government to focus on the Arctic, but
Alaska wasn't mentioned. When they asked for feedback, she
reminded them that the U.S. is an Arctic nation because of
Alaska. She said she doesn't want the federal government or
environmental extremists to lead the discussion.
She explained her part on the commission was in the oil, gas,
and mineral resource section. She emphasized the need to
communicate that Alaska can continue to support itself through
responsible development of its resources and can establish its
own fate while using the environment positively. This transition
will call on Alaska to be vocal. She said committee members need
to raise the awareness of their colleagues and work together.
She said she shares a belief with Lieutenant Governor Mallott
who said, "I believe that Alaska is the Arctic; Alaska policy is
Arctic policy."
11:15:37 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE explained that AAPC is the acronym for the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission and the website akarctic.gov has
all the AAPC reports listed. She relayed that AAPC is
established in statute and has 26 members: 5 from the Senate, 5
from the House and 16 public members with expertise in a variety
of subject areas. This group traveled the state to prove that
Alaska as a whole is an Arctic state.
She stated a goal to continue what has been done. She reported
on the success of delaying the federal government's accelerated
action plan for the Arctic and getting it to work with AAPC. The
federal policy did not include people; it only included the
tundra, the changing climate, ice flows, and animals. This was
pointed out at the June meeting in Barrow. She suggested that
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the most important task between now and April 23 is to continue
the pressure on the federal government. Some of the agencies
involved are the State Department, the Secretary of State, and
Admiral Papp, who is the head of Alaska issues. She encouraged
everyone to send letters.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE said another goal is to establish a host
committee made up of private and public sector people in order
to control the agenda of those who visit Alaska seeking Arctic
information. She mentioned Izembek Road [from King Cove to Cold
Bay] as an example of something that could be viewed from a
variety of perspectives. She also stressed the importance of the
legislature working with the executive branch. As part of the
executive branch, Craig Fleener will be tapped for the work he
has done on Arctic policy.
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CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE discussed the importance of the January 30
rollout. It is an opportunity to communicate with constituents
and with the federal government about economic development for
the people of the North and how the state adapts to climate
change. She discounted the idea that climate change will be
solved in two years looking at Alaska as a "locked up model."
She offered to provide information about the federal policy
perspectives on global warming, ocean governance (the mapping of
the Arctic Ocean for various uses), and economic development.
She noted that the Canadian outlook has a northern vision -
Arctic development for the people of the Arctic. The challenge
for Alaska is to get a northern perspective and make it clear
that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Alaska.
11:23:19 AM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed concern about what happens now that
AAPC is over and stressed the importance of having the
legislative bodies work together. He agreed with Senator Giessel
about "stepping up our game." Speaking as a Kodiak citizen, he
said what happens in the Arctic is important to him. He agreed
that the President talked about global warming and
acidification, but not about the people, which should be the
focus.
11:25:18 AM
SENATOR OLSON said expectations and activities in the Arctic are
changing and nothing exemplifies this more than the people. He
mentioned the road thru Izembek as an example of why the people
must be considered. He thanked the chairs for bringing the
Canadian focus to the meeting.
11:26:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, said his
focus on the commission was chairing the security section and in
this capacity he realized the importance of the military in the
discussion. He said Jamie Robinson from the U.S. Coast Guard and
Harry Bader from the university have a lot of knowledge about
the Arctic. He said he attended a briefing with the Secretary of
the Navy where it was noted that Alaska is ahead of the world in
Arctic research. He agreed with previous comments that the
people need to be considered and Alaska needs to remain front
and center in developing Arctic policy.
11:28:49 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE stated that Steve Meyers would present the
draft white paper on the Arctic.
11:29:05 AM
STEVE MEYERS, Program Manager, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region
(PNWER), related that the white paper was developed through the
offices of Senator McGuire and Representative Herron and AAPC.
It focuses on the people when looking at economic development in
the Arctic and stresses the importance of a unified voice. It
intends to bring a stronger unified voice across the North
American Arctic to federal leaders. He asked for guidance on
when to release this white paper.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE recommended releasing it about the same time as
the AAPC report.
CHAIR HERRON suggested that PNWER go live at the end of the
month.
MR. MEYERS mentioned the Beaufort Regional Council concept which
focuses more on the private sector looking at companies that
have a foothold or presence in the Arctic.
11:32:34 AM
MR. MORRISON added that they had a two-day meeting of the Arctic
Council, where Canada discussed the role of the private sector
in Arctic policy development and the role of the private sector
with the Arctic Council. The culmination of these discussions
was the Arctic Economic Council, which was launched six months
ago.
He added that in a two-day meeting in Yellow Knife, the private
sector concluded that having an Arctic Economic Council was
fine, but what is needed is something closer to home. The
regional model could feed into the Arctic Economic Council.
CHAIR HERRON said that PNWER and the Arctic Caucus discussed how
to move resources across borders. The idea of corridors to and
from the Arctic emerged. The intent is to get the private sector
more involved in regional economic development. He concluded
that this has great potential.
11:35:49 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said the Transition Committee reports are on
the Governor's website. However, when she met with Lieutenant
Governor Mallott, he was not sure it was the report from the
Transition Committee. She said she hopes to further discuss
economic development in rural communities with Lieutenant
Governor Mallott.
She said the "Arctic Policy and Climate Change Report" echoes a
lot of the federal focus on things like climate change. Alaska
still needs access to resources on federal lands. She mentioned
the Red Dog Mine as a successful partnership with NANA Regional
Corporation, as mentioned in the white paper. She concluded that
she would like to see more such collaborations.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE suggested committee members read and have
conversations about the report.
She invited Mr. Morrison to present information about Canada's
perspective of the Arctic.
11:39:14 AM
MR. MORRISON said Premier McCloud from the Northwest Territories
has been an active member of PNWER and is keen on sharing what
they have learned in the last two years. He invited Governor
Walker to join him in late March to present the authentic
northern perspective to the public in various places in the U.S.
Other Premiers have agreed to join the group. He suggested it
could help the dialogue.
11:41:38 AM
CHAIR HERRON said he and Senator McGuire met with the Governor
and they brought up the concept of a northern governments road
show. The Governor was very receptive and thought it would be
appropriate in the next few months or so, especially in light of
the fact that the U.S. will be taking over the Arctic Council
chairmanship. He added that the legislature supports the idea.
MR. MORRISON said Dave Ramsey is the Premier's right hand man
and Canada is willing to commit resources to set up meetings.
The theme will be the New Frontier - The North American Arctic.
11:44:08 AM
SENATOR STEVENS pointed out that governors don't like to leave
the capital during session.
CHAIR HERRON said it's important to recognize that the
legislature is very supportive of the plan and if both the
Premier and the Governor want to do it, it will be very
successful.
11:44:56 AM
MR. MORRISON reviewed the "Roundtable on North American Arctic
Marine and Inter-Modal Corridors" handout. He said that PNWER is
partnered with the Center for International Governance
Innovation and there will be a dinner and session about how
their organization works and a geopolitical perspective about
what is going on in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council area. There
will also be Alaska representatives to talk about the automated
information systems for ships offshore. The hope is to also talk
about the Arctic Caucus going forward. This will be next week.
11:47:25 AM
COLIN SMITH, PNWER Private Sector Chair and Workforce
Development Co-Chair, Past President, APEG B.C., said there's a
federal responsibility for transportation in Canada under the
Canada Transportation Act. The most recent statutory review was
in June and a blue ribbon committee was appointed and headed by
the Honorable David Emerson. This committee is traveling across
the country seeking input to determine Canada's transportation
infrastructure needs for the next 10 years. The upcoming meeting
in Vancouver will provide valuable input in this regard.
Specifically, the meeting on marine transportation is of vital
interest to Alaska and the opportunity for cooperation in
managing that marine based transportation will only work well if
it's jointly done.
He explained the new navigation tracking system is world-class.
A demonstration yesterday showed that every vessel in the waters
is tracked in real time. If a vessel deviates from its pre-filed
transit plan, the vessel will immediately receive a message to
correct the course or the Coast Guard will follow up. From a
search and rescue and environmental protection perspective, this
system will be important in developing the Arctic.
He noted that the upcoming meeting will be opened by the head of
the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and will build on the
experience of the four European nations that worked together
over the eight years that they shared the chair. He expressed
delight that Alaska will participate and opined that the report
should be informative to the work of the joint committee.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked the presenters and committee members.
11:53:35 AM
There being no further business to come before the committees,
Co-Chair McGuire adjourned the meeting of the Senate Special
Committee on the Arctic and the House Special Committee on
Economic Development, Tourism & Arctic Policy at 11:53 a.m.
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