Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
04/02/2015 08:15 AM Senate SPECIAL CMTE ON THE ARCTIC
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR5 | |
| Presentation: Bering Sea Alliance | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
April 2, 2015
8:15 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Donald Olson
Senator John Coghill
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Click Bishop
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5(EDA) AM
Declaring 2015, 2016, and 2017 to be the Years of the Arctic;
encouraging the state and its partners to join with the
Institute of the North in encouraging the state to promote its
Arctic policy during the Years of the Arctic and to take action
to address the strategic recommendations in the Implementation
Plan of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.
- MOVED SCS CSHCR 5(ARC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION: BERING SEA ALLIANCE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 5
SHORT TITLE: DECLARE 2015-2017 AS YEARS OF THE ARCTIC
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HERRON
02/20/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/15 (H) EDA, FIN
03/10/15 (H) EDA AT 11:15 AM BARNES 124
03/10/15 (H) Moved CSHCR 5(EDA) Out of Committee
03/10/15 (H) MINUTE(EDA)
03/11/15 (H) EDA RPT CS(EDA) NT 3DP 1NR
03/11/15 (H) DP: ORTIZ, WOOL, HERRON
03/11/15 (H) NR: TILTON
03/16/15 (H) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED
03/23/15 (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING
03/23/15 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/23/15 (H) VERSION: CSHCR 5(EDA) AM
03/25/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/15 (S) ARC
04/02/15 (S) ARC AT 8:15 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HCR 5.
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director
Institute of the North
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 5.
ART IVANOFF, CEO
Bering Sea Alliance, LLC
Unalakleet, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about the Bering Sea
Alliance, LLC (BSA).
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:15:13 AM
CO-CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE called the Senate Special Committee on
the Arctic meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Olson, Coghill, Co-Chair Giessel,
and Co-Chair McGuire.
HCR 5-DECLARE 2015-2017 AS YEARS OF THE ARCTIC
8:16:17 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HCR 5. [CSHCR
5(EDA)AM was before the committee.]
8:16:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of
HCR 5, declaring 2015-2107 as Years of the Arctic, said the
resolution is appropriate because on April 24, 2015, Alaska
assumes the Chair of the Arctic Council until April 2017.
Specifically, the resolution resolves that the Years of the
Arctic is a period during which Alaska should make every effort
to highlight the importance of the Arctic to Alaskans and
Americans. The legislature encourages the state and its partners
to work with the Institute of the North in encouraging the state
to promote its Arctic policy and increase Arctic awareness. The
legislature also encourages the state to promote its Arctic
policy during this period and to address the strategic
recommendations found in the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission
Implementation Plan.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE noted that CSHCR 5(EDA)AM was before the
committee.
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Institute of the North,
testified in support of HCR 5. He related that the next two
years are an especially important time for Alaska and for the
nation. During the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the
state has an opportunity to declare its leadership, both from a
policy perspective and as citizens and active participants in
the Circumpolar North. He concluded that the resolution sends
the right message.
8:19:51 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Mr. Andreassen and noted the arrival of
Senator Hoffman.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE asked about the Senior Arctic Official (SAO)
meetings and the intention to have as many of the meetings as
possible in Alaska over the next two years. She suggested
mentioning this in HCR 5. She also suggested including the
creation of an Arctic host committee to support and welcome the
SAO's over the next two years.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said that there are two SAO meetings every
year, one in the spring and one in the fall. He understood that
the State Department is going to hold all of those meetings in
Alaska. Most of the other eight working groups will be held in
Alaska. He thought it wouldn't hurt to add her suggestions.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE proposed Conceptual Amendment 1 - Whereas, we
encourage the State Department to continue working with us to
hold as many of the Senior Arctic Official meetings in Alaska
during the next two years. There being no objection, Conceptual
Amendment 1 was adopted.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE proposed Conceptual Amendment 2 - Whereas, it
is the intent of the state to organize a host committee to
welcome Senior Arctic Officials and other Arctic diplomats that
will be coming to Alaska during the next two years.
She said it would be a means of coalescing around a goal to have
a host group that is representative of the business community,
indigenous populations, lawmakers, and the executive branch to
help set the agenda where possible.
8:23:28 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL voiced concern about a possible fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON stated that the Governor and his special
assistant are already planning for that and have requested funds
to do so. He suggested that the resolution could say that the
Senate Special Committee on the Arctic and the House Arctic
Committee could be ex-officio members of the host committee and
there would be no need for a fiscal note. That would show
support for the Governor's efforts and the committees could have
supporting roles.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE reworded Conceptual Amendment 2 to say that the
State Senate Special Committee on the Arctic and the House
Special Committee on the Arctic and Economic Development would
like to join the Governor's efforts as ex-officio members of the
host committee. There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 2
was adopted.
8:26:27 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to report CSHCR 5(EDA)AM, version 29-
LS0562\H.A, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no
objection, SCS CSHRC 5(ARC) was reported from the Senate Special
Committee on the Arctic.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE said she would set up a press availability when
the Governor signs the three Arctic-related bills.
^PRESENTATION: Bering Sea Alliance
PRESENTATION: Bering Sea Alliance
8:28:14 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE introduced Mr. Art Ivanoff from the Bering Sea
Alliance.
8:28:20 AM
ART IVANOFF, CEO, Bering Sea Alliance, LLC, presented
information about the Bering Sea Alliance, LLC (BSA). He
described BSA as an alliance of seven village corporations:
Sivuqaq, Inc., in Gambell, Wales Native Corporation, Nome Native
Corporation, Golovin Native Corporation, Unalakleet Native
Corporation, Stebbins Native Corporation, and St. Michael Native
Corporation. He said they held a Bering Strait Village
Corporation Economic Summit in 2012 in Nome, with
representatives from various entities from government,
businesses, and oil companies. They set a goal to make a
difference in the Arctic collectively and endorsed development
proposals. They contracted Arctic Response Service and sought
rapid response training for oil spills.
He thanked the Arctic Policy Planning Commission for their hard
work.
8:30:42 AM
MR. IVANOFF spoke of a letter BSA wrote to Senator Olson
conveying their legislative priorities: runway improvements, oil
response depots, and improved connectivity. He spoke of a report
that was released in October of 2014 by the Statewide Broadband
Task Force which identified connectivity problems in bush
Alaska. He maintained that their area is short-changed in terms
of technology and connectivity. The goal is for BSA to be part
of the solution.
He turned to the subject of oil response depots. He spoke of
BSA's relationship with Shell Oil. He related the suggestion of
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that it is the private
sector needs to address oil response capacity. He disagreed and
said it should be a private/public partnership and consist of
private, state, and federal funding.
He addressed the problems with runway systems. Gamble is located
strategically and could provide support as first responders,
search and rescue, and oil response. He said resources were set
aside by DOT for improving Gamble's airport infrastructure. He
noted they are proposing an amendment to the funding request in
order to expand the runway for jet service.
8:34:23 AM
MR. IVANOFF concluded that on May 6 and 7, 2015, BSA will host
the Arctic Resource Development and Infrastructure Session in
Gamble. He stressed the importance of partners experiencing what
real Alaskans go through. He pointed out that BSA has been
working with the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, and the
University of California - Santa Barbara, to bring their message
to policy makers in D.C. He said the process of improving Arctic
infrastructure needs to be driven by Alaskans and to have a
broad range of Alaskans in order to make a difference. He
concluded that BSA's theme is empowerment through collaboration.
8:36:00 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE looked forward to receiving an invitation to
Gamble. She asked if the UAF working group has traveled to D.C.
MR. IVANOFF said they have had several conference calls with the
universities. Currently, the group of people is small. He said
fragmented groups don't carry a message as well as a unified
group.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE agreed. She recalled when a group went to D.C.
and found that legislators from other states did not know much
about Alaska.
8:38:24 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked if other communities north of the Straits
will join the alliance.
MR. INVANOFF said there is an open door policy now. He stressed
the importance of inclusion. He said they have recruited in
nearby villages, but there were no takers. He said BSA stands at
seven members currently.
8:39:34 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE requested a map be included in the packet to
D.C.
MR. IVANOFF agreed. He stressed the need for appropriations in
order to build the infrastructure.
8:40:43 AM
SENATOR OLSON emphasized the invitation to Gamble.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE agreed it would be a wonderful opportunity.
MR. IVANOFF noted there is a lodge in Gamble. He described the
response to a meeting held last August and the greatly
appreciated hospitality.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Mr. Ivanoff.
8:42:11 AM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Co-
Chair McGuire adjourned the Senate Special Committee on the
Arctic at 8:42 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR5 - Sponsor Statement (Senate ARC).pdf |
SARC 4/2/2015 8:15:00 AM |
HCR 5 |
| HCR 5 - CS HCR 5 (EDA) am - Legislation.PDF |
SARC 4/2/2015 8:15:00 AM |
HCR 5 |
| HCR 5 - Summary of Changes (For Senate ARC).pdf |
SARC 4/2/2015 8:15:00 AM |
HCR 5 |
| HCR5 - Fiscal Note - HCR005-1-1-031115-LEG-N.PDF |
SARC 4/2/2015 8:15:00 AM |
HCR 5 |
| HCR5 - Supporting Document - Arctic Calendar.pdf |
SARC 4/2/2015 8:15:00 AM |
HCR 5 |