Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/20/2018 08:30 AM Senate SPECIAL CMTE ON THE ARCTIC
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR19 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
March 20, 2018
8:29 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Pete Kelly
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Click Bishop
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donald Olson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19(AET)
Commending the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee; supporting the
adoption of prevention measures into international agreements to
ensure clear, universal, and enforceable marine safety measures
in the Arctic; urging the state's delegation in the United
States Congress and the governor to promote the adoption of
spill prevention measures into international agreements; and
urging the President of the United States and the United States
Department of State to initiate negotiations to enter into
international agreements to ensure safe and environmentally
responsible marine operations in the Arctic.
- MOVED CSHJR 19(AET) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 19
SHORT TITLE: ARCTIC MARINE SAFETY AGREEMENTS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LINCOLN
04/07/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/07/17 (H) AET
04/11/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124
04/11/17 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
04/20/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124
04/20/17 (H) Heard & Held
04/20/17 (H) MINUTE(AET)
04/25/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124
04/25/17 (H) Moved CSHJR 19(AET) Out of Committee
04/25/17 (H) MINUTE(AET)
04/26/17 (H) AET RPT CS(AET) NT 6DP
04/26/17 (H) TECHNICAL TITLE CORRECTION
04/26/17 (H) DP: TALERICO, JOSEPHSON, TUCK, NEUMAN,
KNOPP, WESTLAKE
05/15/17 (H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/15 - ON 5/16 CALENDAR
05/16/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/16/17 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 19(AET)
05/17/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/17/17 (S) ARC
02/14/18 (S) RETURNED TO HOUSE PER REQUEST
02/14/18 (H) BILL RECEIVED IN HOUSE
02/14/18 (H) BILL REPRINTED ALL VERSIONS 2/14/18
02/14/18 (H) RETURNED TO SENATE
03/20/18 (S) ARC AT 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LINCOLN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 19.
WILLIE GOODWIN, Chair
Arctic Waterways Safety Committee
Kotzebue, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HJR 19.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:29:10 AM
CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Special Committee on the
Arctic meeting to order at 8:29 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Hoffman, Bishop, Kelly, and Chair Giessel.
HJR 19-ARCTIC MARINE SAFETY AGREEMENTS
8:29:34 AM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of HJR 19.
8:29:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LINCOLN, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor
of HJR 19, said the resolution addresses a basic lack of safety
regulations in international waters off the coast of Alaska, a
topic of great concern to his district. Part of the resolution
commends the 2014 creation of the Arctic Waterways Safety
Committee, a group composed of Arctic municipalities, marine
mammal hunting groups, and Arctic marine shipping interests to
promote safe and environmentally responsible shipping
operations. The resolution encourages and promotes marine safety
prevention measures for international traffic in the Bering
Strait. It states that the Alaska Legislature supports the
adoption of prevention measures into international agreements to
ensure clear, universal, and enforceable safety measures in the
Arctic.
8:30:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN said the Bering Strait is under federal
jurisdiction beyond the three miles from shore and up to the end
of the nation's exclusive economic zone. Beyond that is
international and Russian waters. The resolution also encourages
the governor and Congressional delegation to promote the
adoption of spill prevention measures in international
agreements. That is the best way to ensure that Alaska's
coastlines and residents are protected by rules that apply to
vessels of all nations. The resolution also calls for the
president and U.S. Department of State to initiate negotiations
with Alaska's coastal neighbors to enter into international
agreements to ensure safe and environmentally responsible marine
operations.
8:31:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN said the resolution mentions some
international agreements that the U.S. has not chosen to
participate in. Until the U.S. chooses to participate in those,
the best means of addressing the lack of regulation is to work
directly with Alaska's neighbors with bilateral agreements.
8:32:08 AM
CHAIR GIESSEL said she appreciated that he presented data about
transits through the Bering Strait. She and Senator Hoffman
discussed that significant topic during the Arctic Policy
Commission.
8:32:42 AM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony.
8:33:01 AM
WILLIE GOODWIN, Chair, Arctic Waterways Safety Committee,
supported HJR 19. He said they started working on safety issues
for mariners back in 2012. In 2010 the hunters from St. Lawrence
Island noticed a lot of big Russian ships going north. The
hunters became concerned and started discussions with the Coast
Guard. The Coast Guard suggested they form this committee to
develop safe practices for mariners. The committee has 15
members with hunter groups, industry, the people who haul
freight and oil to Bering communities, and the tourism industry.
They have been working on safe practices for waterways for
everyone's safety who uses the waterways.
8:35:11 AM
MR. GOODWIN said they have a funding issue. If the legislature
or someone could fund a communication infrastructure, that would
take care of all the issues they have. When industry was in the
Chukchi Sea, Shell had established a communication network with
all the communities in the North Slope Borough, along with
Kotzebue and St. Lawrence Island. There was a communication link
to inform various communities of shipping traffic. After Shell
pulled out, they have had no communication between communities
and large ships going north. It is a big concern for the safety
of hunters.
8:37:20 AM
MR. GOODWIN said the hunters need to know where ships are going
and the speed in the water in front of these communities. They
continue to work with various tribes on coastal Alaska, so
hunters are informed of ships heading north and south. There are
also tour ships from New York and Europe going to Siberia. That
industry is going to increase. The safety of hunters is a
concern.
8:38:35 AM
MR. GOODWIN said he was in support of HJR 19. It is important
that the president and the Congressional delegation be on top of
this. They have met with the Congressional delegation a couple
of times to bring the issue up. Any help from the state of
Alaska would be appreciated.
8:39:16 AM
CHAIR GIESSEL closed public testimony.
8:40:02 AM
CHAIR GIESSEL entertained a motion to move HJR 19.
SENATOR HOFFMAN moved HJR 19, Version 30-LS0680\D, from
committee.
8:40:27 AM
There being no objection, CSHJR 19(AET) moved from the Senate
Special Committee on the Arctic.
8:40:34 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Special Committee on the
Arctic at 8:40.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Spec Committee Arctic Agenda - 3 - 20 - 18 .pdf |
SARC 3/20/2018 8:30:00 AM |
|
| HJR019D.PDF |
SARC 3/20/2018 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 19 |
| HJR 19 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SARC 3/20/2018 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 19 |
| HJR 19 Presentation.pdf |
SARC 3/20/2018 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 19 |
| HJR19 Updated Fiscal Note - 3 - 19 - 18.pdf |
SARC 3/20/2018 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 19 |