Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/08/1995 09:12 AM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Soldotna, Alaska
April 8, 1995
9:12 A.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Loren Leman, Chairman
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chairman
Senator Steve Frank
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Robin Taylor
Senator Lyman Hoffman
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer
Senator John Torgerson
Senator Mike Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19
Requesting the Congress to amend the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act to clarify that the term "public lands" means only
federal land and water and that any extension of federal
jurisdiction onto adjacent land and water is expressly prohibited.
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SJR 19 - See Resources Committee minutes dated 3/29/95.
WITNESS REGISTER
Sterling Eide
Cook Inlet Professional Sportfishing Association
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Dick Bower
Board of Fisheries
P.O. Box 3662
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Tim Evers
Deep Creek Charter Boat Association
Ninilchik, AK 99639
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Lyman Nichols
Cooper Landing, AK 99572
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Dave Martin
Central Peninsula Advisory Committee
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Loren Flagg
Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association
34824 K-Beach Rd.
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Tom Walker
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Chris Moss
North Pacific Fisheries Association
Homer, AK 99603
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Richard Link
Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Safari Club International
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Lynn Whitmore, Chairman
Homer Advisory Board
Homer, AK 99603
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Ed Krohn, Chairman
Kenai Advisory Board
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Dan Haskins
Alaska Bowhunters
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Leon Metz
Alaska Trappers
Kenai, AK 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Merle Walford
South Peninsula Sportsman Association
Homer Charter Association
Homer, AK 99603
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Ed Marsters
Matanuska Valley Sportsmen Association
P.O. Box 892
Sterling, AK 99672
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Jim Reardon
Homer, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Don Poole
Alaska Bow Hunters
P.O. Box 2200
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Charles Daniel
P.O. Box 238
Kenai, AK 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Seymour Mills
P.O. Box 51
Sterling, AK 99672
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Brad Ames
P.O. Box 396
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Steve Vanek
P.O. Box 103
Ninilchik, AK 99639
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Theo Matthews, Executive Director
United Cook Inlet Driftnetters Association
P.O. Box 389
Kenai, AK 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SJR 19.
Gary Superman
P.O. Box 8425
Nikiski, AK 99672
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Al Franzman
P.O. Box 666
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Elaina Spraker
P.O. Box 2534
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Gary Hull
P.O. Box 1964
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Debra Horne
P.O. Box 592
Kasilof, AK 99610
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Joe Schwab
P.O. Box 499
Clam Gulch, AK 99568
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Michael Cruger
P.O. Box 102
Galena,AK 99741
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SJR 19.
Joseph Jolly
HCO1, Box 753
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Charlie Parker
P.O. Box 349
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on federal presence in Alaska.
Gary Cadd
Kenai, AK 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on the federal government in Alaska.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-39, SIDE A
Number 001
SJR 19 AMEND ANILCA TO DEFINE PUBLIC LANDS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Resources Committee meeting to
order at 9:12 a.m. and stated that he was on teleconference from
Soldotna. He announced SJR 19 which addressed management of our
resources to be up for consideration.
SENATOR LINCOLN apologized that she was not able to travel to
Soldotna for the meeting, but she also needed to attend the Long
Range Fiscal Planning Committee meeting in Juneau at 11:00 a.m.
She said that she believed SJR 19 was an integral part of a
subsistence agenda, although they would hear to the contrary. She
said she is supportive of having state control of fish and game,
but she didn't think this was the manner in which to do it. She
thought a constitutional amendment would bring us back into
compliance to have management of fish and game at the state level.
SENATOR LINCOLN said she was also concerned that the hearings were
being held in just Fairbanks, Soldotna, and Juneau. She was
concerned that many people across the state would not be able to
testify and that there wasn't testimony from rural bush Alaska.
SENATOR LEMAN said the committee is spending approximately 20 hours
on hearings for this legislation which is much more than they spend
on most legislation.
SENATOR TORGERSON thanked the Resources Committee for having the
meeting in Soldotna.
SENATOR MILLER said he did not think SJR 19 was a challenge to the
federal rural priority system. He thought it was a simple
resolution asking congress to reconfirm its commitment that it made
to Alaska in the Statehood Act which gives Alaska the ability to
manage its own fish and game.
Number 201
STERLING EIDE, Cook Inlet Professional Sportfishing Association,
said they do many projects to enhance habitat and fisheries. They
support SJR 19, because they do support state management. The
framework is already in place for managing a complicated fishery in
Cook Inlet and, in particular, the Kenai River.
Technology is being used and improved each year by a group of
experienced biologists who are also improving each year. He would
hate to see us start all over again with another group of managers
who do not understand the problems and who, perhaps, don't care as
much about it as the crew that is managing it now does.
His association believes in the regulatory system that is in place
now, starting with the advisory committees and including the Board
of Game. They believe the federal government's place in Alaska is
in the traditional areas of waterfowl management, the National
Marine Fisheries Service, and the Endangered Species Act. There is
a lot of work that is needed in those areas and the feds don't need
to expand their resources into managing state areas.
Number 270
DICK BOWER, Alaska Board of Fisheries, said he does not speak for
the Board, but he complimented the Senate for taking action at this
time. He said historically that one of Alaska's problems is with
dealing with people who do not have the knowledge of the State and
do not recognize the great diversity that is here and must be taken
into account. A significant threat to our fish and game will
remain if the federal government fails to manage lands under its
control in a manner consistent with the best interests of the
species that are involved, he said.
Whenever subsistence priority is an issue on the Board, they try to
weigh all of their decisions in connection with the need for seeing
that subsistence priorities are considered. So he would hope that
the Board's best interests would stand for the subsistence use as
well as the overall resource.
TIM EVERS, Deep Creek Charter Boat Association, supported SJR 19 to
help stop the federal takeover of management of our resources.
They believe the state can do the best job of managing the
resources and that the Board of Fisheries is designed for public
input and serves all user groups best. They believe the governor
harmed the Katie John lawsuit appeal by dropping the Babbit case.
Katie John asks the feds to extended its management into all state
waters including marine waters. The Katie John case forces the
feds to take over to protect subsistence. The problem here is that
the Federal Subsistence Board will have only one client, the
subsistence users. The feds don't have to balance with, or even
consider, other user groups. The State of Alaska was given certain
rights at statehood and this type of intervention goes against the
Statehood Act, he said in conclusion.
Number 354
LYMAN NICHOLS, Cooper Landing Fish and Game Advisory Committee,
said Cooper Landing qualifies as a rural area and they unanimously
supported SJR 19. They hope it is only the first step in the state
regaining management of fish and wildlife. ADF&G is much more
responsive to public input than the federal government.
DAVE MARTIN, Chairman, Central Peninsula Advisory Committee, said
they unanimously supported SJR 19. The system of local advisory
committees is working very well and is admired by people from down
south. He said the advisory committee process relays the local
public's input to any and all state and federal agencies on matters
pertaining to fish and game issues. It is the envy of many states
in the lower 48.
LOREN FLAGG, Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association (KPFA), said
he was a 27-year resident of Alaska. KPFA has about 740 members
and they wholeheartedly support SJR 19.
Number 433
TOM WALKER, Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, said the long term
strength of our salmon resources is so dependent on effective
management that the experience and philosophy of the management
agency and personnel is of substantial concern. They believe the
State of Alaska through its Department of Fish and Game is best
suited to manage these resources. The department has a long
history of management and demonstrated capability to carry out that
management with balanced concern for both the health of the
resource and the needs of the various user groups. To the extent
that clarification of the term public lands will help to assure
state management of the resources, at least, on state-owned and
non-public lands it has their support. Their experience has been
that the federal agencies and their personnel have a perspective
which is narrow in focus and sufficiently inflexible to accommodate
the day-to-day, season-to-season, management adjustments which are
necessary for the optimum protection and use of the resources.
CHRIS MOSS, North Pacific Fisheries Association, said they support
SJR 19. He said that federal management of resources is abysmal.
ED KROHN, Kenai Advisory Board, said they unanimously supported SJR
19 at their last meeting and he asked for a show of hands from the
public (about 25 people) and no one opposed it. He completely
supported Sterling Eide's earlier comments.
LYNN WHITMORE, Homer Advisory Board, said they didn't have any
native associations or villages in their advisory area. In
general, they are pleased to see the attempt to clarify ANILCA.
The intent and interpretation seems to vary with each
administration. They wholeheartedly supported SJR 19.
RICHARD LINK, Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Safari Club International,
said their members fully supported SJR 19. He said for years they
have been very concerned with the loss of control of management of
our fish and game. He thought the state has done a good job in the
past and he would like to see them continue.
Number 541
DAN HASKINS, Alaska Bowhunters Association, said they have a
membership of approximately 840. They supported SJR 19
wholeheartedly and would work with them to help push it through.
LEON METZ, Alaska Trappers Association, said they have a wide cross
section of membership. They adamantly oppose management of the
state's fish and game by the federal government. The consequences
of bad federal management can be seen on the Kenai Peninsula, he
said, referring to their wolf population being full of lice. He
said the wildlife populations need to be managed for the residents
of the state and the wildlife populations themselves. They
wholeheartedly supported SJR 19.
MERLE WALFORD, Homer Charter Association, said they voted
unanimously to support SJR 19. He said that the South Peninsula
Sportsman's Association unanimously supported SJR 19, also.
Wildlife resources of Alaska belong to the people of the state and,
therefore, should be managed by the state. Federal takeover of
game management would be a disaster. If the federal government
can't get a handle on the tremendous by-catch problem, how can they
possibly manage our inland fisheries, he commented. They have
completely mismanaged the Atlantic fisheries; there is nothing left
there.
TAPE 95-39, SIDE B
Number 590
ED MARSTERS, Matanuska Valley Sportsmen, supported SJR 19. He said
this association is one of the original founders of the Old Alaska
Wildlife Federation Sportsmen's Council. He said the Valley
Sportsmen are deeply concerned over federal encroachment on
traditional state units. SJR 19 is a positive and necessary first
step to reestablishing state management. They are not opposed to
legitimate subsistence needs, however, they do not support
unreasonable, discriminatory guidelines. ANILCA in its current
form does exactly that. Management of our resources by the federal
government will only lead to increased decision-making by those who
have no understanding of our problems and who are far removed from
Alaska's citizens. They foresee increased social strife. Asking
congress to reaffirm its original intent by clarifying the
definition of "public lands" will begin the process of moving back
toward sound scientific management and solutions to our allocative
problems.
Number 552
JIM REARDON, retired fish and game person, said Senator Miller
invited him to provide a little history of the south central area
and this issue. He said he was a resident of Alaska for 45 years
and has been professionally involved with Alaska's fish and game
since 1947. He strongly supported SJR 19; positive action on it
could head off disaster for Alaska's fish and game. He was certain
Alaska's delegation to Congress would not have voted for ANILCA if
the intent was federal preemption of management of Alaska's fish
and game. Alaskans who think that federal management will benefit
the subsistence priority are dead wrong.
When he was a member of the Board of Game, every possible effort
was made to provide for the subsistence priority of rural
residents. It was the second highest priority of the Board coming
only after the primary responsibility which is to conserve the
resource. The Board developed more kinds of subsistence standards
than with any other single issue. No federal agency could have
done better.
History provides a ready answer if you ask what we could expect
under federal management. He illustrated this point with a story
from 1960 when Governor Eagan addressed the first legislature.
Governor Egan said, "On January 1 of this year, Alaska's Department
of Fish and Game was handed the degraded remnants of what was once
a rich and prolific fishery. From a peak of three quarters of a
billion pounds in 1936 (which is over 100 million salmon),
production dropped in 1959 to its lowest in 60 years. On these
ruins of a once great resource, the Department must rebuild. That
last year of federal control, 1959, Alaska's salmon catch amounted
to 25 million fish." Now after 35 years of state management, in
1994, the catch was 194 million fish. This is a spectacular
conservation achievement.
Details of the federal debacle are spelled out in a book called
Politics in Conservation by Dr. Richard Cooley and Mr. Reardon
strongly recommended reading this.
MR. REARDON said he was a sonar operator in the U.S. Navy and in
1961 he proposed the idea of counting salmon with sonar. Today
Alaska has salmon counters in virtually every major salmon stream.
This is only one break through the state has made. By far the most
important difference in state and federal management has been the
field authority delegated to the state's area biologists. This
allows flexibility in the constant effort to achieve balance
between catch and escapement. This is not the federal way. He
used an example of an incident at Port Dick when a closure was
announced and as the boats were leaving, thousands of salmon were
arriving. The fish were never harvested, because the federal
government management system could not respond in time.
DON POOLE, Alaska Bow Hunters Association, said they had 800 - 900
members and supported SJR 19.
SENATOR LEMAN announced a recess at 10:15 a.m. - 10:38 a.m.
CHARLES DANIEL, Kenai, supported SJR 19. He thought ADF&G is doing
a good job of managing our resources.
Number 389
DALE BONDURANT said he is a 47-year resident of Alaska and
considers SJR 19 as a subsistence fight as well as a state's rights
fight. He believes all Alaskans should be treated equally. He
thinks we should tell the federal government to go to hell. The
Alaska Constitution says that a priority right for an exclusive
classification is unconstitutional.
MR. BONDURANT said the legislature made a half-hearted political
challenge to carry the ball when the Governor dropped it because it
was too hot. The judge took the ball away and the
legislature....went home crying. They now refuse to challenge the
court with ANILCA, Title 8. SJR 19 is a half-hearted attempt that
will end in a hollow victory and is only a detour to ending the
rural solution.
He does not oppose SJR 19 on its merit, but he does not support
another round of taking orders from Judge Holland. Repeal ANILCA,
Title 8, he said.
BRAD AMES supported SJR 19, knowing that it was not a cure.
Everyone can see the disastrous consequences of dividing Alaskans
up into individual groups and attempting to serve each of their
needs. If the federal government insists on dictating terms to the
mandated constitutional protectors of the fish and game around the
state, then we might as well not have a state.
STEVE VANEK, Ninilchik resident, said he gets to subsistence hunt
and fish on federal lands, but he doesn't think he should do this
on state and private lands on the Peninsula. He asked, "Are we to
be a state in name only?" Federal management cannot adequately
assess stocks or be on top of what is going on in local areas.
In response to Senator Lincoln, he said, that the fact of whether
the State's Constitution is amended or not does not alter the fact
that the language in ANILCA needs to be clarified. If the public
lands designation is in question at this juncture, it will still be
in question whether the Constitution is amended or not. This
resolution does not affect subsistence since it doesn't change the
status quo.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if he thought he should be given a priority on
federal land. MR. VANEK said, personally, he didn't think the
Peninsula was the same as bush areas. He didn't think it was a
necessity at all there.
Number 216
SENATOR LINCOLN said that Senator Stevens said it was up to
Alaskans to build consensus on the whole issue of fish and game
management and not leave it up to our congressional delegation to
do that for us. She did not think SJR 19 was a way to build
consensus. It is more divisive than anything else. She thought
all Alaskans should sit down together and come up with a solution.
MR. VANEK responded that he thought that the wording in ANILCA
needed clarification whether or not Alaskans reach a consensus.
THEO MATTHEWS, Executive Director, United Cook Inlet Drift
Association, supported SJR 19. It's a clear statement of the
state's rights and ability to manage fish and game for all users.
SJR 19 does not challenge the concept of state or federal
subsistence. Rural legislators need to realize the federal law is
simply inadequate. Urban legislators recognize the subsistence
privilege is not a preference that is viable for their
constituents. We need to amend the federal law to make it so that
it does not systematically challenge other uses of the resources
and will protect the interests and villages users who are so
dependent.
The third resolve is particularly important, because one of the
issues is that even if you win the right to manage on navigable
waters, ANILCA is bound not to allow Alaskans to extend our arms
into state waters and lands.
He said the legislature, first and foremost, must adequately fund
the management of our resources. It's embarrassing for us to go to
the feds and say you can't manage because you don't have the
expertise.
TAPE 95-40, SIDE A
Number 001
There are a number of state issues that need to be dealt with like
mixed stock management, how far down-stream must you go, the Where
2 issue, the Endangered Species Act, the definitions that are used
in ANILCA, like defining "rural," "customary and traditional,"
"reasonable opportunity," and, then if necessary, amend the State
Constitution. No court has ever said that all Alaskans must be
subsistence users, MR. MATTHEWS said.
SENATOR LEMAN noted that the 1992 subsistence law expires in
October 1995 so that action must be taken this year.
SEYMOUR MILLS said he has been here since 1963. He wasn't happy
with the feds, but he didn't think SJR 19 was the solution either.
He didn't care for ANILCA at all. He didn't believe in giving
legitimacy to an illegitimate act and ANILCA is illegitimate. The
feds do not have jurisdiction unless we give it to them, he said.
MR. MILLS said that war has been declared on the state by the feds
and we have to address it in that manner. Things have to be
drafted that have teeth in them. We have to start throwing out
these federal mandates. The Statehood Compact does not address
equal footing which works against us. The equal footing doctrine
was established under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. It says
that all states should enter the union on equal footing with the
originals in all respects, whatsoever. Citizens of this state
don't have equals; they don't have the rights to their resources.
He supported CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6(RES) Relating to
federally held property in those states, including Alaska, admitted
to the Union since 1802 and HOUSE CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO. 7(STA) Relating to mandates imposed on the states by the
federal government, because the feds are trespassing.
Number 127
GARY SUPERMAN supported Mr. Mills testimony challenging the federal
right to be here in Alaska. More and more people are working to
restore a constitutional republic with sovereign states,
individuals, and, even, sovereign tribes. Our Statehood Compact is
a fraud, he said. We have no equal footing and we have no
republican form of government. The feds control more of our land
than we do in direct violation of constitutional law. We must
challenge the feds at every opportunity.
ANILCA, he said, overrules Alaska's State Constitution, Article 1,
Section 15; Article 8, Section 14 and 16; and is an unlawful
extension of Article 12, Section 12.
SJR 19 is another statement of disgust. Let's support it for what
it is. It will help to further the dialogue and educate a few more
people to get involved.
Number 208
AL FRANZMAN supported SJR 6, SJR 7, and SJR 19 as a start. He
adamantly opposed amending our Constitution to comply with ANILCA.
As a former member of the Board of Game, he said that dual
management of our wildlife resources will not work.
ELAINA SPRAKER, a 25-year resident of Alaska, supported SJR 19.
She is the wife of a state wildlife biologist. It's difficult for
her to understand why the federal government persists in trying to
take over management of Alaska fish and wildlife resources that
were granted to us by our State Constitution. The federal
government does not have the trained professionals to provide a
high standard of resource management that the state already has in
place nor does it provide for public input.
It is time for Alaskans to fight for what is best for our state and
all its people. She urged the committee to go forth and amend
ANILCA.
GARY HULL supported SJR 19 saying that most of the reasons have
been stated already. We don't need the federal government to do a
poor job.
Number 276
DEBRA HORNE, speaking on behalf of herself and her family,
supported SJR 19. She thought it was a very important message to
send to Congress and said the federal government should not assume
the duties of any authority that belongs to the State of Alaska by
the Statehood Compact, and, more importantly, the U.S.
Constitution. ANILCA should be amended to concisely prohibit
preemption of state jurisdiction on state and private lands and
waters.
JOE SCHWAB said he was a 5-day resident of Alaska. He is a retired
Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer with 25
years experience on the Columbia River. "If anybody wants to see
about or hear about a damaged river, a mismanaged river, it's the
Columbia River," he said. He dealt with enforcement of
subsistence, sport, and commercial regulations and it was a
nightmare of federal intervention. He thought the only hope for
that river would be a huge hatchery below Bonneville Dam.
The experience he has in working with federal agencies is that they
do not have the manpower to enforce regulations and that is their
biggest problem. They rely on the user to enforce themselves.
State agencies react to local needs and concerns.
SJR 19 retains state control and allows orderly logical use of
resources. Arbitrary boundaries do not work when managing
wildlife. Entire ecosystems must be managed to maintain a wildlife
population.
MICHAEL CRUGER, Galena resident, opposed SJR 19. He said Galena
had lost 25% of its population in 10 years. Most of those people
moved to the city to enjoy the amenities the city has to offer.
Those in Galena have made their choice to stay closer to God and
all they ask is to have first crack at state fish and game since
they live closer to mother nature. He stated that he pays taxes
for urban paved roads and city sewage which his town doesn't even
have. He said they live without a lot more than people in the city
do, so he did not think that he was being selfish. He told (urban
dwellers, in general) that you can't have the best of both worlds.
He remarked about the few teleconference sites for this meeting.
SENATOR LEMAN noted that there were at least 20 different sites
across Alaska that were scheduled to testify on Monday. He has
broken down the time slots so the committee could receive testimony
from every area.
SENATOR LEMAN asked Mr. Cruger how SJR 19 affects him and the other
people in Galena from participating in subsistence and other
lifestyle activities that are so important to them. MR. CRUGER
said the feds were going along with them and he didn't know how to
solve this problem. It seemed to him that whenever the majority
gets a decision everyone can live with, the minority takes it to
court and the court throws it out.
SENATOR MILLER asked him if he would rather have state management
or federal management. MR. CRUGER replied that he would rather
have state management, because we live here, but it looks like the
state wants to make it equal. So it was a very confusing issue, he
reiterated.
JOE JOLLY said he was a resident of the Kenai Peninsula and a
commercial fisherman. He supported SJR 19, because it was a start
in the right direction. He thought that a lot more needed to be
done.
Number 483
CHARLIE PARKER said he is a 34-year resident of Alaska and he
wanted to put in a good word for the federal government. He said
they have every right to make their own rules on their own lands.
The land doesn't belong to Alaskans, it belongs to all Americans
and it should be managed on their behalf. Alaskans should not have
any special privileges to manage federal lands. He said the
federal government has been very generous to us since statehood and
he urged that we keep that perspective in mind. He said the only
land we have jurisdiction over is land that we own which was a gift
from the federal government.
MR. PARKER said he opposed amending our State Constitution to allow
rural subsistence priority. He believed that fish and game is a
common property of all the people. He thought withdrawing the
lawsuit challenging the federal government's definition of rural
subsistence priority was a mistake.
Number 532
GARY CADD, Kenai resident, said in 1980 Congress passed a bill
which was ANILCA. After that the federal government said that we
had to change our State Constitution and this is crooked
legislation. We made an agreement with the federal government in
1958 and the federal government is coming back and saying we should
change that agreement.
He did not think Alaska got a fair shake when we became a state.
We need to stand for what is right for Alaskans.
SENATOR LEMAN thanked everyone for their testimony and adjourned
the meeting at 11:55 p.m.
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