Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/24/1995 03:38 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
April 24, 1995
3:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Loren Leman, Chairman
Senator Steve Frank
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Robin Taylor
Senator Lyman Hoffman
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chairman
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23(FSH)
Relating to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's
inshore/offshore allocations and the Western Alaska Community
Development Quota Program.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 225(RES)
"An Act authorizing the commissioner of fish and game to issue
permits to possess, import, or export elephants; and providing for
an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 208(FSH)
"An Act relating to seafood processing permits and hazard analysis
critical control point plans; relating to seafood processing plans
of operation and quality assurance plans; and providing for an
effective date."
SRES - 4/24/95
HB 197 (MINERAL EXPLORATION INCENTIVE CREDITS) was scheduled, but
not taken up on this date.
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
HJR 23 - No previous senate committee action.
HB 225 - No previous senate committee action.
HB 208 - No previous senate committee action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Alan Austerman
State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska, 99801-1182¶465-2487
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of HJR 23
Kim Metcalfe-Helmar, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Department of Community & Regional Affairs
P.O. Box 112100, Juneau, AK 99811-2100¶465-4898
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HJR 23
Kristie Leaf, Aide to Representative Kohring
State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska, 99801-1182¶465-2186
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of HB 225
Geron Bruce, Legislative Liaison
Department of Fish & Game
P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526¶465-6143
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 225
Ed Grasser
Alaska Outdoor Council
Box 22394, Juneau, AK 99802¶463-3830
POSITION STATEMENT: testified on HB 225
Cheryl Sutton, Aide to Representative Moses
State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska, 99801-1182¶465-6848
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of HB 208
Janice Adair, Regional Administrator
Department of Environmental Conservation
3601 C St., Ste. 1334, Anchorage, AK 99503-5948¶563-6529
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Doug Donegan, Vice President
Trident Seafood Corporation
5011 Jewel Lake Road, Anchorage, AK ¶243-3166
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208 (testified from Yakutat)
Greg Favretto
FAVCO
P.O. Box 190968, Anchorage, AK 99519¶278-1525
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Herb Eckmanns
Alaska Sausage Co.
2914 Arctic Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99503¶562-3636
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Harold Thompson, President
Sitka Sound Seafoods
329 Katlian St., Sitka, AK 99835¶747-6662
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Dick Stockard
Tyson Seafood
P.O. Box 646, Kodiak, AK 99615¶486-3266
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Hap Symmonds, OBSI
P.O. Box 548, Cordova, AK 99574¶424-7171
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Kit Ballentine, Section Chief
Environmental Sanitation Development Section
Department of Environmental Conservation
410 Willoughby Ave., Rm. 105, Juneau, AK 99801-1795¶465-5280
POSITION STATEMENT: testified on HB 208
Colin Bramhall
Norquest
P.O. Box 260, Cordova, AK 99574¶424-5390
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Sylvia Lang
Cannery Row
P.O. Box 120, Cordova, AK 99574¶424-5920
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
Gerald Masolini
Eyak Packing
P.O. Box 1131, Cordova, AK 99574¶424-5300
POSITION STATEMENT: supports HB 208
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-48, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Resources Committee meeting to
order at 3:38 p.m.
SRES - 4/24/95
HJR 23 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FISHING QUOTAS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought up HJR 23 as the first order of business
before the Senate Resources Committee. The chairman called the
prime sponsor to testify.
Number 015
REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AUSTERMAN, prime sponsor of HJR 23, relayed
information contained in the sponsor statement. HJR 23 supports
the reauthorization of the in-shore/off-shore Community Development
Quota (CDQ) program.
Number 090
KIM METCALFE-HELMAR, Special Assistant to the Commissioner,
Department of Community & Regional Affairs, stated the department
supports HJR 23. The CDQ program has been an enormous success in
Western Alaska. Ms. Metcalfe-Helmar provided committee members
with copies of a draft report by DC&RA, Economic Impacts of the
Pollack CDQ Program.
Number 125
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked Ms. Metcalfe-Helmar if there has been any
opposition to the CDQ program.
Number 130
MS. METCALFE-HELMAR responded that the only opposition she is aware
of relates directly to the crab allocation. She knows some people
are unhappy with the CDQ program, but they haven't heard any
opposition in testimony.
Number 178
CHAIRMAN LEMAN announced that HJR 23 would be set aside until the
committee got a quorum.
SRES - 4/24/95
HB 225 ELEPHANT PERMIT
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought up HB 225 as the next order of business
before the Senate Resources Committee. The chairman called the
sponsor's representative to testify.
Number 187
KRISTIE LEAF, Aide to Representative Kohring, prime sponsor of HB
225, relayed information contained in the sponsor statement. HB
225 would allow for permitting of elephants for entertainment and
exhibition. The Department of Fish & Game is supportive of the
bill, and it has a zero fiscal note.
Number 221
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked how the elephants at the Alaska Zoo in
Anchorage are permitted. Are they permitted under an education
permit?
MS. LEAF replied they are permitted under an annually renewed
education permit. The Board of Game has directed ADF&G to set up
a temporary commercial permit, so that circus elephants temporarily
in the state can get commercial permits, which are more applicable
to that situation than educational permits. Ms. Leaf thinks zoo
elephants could be permitted under an education or a commercial
permit. That would be up to the department. Currently there are
three elephants in the state of which Ms. Leaf is aware.
Number 240
GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Fish & Game, stated
ADF&G does support the bill and has worked with the sponsor in
drafting the bill.
Number 250
EDDIE GRASSER, former member of the Board of Game, stated that when
he was on the board, the board hoped the legislature would deal
with the lack of a permitting process regarding the situation which
was the impetus for HB 225. This bill solves one problem, but the
board supported giving the commissioner greater discretion in a new
permitting process, so that the board would not have to get
enmeshed in these aimless battles. These types of problems are
time consuming and unproductive, as far as the general purpose of
the board is concerned. Mr. Grasser asserted that at the time he
was on the Board of Game, that was the viewpoint of most members.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN announced that HB 225 would be set aside until the
committee got a quorum.
SRES - 4/24/95
HB 208 SEAFOOD PROCESSING STANDARDS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought up HB 208 as the next order of business
before the Senate Resources Committee. The chairman called the
sponsor's representative to testify.
Number 267
CHERYL SUTTON, Aide to Representative Moses, prime sponsor of HB
208, relayed information contained in the sponsor statement. HB
208 will coordinate state regulations with federally mandated FDA
(Food & Drug Administration) regulations for plans of operation for
seafood processing facilities. Ms. Sutton submitted a partial list
of supporters of HB 208 to the committee. HB 208 has a zero fiscal
note. Ms. Sutton informed the committee that she has received
unanimous support on the bill from everyone who has contacted her
about it.
Number 322
JANICE ADAIR, Department of Environmental Conservation, testifying
from Anchorage, stated the department worked with the sponsor of HB
208 on drafting the bill. DEC supports HB 208.
Number 335
DOUG DONEGAN, Vice President of Trident Seafoods, testifying from
Yakutat, stated Trident Seafoods strongly supports HB 208.
[Teleconference transmission is poor during Mr. Donegan's
testimony.]
Number 353
GREG FAVRETTO, FAVCO, testifying from Anchorage, stated he supports
HB 208. Mr. Favretto thinks HB 208 will be helpful to the seafood
industry.
Number 360
HERB ECKMANNS, Alaska Sausage Co., testifying from Anchorage,
stated he supports HB 208.
HAROLD THOMPSON, President of Sitka Sound Seafoods, testifying from
Sitka, stated SSS supports HB 208.
DICK STOCKARD, Regional Manager for Tyson Seafoods, testifying from
Kodiak, stated Tyson Seafoods supports HB 208.
Number 370
HAP SYMMONDS, OBSI, testifying from Cordova, states OBSI supports
HB 208. He thinks it is good to see the state recognize that
simplification of regulations is needed.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked Ms. Adair if DEC will be monitoring when
federal regulations will go into effect, so the state can implement
concurrent regulations.
Number 380
MS. ADAIR responded that DEC is in almost daily contact with the
FDA, and will be monitoring federal implementation of regulations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked when HB 208 will go into effect.
MS. ADAIR replied it will not be in effect for this summer's
fishing season. It is expected that the regulations will be
published approximately by the end of this calendar year, and the
implementation process will take about a year.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked how that time frame will affect state
implementation.
MS. ADAIR responded the state will have to adopt the federal
regulations by referencing. It is DEC's intent to do so as quickly
as possible.
Number 394
SENATOR TAYLOR asked if Alaska is going to a lower level, or a
different standard, to be more compatible with what the rest of the
world is doing.
Number 399
MS. ADAIR responded that the department does not see HB 208 as a
roll-back of the requirements, but as a change in focus. HB 208
will be a proactive tool in ensuring safe seafood products.
Number 420
KIT BALLENTINE, Section Chief, Environmental Sanitation Development
Section, Department of Environmental Conservation, clarified that
the existing plan of operation focuses on food safety, sanitation,
and economic fraud. HB 208 would separate critical control points
in seafood processing. Processors will still have to keep a clean
plant, but they will not have to provide written plans to DEC. It
is not a diminution of standards; it will streamline the process
for processors.
Number 437
SENATOR TAYLOR is troubled to hear that Alaska's standards will be
higher than those of the FDA.
MS. BALLENTINE responded that our standards will be exactly the
same.
Number 453
COLIN BRAMHALL, Norquest Seafoods, testifying from Cordova, stated
Norquest supports HB 208.
Number 457
SYLVIA LANG, Owner of Cannery Row, testifying from Cordova, stated
she supports HB 208. The present process is overwhelming and
onerous.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked Ms. Lang what volume of seafood her company
processed last year.
Number 468
MS. LANG replied that her company processed almost 3 million pounds
last year.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN noted that the committee just passed a bill out of
committee Friday which would help companies that process under
30,000 pounds per year.
MS. LANG responded that her company also encourages direct
marketing of seafood by fishermen.
Number 481
GERALD MASOLINI, Owner of Eyak Packing Co., testifying from
Cordova, stated he supports HB 208. He has been canning salmon
since 1983, and every year there is more paperwork. It seems now
as though he spends a good deal of his time doing paperwork, before
he can begin to do the real work.
Number 492
SENATOR TAYLOR noted that he has yet to hear someone who is not
complaining about the amount of paperwork. He thinks we should go
further than HB 208 to reduce the burden placed on the seafood
processing industry.
Number 519
SENATOR FRANK wishes there was more support for the regulatory
problems the mining industry faces.
Number 547
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called an at ease at 4:21 p.m., so the committee can
get a quorum.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Resources Committee back to order
at 4:35 p.m.
SENATOR HALFORD made a motion to discharge HB 208 from the Senate
Resources Committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated HB 208 was discharged
from committee with individual recommendations.
SRES - 4/24/95
Number 555
HB 225 ELEPHANT PERMIT
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought HB 225 back before the Senate Resources
Committee.
SENATOR HALFORD made a motion to discharge HB 225 from the Senate
Resources Committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated HB 225 was discharged
from committee with individual recommendations.
SRES - 4/24/95
Number 558
HJR 23 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FISHING QUOTAS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought HJR 23 back before the Senate Resources
Committee.
SENATOR HALFORD made a motion to discharge HJR 23 from the Senate
Resources Committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated HJR 23 was discharged
from committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN adjourned the Senate Resources Committee meeting at
4:37 p.m.
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