Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205

04/14/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

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03:33:13 PM Start
03:33:50 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
04:35:28 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees TELECONFERENCED
Big Game Commercial Services Board:
Ely Cyrus, Martin Boniek
Board of Game:
Jerry Burnett, Stanley Hoffman,
Jacob Fletcher, Lynn Keogh Jr.
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
              SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 14, 2021                                                                                         
                           3:33 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Joshua Revak, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair                                                                                              
Senator Gary Stevens                                                                                                            
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Scott Kawasaki                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Cronk                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Big Game Commercial Services Board                                                                                            
Martin Boniek - Glennallen                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Board of Game                                                                                                                 
Jerry Burnett - Juneau                                                                                                          
Stanley Hoffman - Bethel                                                                                                        
Jacob Fletcher - Palmer                                                                                                         
Lynn Keogh Jr. - Anchorage                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JACOB FLETCHER, Appointee                                                                                                       
Board of Game                                                                                                                   
Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                                                                              
Talkeetna, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Game.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
LYNN KEOGH JR., Appointee                                                                                                       
Board of Game                                                                                                                   
Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Game.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
STANLEY L. HOFFMAN Jr., Appointee                                                                                               
Board of Game                                                                                                                   
Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                                                                              
Bethel, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Game.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JERRY BURNETT, Appointee                                                                                                        
Board of Game                                                                                                                   
Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                                                                              
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Game.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MARTIN BONIEK, Appointee                                                                                                        
Big Game Commercial Services Board                                                                                              
Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                                                                              
Glennallen, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Big Game                                                                    
Commercial Services Board.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ROD ARNO, Policy Director                                                                                                       
Alaska Outdoor Council (AOC)                                                                                                    
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of AOC, testified in support of                                                                 
all Governor Dunleavy's appointments to the Board of Game.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KENNY BARBER, representing self                                                                                                 
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the appointments of                                                               
Lynn Keogh Jr. and Stanley Hoffman Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM KOWALSKY, Chair                                                                                                             
Alaskans for Wildlife (AFW)                                                                                                     
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to the appointment                                                                
of Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director                                                                                               
Resident Hunters of Alaska (RHA)                                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in  opposition to the  appointments                                                            
of Lynn Keogh Jr. and Jacob Fletcher to the Board of Game.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KNEELAND TAYLOR, representing self                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT: Testified  in opposition  to the  appointment                                                            
of Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
LORRAINE TEMPLE, representing self                                                                                              
Cooper Landing, Alaska                                                                                                          
POSITION  STATEMENT: Testified  in opposition  to the  appointment                                                            
of Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
WAYNE KUBAT, Vice President                                                                                                     
Alaska Professional Hunter Association (APHA)                                                                                   
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION   STATEMENT:  Testified   in  support   of  the   current                                                            
appointments  to the  Board of Game  and the  Big Game  Commercial                                                              
Services Board.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
NICOLE SCHMITT, Executive Director                                                                                              
Alaska Wildlife Alliance (AWA)                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT: Testified  in opposition  to the  appointment                                                            
of Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
JACOB BARRETTE, representing self                                                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT: Testified  in support  of the appointment  of                                                            
Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:33:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   JOSHUA  REVAK   called  the   Senate  Resources   Standing                                                            
Committee meeting  to order  at 3:33 p.m.  Present at the  call to                                                              
order were  Senators Kawasaki,  Kiehl, Stevens,  and Chair  Revak.                                                              
Senator Micciche arrived soon thereafter.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK  recognized  that Representative  Cronk  was  in  the                                                              
audience.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                   
                         Board of Game                                                                                      
               Big Game Commercial Services Board                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:33:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK announced  the consideration of  Governor's Appointees                                                              
to the Board of Game and the Big Game Commercial Services Board.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He stated  that the primary  function of the  Board of Game  is to                                                              
conserve  and  develop  Alaska's  game  resources.  The  board  is                                                              
charged   with  making   allocative  decisions   and  the   Alaska                                                              
Department   of  Fish  and   Game  (ADF&G)   is  responsible   for                                                              
management based on those decisions.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK  asked Jacob  Fletcher to  provide a brief  background                                                              
and  tell the  committee  about  his interest  in  serving on  the                                                              
Board of Game.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:35:27 PM                                                                                                                    
JACOB FLETCHER,  Appointee,  Board of Game,  Alaska Department  of                                                              
Fish and  Game, Talkeetna,  Alaska, related that  he and  his wife                                                              
own  a  big  game guiding  business  that  primarily  operates  on                                                              
Kodiak Island  in the spring and  fall. In the summer  he works as                                                              
a jet boat  operator and in the  winter he works for  a kennel. He                                                              
and  his  family  are  avid  outdoors   people  who  predominantly                                                              
consume  wild game.  For more  than 20  years he  has worked  as a                                                              
packer,  assistant  guide,  and  a  registered  guide,  so  he  is                                                              
familiar  with  the  implementation  of game  regulations  in  the                                                              
field.  He  committed to  work  hard  to  be a  conscientious  and                                                              
effective member of the Board of Game.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:36:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE joined the committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK  asked him to  address the  concern that the  board is                                                              
weighted in favor of commercial interests.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLETCHER  responded that he  is first and foremost  a resident                                                              
hunter, and he is  also a guide. He offered his  belief that there                                                              
was a big difference  between a registered guide  who operates and                                                              
signs  contracts in  the field  and  the kind  of guide  he is  or                                                              
somebody  who  holds an  assistant  guide  license  or a  class  A                                                              
assistant guide license.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:38:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL asked  what  issues or  initiatives  he planned  to                                                              
pursue as a member of the board.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLETCHER answered  he did not have a specific  issue to pursue                                                              
at this time, but he would rely on the advisory committees.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK thanked  him for  being  willing to  serve. He  asked                                                              
Lynn  Keogh  Jr.  to  provide a  brief  background  and  tell  the                                                              
committee about his interest in serving on the Board of Game.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:40:59 PM                                                                                                                    
LYNN KEOGH  JR., Appointee,  Board of  Game, Alaska Department  of                                                              
Fish and  Game, Anchorage,  Alaska,  stated that  he and his  wife                                                              
have owned  and operated  a fishing charter  company on  the Kenai                                                              
Peninsula  for  more  than  30 years.  He  commercial  shrimps  in                                                              
Prince  William  Sound  in  the  spring and  he  is  a  registered                                                              
hunting guide. He  clarified that he has not  contracted hunts for                                                              
more   than  20  years.   He  does   one  hunt   every  fall   for                                                              
supplementary  income and to  cover licensing  costs. He  traps in                                                              
the  winter and  was  chair of  the Southcentral  Alaska  Trappers                                                              
Association  for 10 years.  He believes  in resident  opportunity.                                                              
He has no  wildlife violations but  he did have a  motor violation                                                              
on  the  Kenai River  in  2007  and  a second  for  violating  his                                                              
commercial  operator permit.  Both citations  were related  to the                                                              
same  incident;  he pleaded  no  contest  and  paid the  fine.  He                                                              
relayed that  he had  attended and participated  in Board  of Game                                                              
meetings since he first attended with his father.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:42:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL asked  what  issues or  initiatives  he planned  to                                                              
pursue as a member of the board.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KEOGH answered  that he  would represent  the resource  first                                                              
and  users   second,  starting   with  subsistence,   followed  by                                                              
resident then nonresident if there was a harvestable surplus.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:43:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL  remarked  that  order  of  operation  would  be  a                                                              
dramatic  shift  in a  number  of  hunts.  He  asked if  he  would                                                              
propose that on a statewide basis or in particular areas.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. KEOGH replied it would be case-by-case.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   KIEHL   commented  on   the   number   of  emails   from                                                              
constituents in  opposition to having additional  guides. He asked                                                              
Mr. Keogh  how he sees  the balance of  interests on the  Board of                                                              
Game and his role in that, should he be confirmed.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. KEOGH offered  his belief that diversity on the  board is very                                                              
important. He described  his guiding as minimal,  often consisting                                                              
of just one moose hunt in the fall.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:46:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL  asked  if  he  thought  that  point  of  view  was                                                              
underrepresented on the board today.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. KEOGH answered  he would not necessarily represent  that point                                                              
of view.  Rather, he  would be representing  resident  hunters and                                                              
trappers  and subsistence  users. He stated  that he  participates                                                              
in those activities far more than as a hunting guide.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK thanked  him for  being  willing to  serve. He  asked                                                              
Stanley  Hoffman  to  provide  a brief  background  and  tell  the                                                              
committee about his  interest in continuing to serve  on the Board                                                              
of Game.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:47:31 PM                                                                                                                    
STANLEY  L.  HOFFMAN   Jr.,  Appointee,  Board  of   Game,  Alaska                                                              
Department of  Fish and Game, Bethel,  Alaska, stated that  he was                                                              
born  and raised  on the  Kuskokwim  River, first  in McGrath  and                                                              
later  in Bethel.  His family  relies on  subsistence hunting  and                                                              
fishing  as their  main source  of  food. In  the past,  he was  a                                                              
registered assistant  guide and commercial fisherman,  but not now                                                              
that he lives  and works in Bethel.  He is honored to  have served                                                              
on the  Board of  Game since  2008. His  life and work  experience                                                              
have given  him a well-rounded  perspective to represent  Alaskans                                                              
on this  board. He  appreciates  the need for  clear policies  and                                                              
responsible  regulations, as well  as the  importance of  having a                                                              
veteran  on  the board  who  can  speak with  firsthand  knowledge                                                              
about  past board  actions.  He  has a  broad  perspective and  he                                                              
enjoys  listening  to  the  committee,  the  department,  and  the                                                              
public on all aspects of game issues.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:49:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE  asked  if  he  was  related  to  Senator  Lyman                                                              
Hoffman.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOFFMAN replied Senator Hoffman is his father's cousin.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK asked  what  one of  the  biggest  challenges he  has                                                              
faced during his tenure on the board and how he dealt with it.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HOFFMAN answered  Unit 13,  part  of which  is the  community                                                              
hunt, has  been a  large challenge  since 2008. Another  challenge                                                              
has been the decline in the size of caribou herds.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:52:03 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE  referenced  the  letters  he  had  received  in                                                              
opposition to more  registered guides on the board,  and asked why                                                              
there  was resistance  to the  balance  and how  it affects  board                                                              
actions.  He  noted  that  none  of  the  complaints  were  lodged                                                              
against Mr. Hoffman.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOFFMAN related  that he was a registered  assistant guide for                                                              
about 20  years after he  moved to Bethel,  primarily as a  way to                                                              
return to  the McGrath  country and spend  time with  his friends.                                                              
He no longer  holds that license.  To the question of  balance, he                                                              
said he understands  the complaints but employment  is limited and                                                              
it is  logical that applicants  to the  board will be  people like                                                              
himself who  have been or  still are in  the industry. He  said he                                                              
did not view that  as a drawback and he had not  seen that a guide                                                              
perspective dominated board decisions.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK thanked  Mr. Hoffman  for his  continued interest  in                                                              
serving.  He asked  Jerry Burnett  to provide  a brief  background                                                              
and tell the  committee about his interest in  continuing to serve                                                              
on the Board of Game.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:55:47 PM                                                                                                                    
JERRY  BURNETT, Appointee,  Board  of Game,  Alaska Department  of                                                              
Fish   and   Game,  Juneau,   Alaska,   acknowledged   that   many                                                              
legislators were familiar  with him from his time  working for the                                                              
legislature  and/or the Department  of Revenue  (DOR). He  related                                                              
that he started  hunting and fishing with his  father and brothers                                                              
and more  recently with his  son. For about  25 years he  has been                                                              
heavily  involved   with  the  Alaska  Outdoor  Council   and  the                                                              
Territorial  Sportsmen  in  Juneau  for  about 25  years.  He  was                                                              
appointed to  the board  in 2019 and  is the board  representative                                                              
on  the  Big   Game  Commercial  Services  Board.   He  asked  the                                                              
committee for its support for his nomination.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:57:01 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS  commented that he  always liked working  with Mr.                                                              
Burnett  when  he  was  with  DOR   and  he  appreciates  that  he                                                              
continues  to be involved  since  he retired.  He thanked  him for                                                              
his service.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:57:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  thanked Mr.  Burnett. He  turned to the  appointments                                                              
to  the  Big  Game  Commercial   Services  Board  and  stated  the                                                              
function of this  board is to license and regulate  the activities                                                              
of providers  of commercial  services to the  big game  hunters in                                                              
the interest of the state's wildlife resources.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK asked  Marten Boniek  to provide  a brief  background                                                              
and tell  the committee about his  interest in serving  on the Big                                                              
Game Commercial Services Board.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:58:49 PM                                                                                                                    
MARTIN  BONIEK, Appointee,  Big  Game Commercial  Services  Board,                                                              
Alaska Department  of Fish  and Game,  Glennallen, Alaska,  stated                                                              
that  he  and  his  family  own   and  operate  an  air  taxi  and                                                              
transporter  service, primarily  flying in  Game Management  Units                                                              
11, 12, and  13 from Talkeetna into  the Alaska Range  and down to                                                              
the Chugach Range.  He has been hunting and trapping  since he was                                                              
10  and  he  has  a  driving  interest  in  keeping  the  resource                                                              
sustainable.  Responding to  a question posed  to other  nominees,                                                              
he  said  his  agenda  is to  encourage  cooperation  and  find  a                                                              
compromise  between resident  hunters and  the guide services.  He                                                              
noted that  the only other  transporter on  the board is  a marine                                                              
transporter  and  he  believes   it  is  important  for  air  taxi                                                              
transporters such as himself to be represented as well.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK thanked him for being willing to serve.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:00:58 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:02:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  reconvened the meeting  and opened public  testimony.                                                              
He   suggested  everyone   submit  their   written  testimony   to                                                              
sres@akleg.gov.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:04:15 PM                                                                                                                    
ROD ARNO, Policy  Director, Alaska Outdoor Council  (AOC), Palmer,                                                              
Alaska,  stated that  on  behalf  of the  10,000  AOC members  who                                                              
hunt, trap,  fish, and recreate on  public land in Alaska,  he was                                                              
speaking  in support  of  all the  governor's  nominees. They  are                                                              
qualified  to scrutinize  and  adopt  ADF&G management  plans  and                                                              
allocate  harvestable surplus  of  game. He  thanked the  nominees                                                              
for  being  willing to  engage  in  what  is often  a  contentious                                                              
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ARNO said  AOC  strongly  supports Lynn  Keogh  Jr.  He is  a                                                              
lifetime   Alaska  resident   hunter   with   years  of   trapping                                                              
experience. Importantly,  he spends time in the  field. He refuted                                                              
statements  by his  detractors,  calling them  unfounded based  on                                                              
Mr. Keogh's record.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
On behalf  of AOC, he stated  support for Stanley Hoffman  Jr. who                                                              
has been  a strong advocate for  conservation and the use  of game                                                              
by rural  residents as a food  source. After that he  supports the                                                              
harvest of  game by other  hunters as a  surplus is  available. He                                                              
is willing  to participate  in the  state allocative process  when                                                              
many rural  residents have  abandoned it in  favor of  the federal                                                              
system that gives a priority.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Jerry  Burnett understands  the  process and  how the  legislature                                                              
has delegated authority to the board.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Jacob  Fletcher is  the  Alaska Professional  Hunters  Association                                                              
choice to  represent a  professional big  game guide industry.  He                                                              
opined that  it would  make no sense  to have  an Alaska  Board of                                                              
Game without a representative from the big game guide industry.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. ARNO asked  the committee to support these  qualified Alaskans                                                              
who have volunteered to serve on the Board of Game.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK noted  that  Mr. Arno  had  contacted  his office  to                                                              
request additional time for his testimony                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:09:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REVAK  recognized   that  Senator  von  Imhof   joined  the                                                              
committee some time ago.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:09:45 PM                                                                                                                    
KENNY BARBER,  representing  self, Palmer,  Alaska, stated  he has                                                              
known  Lynn  Keogh Jr.  for  20  years  and  he supports  him  100                                                              
percent.  They  spent  two  years together  on  a  committee  that                                                              
looked at  trapping on  trails in the  Anchorage area.  He refuted                                                              
the things  in the newspaper and  online that were said  about Mr.                                                              
Keogh. He  does not  know Stanley  Hoffman Jr.  very well,  but he                                                              
respects what he has to say.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:11:09 PM                                                                                                                    
JIM  KOWALSKY,  Chair,  Alaskans for  Wildlife  (AFW),  Fairbanks,                                                              
Alaska,  stated that  he has  been in  the Fairbanks  area for  50                                                              
years  and  he  pays  attention  to what  goes  on.  He  cited  AS                                                              
16.05.221(b)  that requires  a diversity  of interests and  points                                                              
of view  in the  membership of  the Board  of Game. Despite  being                                                              
passed  by the legislature  and  signed by the  governor,  he said                                                              
this statute has  been largely ignored. He urged  the committee to                                                              
follow the  law so the board  is a board  of game and not  a board                                                              
of  trappers   and  hunters.  He   pointed  out  that   art.  VIII                                                              
Constitution  of the State  of Alaska is  clear that  all Alaskans                                                              
are  stakeholders,  and as  stakeholders  they require  a  diverse                                                              
Board of Game.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KOWALSKY  stated   that  AFW  is  strongly   opposed  to  the                                                              
appointment Lynn Keogh  Jr. He maintained the governor  did not do                                                              
his  job when  he nominated  consumptive users.  He concluded  his                                                              
comments citing a  study by Eco Northwest in 2011  that points out                                                              
the economic benefits  of non-consumptive users as  opposed to the                                                              
consumptive users of wildlife resources.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:15:33 PM                                                                                                                    
MARK  RICHARDS, Executive  Director,  Resident  Hunters of  Alaska                                                              
(RHA), Fairbanks,  Alaska, stated he  was testifying on  behalf of                                                              
the 3,000  RHA members from  across the  state who are  opposed to                                                              
the  addition of  two  more guides  to the  Board  of Game.  These                                                              
appointments   are  Lynn   Keogh  Jr.  and   Jacob  Fletcher.   He                                                              
referenced  RHA's  April  12,  2021  letter  that  highlights  two                                                              
examples  of continued  bias  on the  Board  of Game  in favor  of                                                              
commercial  hunting  interests. The  first  was the  Kodiak  Brown                                                              
Bear draw  permit system  that was  unconstitutional per  art. VII                                                              
Constitution of the  State of Alaska. RHA filed  a lawsuit because                                                              
up to  40 percent of  these permits  are allocated to  nonresident                                                              
guided hunters who,  unlike resident hunters, are  not required to                                                              
go through the  permit system. Instead, they pay  $20,000 plus and                                                              
sign an  agreement with a  guide and pick  up an over  the counter                                                              
permit in Kodiak.  The same is true  for other draw hunts  such as                                                              
a  moose draw  hunt  where  the Board  of  Game has  allocated  50                                                              
percent of the  hunts to nonresidents. He said  this dynamic needs                                                              
to change,  and adding two  more guides to  the board is  going in                                                              
the  wrong  direction.  He highlighted  that  the  100,000  Alaska                                                              
residents  who purchase  annual hunting  licenses contribute  over                                                              
$1 billion  to the economy, whereas  resident guides make  up less                                                              
than  1  percent of  resident  hunters.  If  two more  guides  are                                                              
confirmed,  he  said  it will  cement  commercial  interests  over                                                              
resident hunters.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. RICHARDS  clarified that  RHA was opposing  Mr. Keogh  and Mr.                                                              
Fletcher solely  because they  hold guide  licenses. He  urged the                                                              
committee to oppose the appointments.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:18:33 PM                                                                                                                    
KNEELAND TAYLOR,  representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,  stated he                                                              
opposes the  appointment of  Lynn Keogh Jr.  to the Board  of Game                                                              
in part because of  his dealings with him years ago  on a Board of                                                              
Game  subcommittee.   He  explained   that  the  purpose   of  the                                                              
subcommittee was  to bring trappers  and non-trappers  together to                                                              
try  to find  consensus  on measures  to  reduce  the killing  and                                                              
maiming of  dogs on popular hiking  trails in the  Anchorage area.                                                              
The  committee   was  evenly  split  between  trappers   and  non-                                                              
trappers, and  the chair was  a member of  the Board of  Game. Mr.                                                              
Keogh was  difficult both  personally and  substantively.  He made                                                              
derogatory  personal  comments about  the  non-trappers  and on  a                                                              
substantive  level he  opposed all  measures  that might  restrict                                                              
the  freedom  of trappers  to  place  traps anywhere  they  chose,                                                              
including placing  a 330 conibear  trap next to a  developed trail                                                              
in Chugach  State Park. He  would only  support signs to  warn dog                                                              
owners  to  watch  for  traps.   The  subcommittee  never  reached                                                              
consensus  on any  changes  and  the Board  of  Game  has made  no                                                              
changes in the area  for the past 20 years. The  people who wanted                                                              
change were forced to go through the municipal assembly.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. TAYLOR  urged the committee to  vote no on the  appointment of                                                              
Lynn Keogh Jr. to the Board of Game.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:21:51 PM                                                                                                                    
LORRAINE  TEMPLE,  representing   self,  Cooper  Landing,  Alaska,                                                              
stated  she is  a  37  year resident  of  the Kenai  Peninsula,  a                                                              
member  of  the  Cooper Landing  Advisory  Committee,  a  business                                                              
owner,  a boat  captain,  and a  back  country  guide. She  voiced                                                              
grave  concerns about  the appointment  of Lynn  Keogh Jr.  to the                                                              
Board of Game.  She offered her  view that he exhibited  a lack of                                                              
respect  and  integrity  in  past  business  operations,  and  had                                                              
multiple  infractions.   The  Board   of  Game  is   an  important                                                              
regulatory  body that  needs  its  members to  be  of the  highest                                                              
character possible.  Mr. Keogh does  not exhibit  these qualities,                                                              
she  said.  Rather,   his  actions  have  been   self-serving  and                                                              
disrespectful  of the area  he operates in.  She said  the state's                                                              
wilderness  areas  and  resources  are  enjoyed by  a  variety  of                                                              
public  user  groups  and  any  regulations  should  reflect  this                                                              
diversity. She  offered her view that  the Board of Game  does not                                                              
reflect  this diversity  and the  appointment of  Mr. Keogh  would                                                              
further  weight  the  board  in  favor  of  hunting  and  trapping                                                              
instead  of  an equal  weighting  of  all user  groups,  including                                                              
recreational users.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  TEMPLE  pointed  out  that  even  though  the  percentage  of                                                              
trappers statewide  is just 0.04  percent of the  population, they                                                              
are  able  to  set  their  traps   close  to  trails,  potentially                                                              
endangering or  fatally harming dogs.  This is a burden  on winter                                                              
enthusiasts,  dog lovers,  and families with  small children.  She                                                              
said  the Alaska  Trappers  Association  seems to  disregard  this                                                              
danger, and  she does not feel  Mr. Keogh would have  an objective                                                              
and  healthy  opinion   on  the  trap  setback   issues  that  are                                                              
currently  in  the  spotlight.  He  does  not  seem  to  recognize                                                              
recreational users at all.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:24:16 PM                                                                                                                    
WAYNE   KUBAT,   Vice  President,   Alaska   Professional   Hunter                                                              
Association  (APHA), Wasilla,  Alaska,  stated  APHA supports  the                                                              
reappointment of  Jerry Burnett,  Stanley Hoffman Jr.,  Lynn Keogh                                                              
Jr., and  Jacob Fletcher  to the  Board of  Game. They  will bring                                                              
their  unique  points of  view  and  statewide experience  to  the                                                              
board.  They  have proven  to  be  accessible  to the  public  and                                                              
willing  to listen  to all  sides of  an issue  before making  the                                                              
best decision possible  on wildlife issues. He  disputed the claim                                                              
that  there were  too many  guides on  the Board  of Game or  that                                                              
they held a bias one way or another.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
On behalf  of APHA,  he stated  support for  Ely Cyrus  and Martin                                                              
Boniek  to   the  Big  Game   Commercial  Services   Board.  Their                                                              
contributions during  the March meeting were impressive.  He asked                                                              
the committee to support these appointments.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:26:07 PM                                                                                                                    
NICOLE  SCHMITT,  Executive  Director,  Alaska  Wildlife  Alliance                                                              
(AWA), Anchorage,  Alaska, stated that  on behalf of  the hundreds                                                              
of  AWA  members across  the  state,  many  of whom  are  resident                                                              
hunters, she  was testifying in  opposition to the  appointment of                                                              
Lynn Keogh Jr. to  the Board of Game. She cited  two main reasons.                                                              
First,  is  the issue  of  diversity.  She  pointed out  that  the                                                              
Alaska  Trappers  Association  and  trappers  generally  are  well                                                              
represented on  the Board  of Game by  Allen Barrette.  Should Mr.                                                              
Keogh be  confirmed, approximately  one-third  of the board  would                                                              
represent  the 2,000-3,000  trappers in  the state  when they  are                                                              
just 0.02  percent of all registered  hunters and .004  percent of                                                              
the population of Alaska.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHMITT  said the second concern  relates to the  way predator                                                              
control  has been  implemented in  the state.  She explained  that                                                              
during  the  Board of  Game  meeting  on  the Kenai  Peninsula  in                                                              
2011/2012,  the  Alaska  Department   of  Fish  and  Game  (ADF&G)                                                              
attributed  low moose  numbers to  habitat and  few bearing  cows.                                                              
Wolf  predation  was  not  mentioned  as  a  key  reason  for  the                                                              
decline,  yet Mr. Keogh  voted in  favor of  wolf control  in Game                                                              
Management  Unit 15C  and aerial  wolf hunting.  She noted  he was                                                              
questioned  about  his  vote during  his  [unsuccessful]  bid  for                                                              
confirmation later  in the year. She also cited  earlier testimony                                                              
about how  Mr. Keogh works with  resource users with whom  he does                                                              
not  agree. She  encouraged the  committee  to consider  diversity                                                              
when is  makes a  decision about  who should have  a seat  on this                                                              
powerful board.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:29:29 PM                                                                                                                    
JACOB BARRETTE,  representing self,  Fairbanks, Alaska,  stated he                                                              
was   calling  to   voice   support   for  the   appointment   and                                                              
confirmation  of  Lynn  Keogh  Jr.   to  the  Board  of  Game.  He                                                              
maintained  that Mr. Keogh  would keep  the interests  of Alaskans                                                              
as  a  top priority,  as  he  has  demonstrated  in the  past.  He                                                              
countered  the   claim  that  his   professional  license   was  a                                                              
drawback,  offering  his  view  that  it adds  to  the  wealth  of                                                              
knowledge at the table.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:30:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK closed public testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
He asked  Mr. Keogh  if he  would like  to respond  to any  of the                                                              
testimony he heard about his nomination.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:30:43 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  KEOGH  replied  that  he had  read  much  of  the  testimony,                                                              
primarily   from   resident   hunters,  in   opposition   to   his                                                              
appointment.  He said  his  takeaway  is that  he  is regarded  as                                                              
qualified and  that the opposition was  to a "piece of  paper that                                                              
I hold."  He was mystified  why some people  might think  he would                                                              
not be  able to represent  a resident's  interest on the  Board of                                                              
Game. He cited his  voting record as proof that  he represents the                                                              
interests of Alaskans.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK thanked him for being willing to serve.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. KEOGH  referenced previous testimony  about his  behavior when                                                              
he served on "a  trap and trail committee about 20  years ago." He                                                              
recalled that  the committee  did reach  consensus and  that while                                                              
he stood his ground he was not disrespectful.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK  found  no questions  or  comments  and  solicited  a                                                              
motion.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:33:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE  moved to forward the following  named appointees                                                              
for the Board of  Game to a joint session of  the full legislature                                                              
for further consideration.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Board of Game                                                                                                                 
Jacob Fletcher - [Palmer]                                                                                                       
Lynn Keogh Jr. - Anchorage                                                                                                      
Stanley L. Hoffman - Bethel                                                                                                     
Jerry Burnett - Juneau                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:34:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REVAK  found  no  objection   and  the  motion  passed.  He                                                              
solicited a second motion.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:34:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE  moved to forward the following  named appointees                                                              
for the Big Game  Commercial Services Board to a  joint session of                                                              
the full legislature for further consideration.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Big Game Commercial Services Board                                                                                            
Martin Boniek - Glennallen                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK found no objection and the motion passed.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:34:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  stated in accordance  with AS 39.05.080,  a signature                                                              
on this report  does not reflect  an intent by any member  to vote                                                              
either for or  against the confirmation of the  individuals in any                                                              
further sessions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:35:28 PM                                                                                                                    
There  being no  further business  to come  before the  committee,                                                              
Chair  Revak adjourned  the  Senate Resources  Standing  Committee                                                              
meeting at 4:35 p.m.                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SRES Big Game Commercial Services Board Appointees 4.14.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
Big Game Commercial Services Board Appointees
SRES Board of Game Appointees for 4.14.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
Board of Game Appointees
SRES BOG Combo lettters Support Hoffman, oppose Keogh & Fletcher.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
BOG Combo letters support Hoffman oppose Keogh & Fletcher
SRES BOG Opposition Letters Keogh & Fletcher and Guides.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
BOG Oppose letters Keogh & Fletcher
SRES BOG Support Letter from FAC for Stosh Hoffman 2.18.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
BOG Support Letter Stosh Hoffman
SRES BOG Support Letters for Lynn Keogh Jr.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
BOG Support Letters Lynn Keogh Jr
SRES BOG Appointee Support Letters for Lynn Keogh batch printed 4.14.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
SRES BOG Appointee Letters of Support Lynn Keogh Jr. printed 4.14.21
SRES BOG Letters of Support Keogh & Fletcher printed 5.8.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM
SRES BOG Letters of Support-Keogh & Fletcher printed 5.8.21
SRES BOG Letters of Oppose-Keogh & Fletcher printed 5.8.21.pdf SRES 4/14/2021 3:30:00 PM