Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/13/1993 03:43 PM Senate TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
April 13, 1993
3:43 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Sharp, Chairman
Senator Randy Phillips, Vice Chairman
Senator Tim Kelly
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
Senator Jay Kerttula
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Jay Kerttula
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Sentor Robin Taylor
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING: Bruce A. Campbell, Commissioner,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-21, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN SHARP called the Senate Transportation Committee to
order at 3:43 p.m. He announced that the meeting is a
confirmation hearing for Bruce A. Campbell, Commissioner
Designee for the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOT/PF). He asked Mr. Campbell to come before
the committee and discuss his background.
BRUCE A. CAMPBELL, Commissioner Designee, DOT/PF, explained
he came to Alaska in 1952, and went to work for the Alaska
Road Commission doing construction work, etc., until 1956.
In 1956, the Bureau of Public Roads took over the operation
of the commission as a result of Washington passing the
Interstate Act. He said he was with the bureau until
statehood. Commissioner Designee Campbell said he was one
of the first employees to transfer from the Bureau of Public
Roads to the Department of Public Works, Division of
Highways. He said he worked his way up to acting
commissioner in 1964. In 1967, he left state employment and
moved to Fairbanks to work with Burgess Construction Company
where he did a lot of work on the North Slope. Commissioner
Designee Campbell said 1971, Governor Egan asked him to be
Commissioner of the Department of Highways until 1975. In
1975, he moved to Anchorage and was Construction Manager,
Alaska General Construction for three years. He then opened
his own business of Campbell and Associates, a consulting
engineering practice. He explained he did work there until
about 2 years ago and was semi retired. About four weeks
ago, he was requested to be commissioner of DOT/PF.
Number 074
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked Commissioner Designee Campbell
what his observations are of the current legislature versus
the legislatures he dealt with in the past. COMMISSIONER
DESIGNEE CAMPBELL said he can't answer the question as he
has had very little contact with the current legislature.
He noted the Senate Transportation Committee is the first
committee he has actually been before. He said there are
going to be legislators that are going to like him and there
will be those that won't. Senator Randy Phillips said he is
very constituent oriented. He said he has had frustrations
in the past with DOT/PF. Most of the problem has been with
communications. Senator Randy Phillips explained that under
Commissioner Turpin, the communications improved and he
would like to see that continue. Commissioner Designee
Campbell said he hopes communications will improve even
more. He said he is basically a hands-on person and he
plans to give more direct instruction and leadership. The
department has many good people and they need direction, a
sense of purpose, and a target.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asked Commissioner Designee Campbell if he
has ever built any new roads. COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE
CAMPBELL said he was involved in the building of the Parks
Highway and his wife cut the ribbon on the Dalton Highway.
SENATOR LINCOLN stated that she has worked with Commissioner
Designee Campbell in her term on the Doyon Board of
Directors. She said the board was quite pleased with his
work. She asked Commissioner Designee Campbell what his
position is on large scale road projects such as the Bettels
access road, the Copper River Highway, and the
transportation utility corridor from the interior to Nome.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CAMPBELL said he basically favors
expanding the system. He said he feels that intermodel
transportation is important and is generally air or highway
traffic. He explained he favors completing the Copper River
Highway. He referred to an access road to Bettles and said
he would support if it serves a purpose. Commissioner
Designee said he always has favored some type of access to
the Seward Peninsula.
Senator Lincoln asked Commissioner Designee Campbell how he
plans to involve the communities during the planning process
for major projects. She said she has a concern in that
there is a state government that plans from the top down and
is not getting involvement from the people who are going to
be directly affected by the projects through the use of
fish, wildlife, timber, etc. Commissioner Designee Campbell
explained that involvement from the communities is the first
step. It would be taking an inventory of all the human,
natural, mineral, and consumable resources in an area and
making a study of how they are affected. One result of the
environmental impact statements may be that it is best not
to build a facility. The no build alternative is just as
viable as the build alternative in the initial evaluation.
Commissioner Designee Campbell said we also have to realize
that any public works feature that is built has supporters
and detractors. Usually any public works facility is
generally a compromise. Senator Lincoln said she thinks a
step could occur prior to the environmental impact statement
and that is just to go and talk to the people.
Senator Lincoln referred to legislation she introduced last
session that would require DOT/PF to involve the communities
in the planning, monitoring, and the evaluation of
construction projects. She said she considered the bill to
be related to local hire. Senator Lincoln said we need to
work harder to have more local hiring of people on
construction jobs. Commissioner Designee Campbell referred
to the local hire issue and said one thing that the
department is dealing with is there has to be a certain
level of skills for a lot of the projects. He said he
favors doing more training and would like training
provisions in contracts where a contractor has to train a
certain amount of local people.
Senator Lincoln discussed Mr. Campbell being very successful
in litigating against the state on highway projects. She
said under the new commissioner, we won't find the state
going into litigation so much. Commissioner Designee
Campbell said he is sought over all over the west coast
along the lines of settling contract disputes. He said he
is very knowledgeable in that area.
Number 344
SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR announced he supports Commissioner
Designee Campbell's candidacy and strongly recommends him.
CHAIRMAN SHARP said he wishes Commissioner Designee Campbell
well and looks forward to working with him in the future.
There being no further business to come before the Senate
Transportation Committee, CHAIRMAN SHARP adjourned the
meeting at 4:10 p.m.
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