Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
04/09/2019 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR11 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 9, 2019
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair
Senator Mike Shower, Vice Chair
Senator David Wilson
Senator Jesse Kiehl
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Peter Micciche
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11
Urging the United States Secretary of State to issue a
Presidential permit authorizing a railroad crossing of the
Alaska-Canada border from state land into Yukon, Canada; and
supporting cooperation between the United States and Canada to
establish a public- private partnership for construction of a
railroad from Alberta, Canada, to the state that would connect
the Alaska Railroad to the North American railroad system.
- MOVED CSSJR 11(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 11
SHORT TITLE: U.S.-CANADA RAILROAD PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT
SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION
04/05/19 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/19 (S) TRA
04/09/19 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
AIMEE BUSHNELL, Staff
Senator Shelley Hughes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SJR 11 on behalf of the Senate
Transportation Standing Committee.
TIM SULLIVAN, Director of External Affairs
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SJR 11.
MEAD TREADWELL, President
Treadwell Development; and
Consultant, Alberta to Alaska Railway
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Stated support for and suggested an
amendment to SJR 11.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:04 PM
CHAIR SHELLEY HUGHES called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Kiehl, Shower, Wilson, and Chair Hughes.
SJR 11-U.S.-CANADA RAILROAD PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT
1:31:30 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 11, Urging the United States Secretary of State
to issue a Presidential permit authorizing a railroad crossing
of the Alaska-Canada border from state land into Yukon, Canada;
and supporting cooperation between the United States and Canada
to establish a public- private partnership for construction of a
railroad from Alberta, Canada, to the state that would connect
the Alaska Railroad to the North American railroad system.
She stated her intention to hear the bill, take public
testimony, and report it from committee if it was the will of
the committee. She noted that this committee is the sponsor of
the resolution. She asked the committee aide to introduce the
resolution.
1:31:56 PM
AIMEE BUSHNELL, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, introduced SJR 11 speaking to the following
sponsor statement:
Presidential Permits are issued by the United States
Secretary of State for international crossings of any
kind. Whether cross-border liquid pipelines for water
and petroleum products or cross-border infrastructure,
such as land-border crossings, bridges, tunnels,
conveyor belts, tramways, and railroads, they are a
standard part of a project development process as a
determination of national interest including but not
limited to: foreign policy; energy and border
security; safety; environmental, cultural, and
economic impacts; and compliance with applicable law
and policy. The Senate Transportation Committee has
been updated on current interest and work on building
a railroad that crosses the border between the State
of Alaska and the Yukon Territory. This railroad link
would connect Alaska to both Canada and the Lower 48,
opening tremendous commerce opportunities to our
state.
Senate Joint Resolution 11 urges the Secretary of
State to issue a Presidential permit for a cross-
border rail link which would connect Alberta, Canada
and Alaska. In 1914, the United States Congress passed
legislation approving construction of up to 1,000
miles of railroad in the Territory of Alaska, to
connect coastal and interior regions to support
development, rail service, and military operations.
Little more than 500 miles of the Alaska Railroad have
been built thus far.
In 2004, the 23rd Alaska State Legislature authorized
the Alaska Railroad Corporation to delineate a
corridor between the existing railroad utility
corridor and the Canadian border as well as to
investigate an extension of the Alaska Railroad from
the border of Alaska and Canada to connect with the
North American railroad system. This connection to
Canada and the Lower 48 starts with a border crossing
permit into Canada.
Please join the Senate Transportation Committee in
supporting this Joint Resolution to urge the U.S.
Secretary to take action that will allow new economic
opportunities for Alaska.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if there were questions.
1:33:56 PM
SENATOR WILSON suggested the committee consider identifying the
office where a copy of the resolution would be sent instead of
the individual who holds the particular office because there has
been quite a bit of turnover recently.
CHAIR HUGHES said some of the members were discussing that just
before the committee convened because there have been changes
since the resolution was drafted. For example, the U.S.
Secretary of Homeland Security resigned and an acting secretary
took her place. She noted that there was also discussion about
giving Legislative Legal Services the authority to adjust the
names that have changed. She said she believes it's okay as long
as the names are accurate when the resolution passes.
She solicited a motion from Senator Kiehl.
1:34:58 PM
SENATOR KIEHL made a motion to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
SJR 11.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1
On page 4, line 7, replace "the Honorable Kirstjen
Nielsen, United States Secretary of Homeland
Security;" with "[the Honorable] Acting Secretary
Kevin McAleenan;".
1:35:24 PM
CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and Conceptual Amendment 1was
adopted.
She described this is an exciting venture for the state that is
coming closer to becoming more a reality. The next step is the
issuance of a Presidential permit so it's timely for the
legislature to make the request.
1:36:18 PM
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony for SJR 11 and noted that
Tim Sullivan was available to answer questions. She highlighted
that the resolution states that a railroad project connecting
Alberta, Canada to Alaska would not require state general fund
support.
on page 2, line 11, and in the resolve on page 3, line 21.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if there were questions for Mr. Sullivan.
1:37:56 PM
SENATOR SHOWER asked if this would be a viable secondary method
of moving heavy freight into the state that could be regularly
scheduled and available as a backup plan if there were issues
with Alaska ports and airports and they were out of commission.
1:39:21 PM
TIM SULLIVAN, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, confirmed that it
would absolutely be a second route if the ports and airports go
out and the rails remain in good shape.
SENATOR SHOWER asked how long it would take a train to travel
from the closest depot in the lower 48 to the MatSu.
MR. SULLIVAN replied it would take 3-4 days after the freight is
delivered to the train depot in the lower 48.
CHAIR HUGHES asked Mr. Treadwell to provide testimony.
1:41:34 PM
MEAD TREADWELL, Principal, Treadwell Development; Consultant,
Albert to Alaska Railway, Anchorage, thanked the committee for
introducing the resolution. He updated the committee that the
White House was scheduled to issue an executive order tomorrow
that may affect Presidential permits. He suggested changing the
language in the resolution by dropping the reference to the
United States Secretary of State on page [3], line 6, and the
following paragraph in anticipation of this sort of action
moving to the White House. He also stated agreement with Senator
Kiehl's conceptual amendment.
MR. TREADWELL concluded his comments saying that one reason for
the request for the Presidential permit ahead of the full
environmental impact statement (EIS) effort with the Surface
Transportation Board is to de-risk the project in the eyes of
Asian investors. They see the services of the railroad as a
risky permit.
1:43:40 PM
CHAIR HUGHES asked if his suggestion on page 3, lines 6-7 was to
urge "the President of the United States and or the United
States Secretary of State."
MR. TREADWELL suggested more generally urging the approval of a
Presidential permit.
1:44:31 PM
CHAIR HUGHES found no further questions or comments and closed
public testimony.
1:44:57 PM
SENATOR SHOWER made a motion to adopt Conceptual Amendment 2 to
change the language on page 3, line 6 by striking "Secretary of
State." Some discussion ensued regarding the exact language.
SENATOR SHOWER clarified that the first resolve would read as
follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges
the United States to issue a Presidential permit
allowing a railroad crossing of the Alaska-Canada
border from state land into Yukon, Canada; and be it
1:46:20 PM
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes and recognized
Senator Wilson.
1:46:31 PM
At ease
1:47:02 PM
CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting and asked Senator Shower to
further clarify Conceptual Amendment 2 to also include the
change in the second resolve. She asked Senator Shower to
restate the motion with the additional language.
1:47:24 PM
SENATOR SHOWER moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 2.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 2
Strike the reference to the Secretary of State from
the resolves on page 3, line [6] through page 3, line
[11]. The paragraphs would read as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges
the United States to issue a Presidential permit
allowing a railroad crossing of the Alaska-Canada
border from state land into Yukon, Canada; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature
urges the United States to 10 issue a Presidential
permit allowing a railroad connecting Alberta, Canada,
to the state as soon 11 as practicable to reduce any
regulatory risk for the project; and be it
CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and Conceptual Amendment 2 was
adopted. She asked the will of the committee.
1:48:14 PM
SENATOR SHOWER moved to report SJR 11, work order 31-LS0784\M as
amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and stated that CSSJR 11(TRA)
passes from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee with
authorization for Legislative Legal Services to make necessary
conforming and technical corrections, including any corrections
and the reordering of names according to protocol for
dignitaries.
1:49:27 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Hughes adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 1:49 pm.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| STRA Agenda 4.9.19.pdf |
STRA 4/9/2019 1:30:00 PM |
|
| SJR11 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
STRA 4/9/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 11 |
| SJR11 Version M.PDF |
STRA 4/9/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 11 |
| SJR11 Fiscal Note.pdf |
STRA 4/9/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 11 |