SB 156-BEST INTEREST FINDING UNDER AK LAND ACT    CHAIRMAN JOHN TORGERSON called the Senate Resources Committee meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. and announced SB 156 to be up for consideration. SENATOR PEARCE said that SB 156 amends the Alaska Land Act to clarify the requirement that the Department of Natural Resources prepare a single, written Best Interest Finding for multi-phased development projects. In 1994, the Legislature passed SB 308 to amend the Alaska Land Act in response to several unfavorable Alaska Supreme Court decisions that threatened the state's leasing program. She explained: We have a "catch-22" situation with offshore leases on the North Slope where the court tried to require a Best Interest Finding to discuss or lay out what the impacts would be on onshore animals as a result of the offshore sale. This is when they instituted phasing, because there was really no way to guess what those might be, because they didn't know if and where the development might be. The legislation explicitly allowed project phasing and precisely defined the scope of the Best Interest Finding determination. Since its passage, recent court decisions have continued to threaten the program and the courts have said that the Department is obliged, at each phase of development, to issue a best interests finding…relating to that phase before the proposed development may proceed. Under SB 308, the original legislation, the Legislature intended that a Best Interest Finding would be prepared for the first phase, the disposal and subsequent phases would be subject to the Department's approval and to separate reviews by extensive permitting processes that include public input and scrutiny of other agencies. The Legislature did not intend the approval to be defined as a Best Interest Finding determination as the courts have misinterpreted. The Legislature intended the Department to exercise their discretion to impose conditions in the Best Interest Finding determination, issued for the disposal, which would minimize future impacts. Preparation of a Best Interest Finding determination for every phase would be a very costly and time-consuming process. SB 156 elaborates the legislative findings for phasing under the Alaska Land Act and amends AS 38.05.035 so it becomes clear that DNR is required to issue a single written Best Interest Finding for the disposal of state land. It also ensures the public the opportunity to comment at the exploration, production and transportation phases of a project. By clarifying the Legislature's original intent, SB 156 will overturn the courts' erroneous interpretation. It provides clear guidance to the courts regarding the e legislature's policy and will result in the avoidance of protracted litigation and associated delays or disruptions of the state's leasing program and development of already leased acreage. SENATOR PEARCE explained that the concern is if a Best Interest Finding is required at every phase, the cost and time delay for both the state and the industry would be enormous. They want to make sure that doesn't happen. SENATOR KELLY asked if a public meeting was part of the Best Interest Finding. SENATOR PEARCE said it is a very long and involved process. The permitting processes in later phases also have opportunities for public comment. MS. JUDY BRADY, Executive Director, Alaska Oil and Gas Alliance, supported SB 156. It makes it clear what the Department of Natural Resources' obligation is to prepare one Best Interest Finding for disposal of oil and gas lease lands. The only problem they see with the bill is on page 5, lines 21 - 25, the public notice section. They don't understand what that section is trying to accomplish and that would be important. MS. MARTY RUTHERFORD, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, said: As Senator Pearce noted, in a Supreme Court decision in Kachemak Bay Conservation vs. Department of Natural Resources 2000, the court spoke to the necessity for DNR to take a continuing hard look at future development on lease sale lands and to issue a Best Interest Finding on each phase of a project before the proposed development may proceed. DNR believes this interpretation was not the intent of the legislature and this bill clarifies that conclusion by specifying that additional Best Interest Findings are not required in subsequent phases of a project. Therefore, the administration supports this bill. However, we would propose one amendment. On page 5, line 21, add, "If the disposal is an oil and gas disposal." We recommend this amendment, because the primary focus of this legislation is on the oil and gas activities. We believe that a public notice requirement should be focused upon oil and gas and not upon other disposal activities that do not currently require public notice. Number 800 CHAIRMAN TORGERSON noted that an amendment would be offered that would take care of the public notice concern. SENATOR ELTON asked where they get the most public involvement and does it come mostly through the permit processes or through the Best Interest Findings. MS. RUTHERFORD answered that it depends on whether it's an oil and gas activity or some other type of disposal. SENATOR ELTON asked to start with oil and gas. MR. MARK MEYERS, Director, Division of Oil and Gas, said he thought they had a good public input throughout the whole process, but there is great opportunity during the Best Interest Finding. He said there is public input prior to development, also. SENATOR ELTON asked how close this bill comes to the constitutional provision that requires public notice and other safeguards in the public interest in the disposal of state assets. MS. RUTHERFORD answered that she believed it was within the constitution and she believed that this amendment would continue what has been the status quo for the Department of Natural Resources' public processes. SENATOR ELTON asked if she had gotten an analysis from the Department of Law. MS. RUTHERFORD said the Attorney General told the Director that the constitution requires public notice prior to a disposal of an interest in state lands and this provision actually deals with public notice of later permitting activities. SENATOR ELTON noted language on page 4, lines 9 - 11, "The Best Interest Finding shall be based upon known information or information that is made available to the director." He asked what happens if there is known information that the developer has, but doesn't give to the director. MS. RUTHERFORD answered that the director is only required to consider known information or information that is made available to him through the public process. It does not require the director to seek out additional information. SENATOR ELTON asked what happens in a situation in which information isn't transmitted to the director that could affect the Best Interest Finding, specifically if the developer doesn't give pertinent information to the director. "Does that void the Best Interest Finding process?" MS. MARY LUNDQUIST, Assistant Attorney General, answered: A failure of industry to provide information to the director could not void a disposal or void a Best Interest Finding. The requirement is placed on DNR to consider known information or information that is made available to the director. The Alaska Supreme Court has recognized that there is no requirement placed on DNR to actively go out and solicit information. A Best Interest Finding would not be overturned based on not actively going out and seeking information. However, DNR's method of operation is currently to widely publicize the lease sales or other disposals and to consider all information that is made available to them. Number 1200 MR. KEN BOYD said he was one of the former directors of the Division of Oil and Gas. He explained that a Best Interest Finding is really for the disposal of state land and at that phase of the process they are just issuing a lease. There is a huge process that follows the issuance of that lease; the lease itself is a paper transaction. This was clearly recognized by the legislature in SB 308. The director has to consider only those things that he knows at that time. MR. BOYD continued: To me, this is an extraordinarily important piece of legislation. I believe the courts have misconstrued the meaning of the legislature by saying that we have to do a Best Interest Finding in every phase. Truly, the first phase, when you're just issuing a lease, you are just doing a paper transaction. At subsequent phases, I think it's important to realize that the state is, through all its many agencies and all its many powers, gathering a lot more information. All the agencies, not just DNR, have the opportunity to have any questions they need to have answered, especially at subsequent phases. MR. JIM EASON, another former Director for the Division of Oil and Gas, said he was speaking on behalf of himself today. He wanted to shed some historical perspective on any questions the committee might ask. He was director during the time when many of the lawsuits were spawned that led to SB 308. He was also working with Senator Pearce and others in the legislature in 1994 to try and correct that problem. He said further: I am embarrassed to say that we obviously didn't do it well enough for the Supreme Court, but hopefully, this time it will work. It was the intent of the legislature originally to have a Best Interest Finding for the disposal of state interests and that is how the statutes read before we became involved in 1994 and that's how they read today. But the Court, including the Supreme Court, apparently has made the judgment in a couple of cases that in their reading of the amendments that occurred in 1994, (the ones that are before you now), that there is an implication that the subsequent process after the disposal would include a detailed Best Interest Finding at each phase. In other words, at exploration and at development, if you're lucky enough to find something. Based upon my experience, we were trying not to require additional Best Interest Findings and I believe it was the legislature's intent that that not be required. Under the amendments that are proposed in SB 156, I believe that you will correct that problem and make it clear that one single Best Interest Finding is required. And I believe that Senator Pearce has pointed out, and I agree, that a number of things will be accomplished if you do that. You will avoid some extraordinarily time- consuming and very expensive and costly processes that the state would be required to undertake if it were to be required to do Best Interest Findings at each phase. You would have additional delay and uncertainty in the development of resources and, important to each of you, I believe, delay in the receipt of state revenues to support the programs that are important to all Alaskans. I encourage you to take up SB 156 and pass it. I think it will be to the state's benefit. SENATOR ELTON said he appreciated Mr. Eason's and Mr. Boyd's participation, because they are nonaffiliated experts. He asked if the words: "This act is intended to make clear that public notice and the opportunity to comment shall be provided at each phase of the project." on page 4, line 12 was already covered under existing regulations that govern permits or is this going to require new regulations on the part of the Department. MR. EASON replied that he believed all the operations that occur on oil and gas leases are in the coastal zone. He elaborated: First of all in the preliminary phase and the Best Interest Finding phase, there certainly is detailed and prescribed public notice and process for response. As a matter of fact, the Best Interest Finding requires not only public notice and meeting, but the preparation of a preliminary finding and then public notice of that and its availability and the opportunity for people to comment and suggest changes, which then produces a final Best Interest Finding for each disposal. Since the disposals are occurring in the coastal zone, any activity, including geophysical prospecting, drilling of wells or building of facilities and structures if you find something, all go through a review for coastal zone consistency which involves a detailed public process. I think that, at least in my reading, the sponsors are trying to make clear on page 5, lines 21 - 25, through some amendment language they are proposing, that if there's any question, it's reaffirmed here that public notice will take place on those subsequent phases in either of two situations. Either, if you're proceeding to the next phase, the Department will require notice under regulations, which it will adopt, if it is not covered by noticing provisions of the Alaska Coastal Management Program. My perception, at least, is that this is intended to make clear that there will be notice and if it is not provided for now, it will be provided for under this amendment. SENATOR ELTON asked if he just gave the long answer of, "No, you don't think that new regulations will be required?" MR. EASON responded, "I believe today, noticing is occurring on all leases in every instance and it hasn't required new regulations." SENATOR PEARCE noted a zero fiscal note from the Department of Natural Resources and that she had two amendments. SENATOR PEARCE offered a technical correction to amendment #1 on page 5, line 18 to delete "a" and insert "to". She then moved amendment #1. There was objection for an explanation of the amendment. SENATOR PEARCE explained: This answers and the second and third piece, I hope will help alleviate Ms. Brady's and AOGA's concern. When we passed SB 308, it was our intent that the phases - We do a disposal or lease sale; then you've got an exploration phase; you've got a development phase; you have a transportation phase whether you're building a pipeline or some way to get the product to market. So those are the phases. I understand Judy's concern that the language on page 5 might be now interpreted by laws meaning every little thing that might be done might be a new phase. But that's certainly not the legislature's intent and I think this amendment helps clarify that. That was our intent in SB 308. The other pieces of this amendment frankly speak to drafting errors and small changes we needed to make. SENATOR LINCOLN asked the committee to consider the meaning of the proposed language if "or" was deleted on page 5, line 23. MR. PATRICK COUGHLIN, Consultant to the Senate Resources Committee, said he wanted to comment on Senator Elton's question regarding whether regulations would have to be adopted. He explained: Today everything that we're leasing has been in the coastal zone and therefore, new phases are publicly noticed pursuant to those regulations. However, we are now issuing leases outside of the coastal zone and we have a lease sale coming up in May for the Foothills. Some of that acreage is outside the coastal zone. So, the purpose of this was to insure that for leases that might fall out of the coastal zone and, therefore, wouldn't be subject to public notice under the coastal zone provisions, there would be public notice for such activities and those would be the regulations the Department would have to adopt. The reason for changing "or" to "unless" [Senator Lincoln's question] was because it's really meant to be either or, not both. When some people read the "or" they were confused and the suggestion was you either give it by the regulations adopted by the agency unless it was begin given under the coastal zone management program. SENATOR PEARCE moved to amend the amendment on page 5, line 23, to delete "or, if" and insert "unless". SENATOR ELTON noted that the answer also indicated that new regulations are going to be necessary if this falls outside the coastal zone. "So, the short answer has changed a little bit." CHAIRMAN TORGERSON said that amendment #1 had been noted and asked if there was any further discussion. There were no objections and amendment #1 was adopted. SENATOR PEARCE said she understands AOGA's concern that there not be a new definition of what every little piece is that might require a public notice. She agrees with Mr. Eason that any leasing and further phases are happening now without public notice. She explained further: However, and I hope I get a little latitude here, I never would have imagined that the Railroad could have managed to build a terminal at the Anchorage Airport that had no EIS, no environmental assessment, no public notice requirements, because it fell through all of the cracks in all of the programs…There was never public notice before the project was actually happening and so, there are situations out there where we find we don't have the blanket that we think we have. I understand the interest of the folks in Cook Inlet of making sure, and all of the state, that they have public notice as these phases are moving forward so they have an opportunity to testify and provide comments. I would like to have that prescribed in law as this does as opposed to have systems such as the stake holders process that the governor followed on a previous Cook Inlet lease sale that I think didn't accomplish much and, on the other hand, was completely outside of the law. So, I'm happy to see we are calling for specific opportunities for that to happen. SENATOR PEARCE offered amendment #2 that was requested by the Department on page 5, line 21 which points out that this new section is for those disposals that are oil and gas disposals. SENATOR LINCOLN apologized to Senator Pearce with a technical amendment deleting "if". MS. RUTHERFORD said she was comfortable with that change. CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced there were no further objections and the amendment was adopted. SENATOR HALFORD asked if there was any limitation on how long a Best Interest Finding lasts. MS. LUNDQUIST answered that there is a provision in 035(e) that deals with oil and gas lease sales releasing under 180. MR. MEYERS replied Best Interest Findings last for 10 years. MS. LUNDQUIST added, "Unless substantive new information becomes available. Then they would have to do an amendment prior…" SENATOR HALFORD said at some point you go back and review the Best Interest Finding on the original gas line or the application for a refining plant and, "it's sold to somebody else and it goes on forever." I just wanted to make sure there was a limitation on it. SENATOR ELTON noted that Senator Pearce said this would save a lot of time and energy in the Department for doing this and the fiscal note doesn't reflect any savings and he was assuming it would be potential savings, because they are not now doing what the courts suggested they ought to be doing. MS. RUTHERFORD replied that was a correct interpretation. SENATOR PEARCE moved to pass CSSB 156 (RES) with the fiscal note with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.