ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 26, 2019 1:03 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative John Lincoln, Co-Chair Representative Geran Tarr, Co-Chair Representative Grier Hopkins, Vice Chair Representative Sara Hannan Representative Ivy Spohnholz Representative Chris Tuck Representative Dave Talerico Representative George Rauscher Representative Sara Rasmussen MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  PRESENTATION(S): ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY UPDATE - HEARD ARCTIC STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION AND RESOURCES - HEARD HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8 Recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon and supporting an associated global initiative identifying the importance of wild salmon. - MOVED CSHR 8(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HR 8 SHORT TITLE: 2019: INT'L YEAR OF THE SALMON SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TARR 04/10/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/10/19 (H) FSH, RES 04/16/19 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 04/16/19 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 04/23/19 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 04/23/19 (H) Moved HR 8 Out of Committee 04/23/19 (H) MINUTE(FSH) 04/24/19 (H) FSH RPT 2DP 1NR 1AM 04/24/19 (H) DP: TARR, STUTES 04/24/19 (H) NR: VANCE 04/24/19 (H) AM: NEUMAN 04/24/19 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/24/19 (H) Heard & Held 04/24/19 (H) MINUTE(RES) 04/26/19 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER FRANCES LEACH, Executive Director United Fishermen of Alaska Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Commercial Fishing Industry Update," and answered questions. JEFF BRUNO, ASTAR Large Project Coordinator Office of Project Management and Permitting Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "2019 Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR) Update," dated 4/26/19, and answered questions. STEVEN MASTERMAN, Director Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Department of Natural Resources Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "2019 Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR) Update," dated 4/26/19, and answered questions. GORDON BROWER, Director Planning and Community Services Department North Slope Borough Utqiagvik, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments related to the Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR) project. ACTION NARRATIVE  1:03:01 PM CO-CHAIR JOHN LINCOLN called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives Hannan, Rauscher, Hopkins, Tarr, and Lincoln were present at the call to order. Representatives Rasmussen, Spohnholz, Talerico, and Tuck arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^PRESENTATION(S): ^ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY UPDATE  PRESENTATION(S):    Alaska Commercial Fishing Industry Update  1:03:31 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN announced the first order of business would be a presentation by United Fishermen of Alaska. 1:04:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN referred to the Fish Group, Tax Division, Department of Revenue, presentation on 4/24/19, as related to the common property fishery assessment. She said the zero allocation for fiscal year 2018 (FY 18) raised the question of what caused the assessment to drop from over $1 million in FY 14 to zero in FY 18. Representative Hannan explained the assessment allows a hatchery to pay for its operating overhead; state hatcheries hire fishers to catch their fish and use a portion for their allocation. Hidden Falls Hatchery is located in a terminal area and the hatchery gets 20 percent from all of the fish caught; in FY 14, Hidden Falls Hatchery's 20 percent was over $1 million. Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc., (DIPAC) hatchery is very successful and in FY 18, DIPAC covered Hidden Falls Hatchery's cost recovery so that the fishers at Hidden Falls Hatchery did not have to share their profits. She explained the common property fishery assessment was zero because DIPAC paid its fishery enhancement loan and is now paying for other hatcheries to continue to operate. 1:06:49 PM FRANCES LEACH, Executive Director, United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), informed the committee UFA was founded in 1974 by a group of commercial fishers who sought a unified voice for the commercial fishing industry. Its objectives are: promote positive relations between industry sectors; support all commercial gear types and remain neutral on allocative issues between commercial gear groups; protect industry from attack through initiatives and legislation; promote industry safety; promote healthy fishery resources by supporting research and habitat protection; support adequate funding for fishery research, management and enforcement; oppose fish farming for finfish; support the development of new fisheries; educate industry, the public and the government; support efforts to increase consumption of Alaska seafood; promote quality standards from harvesters; promote consumer access to seafood by maintaining a stable supply of product to processors (slide 1). Slide 2 listed UFA's 36 member groups and areas of operation across the state representing Alaska commercial fishers and crewmembers, individual permitholder members, and others (slide 2). 1:09:35 PM CO-CHAIR TARR asked whether the UFA member groups have staff. MS. LEACH said all have at least an executive director and a board of directors of which members serve on the UFA board. She continued to note the Alaska State Constitution includes a sustainability mandate and Alaska has one of best managed fisheries in the world, which she attributed to state, federal, and international agencies and a science-based public process. She stressed the importance of seasonal and dynamic fisheries that are maintained by funding for their effective management. The seafood industry is a heavily regulated industry: there are closures due to low returns and also due to a lack of data, which cause a loss of revenue for participants and for the state. Ms. Leach listed major fishery management bodies and organizations (slide 3). REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether fisheries management programs were impacted by the federal government shutdown. MS. LEACH said there were significant impacts on the work by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and seiners in Southeast were awaiting permit renewals. In further response to Representative Hopkins, she said she did not believe openings were delayed, but if the [shutdown] had continued, area management biologists would not have been available at the start of the salmon season. 1:13:19 PM MS. LEACH continued to slide 4, entitled, "Who and What is Alaska Seafood?": • the seafood industry is Alaska's largest private sector employer creating over 60,000 direct jobs including fishers, tenders, processors, and fishery managers • 320 commercial fisheries species/gear/area combinations permitted in Alaska; 80 are limited entry, and 197 of which had fishing activity and deliveries in 2018 • commercial fisheries employed over 27,000 fishers and crew including 15,000 Alaska residents • over 21,000 Alaska rural residents employed by the seafood industry comprising 15 percent of rural jobs • commercial fishing permitholders live in over 200 communities • of over 20,000 commercial fishing crewmembers, more than one-half are Alaska residents MS. LEACH continued to slide 5, entitled, "Value of Alaska Seafood": • seafood is a diverse industry ranging from large corporations to family businesses and sole proprietors • 80 different seafood species fished in Alaska • five to six billion pounds of seafood are harvested per year - worth approximately $4 billion to $5 billion in first wholesale value - in Alaska state waters and in the federal exclusive economic zone (EEZ) • Alaska fishers and processors contributed over $146 million in federal, state, and local taxes and fees. • ex-vessel revenues amounted to $1.99 billion [sic] in 2017 • processing companies employed nearly 25,000 workers in 2015, approximately 7,400 were Alaska residents • seafood processing is the largest manufacturing sector in Alaska, representing 72 percent • seafood is Alaska's top export representing over $3.4 billion in 2017, of which nearly one-third was exported to China REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked whether first wholesale value refers to the first sale from the fisher to the processor. MS. LEACH said correct, and added first wholesale value is also referred to as ex-vessel value. CO-CHAIR LINCOLN surmised approximately 50 percent of those who are commercial fishing in Alaska are not residents. 1:16:57 PM MS. LEACH noted a further breakdown on commercial fishing to indicate [the residents] who are processors and plant workers would follow. Slide 6, provided by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. compared the harvest volume and value by species. A chart of harvest volume indicated Alaska pollock was 57 percent of seafood harvest; a chart of ex-vessel value indicated Alaska pollock was 22 percent of value; salmon makes up only 14 percent of volume but is the most valuable at 34 percent; crab represented 1 percent of volume and 12 percent of value. She pointed out landing taxes are based on ex-vessel value and not by pound. Continuing to slide 7, entitled, "Markets for Alaska Seafood" she said: • seafood is Alaska's number 1 export • 75 percent of seafood production is exported annually to 100 countries • U.S. is the largest market, ranging from 25 percent to 40 percent • China/South Korea are the largest trading partners primarily for reprocessing • Japan/Europe are the largest direct foreign markets • most Alaskans access seafood through the commercial fishing sector CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked for a description of overseas processing. MS. LEACH said a large amount of pollock is reprocessed into fish sticks and returned to the U.S., which would be affected by trade tariffs. Continuing to slide 8 entitled, "Fishing in Alaska-A Way of Life for Generations" she said: • Alaska has many small-boat, family-style fishing operations • countless fishing businesses are family based • families have harvested fish for generations • fisheries support local economies • fisheries provide a valuable source of protein and nutrients • fisheries provide food security MS. LEACH continued to slide 10 entitled, "Independent fishermen=small businesses=investment" and said each fishing and processing operation represents significant long-term investment in vessels and/or facilities, permits, equipment, safety, and food safety compliance; for example, a Southeast seine permit costs $250,000. Slide 11 listed national impacts of the Alaska seafood industry for 2015 and 2016, as reported by the [McDowell Group, Marketing and Management Consultants], related to employment and income by sectors of the seafood fishing industry. 1:21:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked whether the "restaurants" sector reported on only the number of workers in seafood. MS. LEACH said correct. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN pointed out the restaurants reported they were selling Alaska-caught seafood. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked whether restaurants such as McDonald's are included. MS. LEACH said yes. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recalled 70 percent of the fish served by McDonald's is caught in Alaska. MS. LEACH continued to slide 12, entitled, "Nationwide Impacts": • people from every U.S. state are permitholders in Alaska fisheries; over 69 percent of active permitholders and over 50 percent of crewmembers are Alaska residents • the Alaska seafood industry creates 99,000 jobs, $5.2 billion in annual labor income, and $12.8 billion in economic output • catches and processes enough seafood each year to feed everyone in the world one serving of Alaska seafood (12.9 billion servings) MS. LEACH continued to slide 13 which listed the top U.S. seafood ports by volume: 1). Dutch Harbor, 2.) Aleutian Islands, 3.) Kodiak. 1:24:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recalled Dutch Harbor and Boston are the highest ports in the U.S. for exports. MS. LEACH continued to slide 14 entitled, "Lowering the cost of living in Alaska - ": • shipping seafood on southbound routes provides backhaul revenue for shippers, which allows for more competitive rates on northbound freight • the seafood industry ships approximately 1 billion pounds of finished product southbound REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked where to find information on individual fisheries such as pounds caught by commercial, sportfishing, or subsistence users. MS. LEACH said to contact ADFG and offered to provide UFA's publication "Fish Facts Sheet." REPRESENTATIVE TUCK returned attention to slide 13 and asked Ms. Leach to explain the difference between the fisheries of Anchorage and Yakutat. MS. LEACH suggested Yakutat exports salmon, crab, and halibut, which are not as prevalent in Anchorage. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN advised Yakutat exports king salmon which has a higher value than coho. She related a personal story of Captain Leach. 1:29:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ questioned whether the processing industry needs to recruit employees from overseas. MS. LEACH was unsure, although communities in rural areas do not have enough local workers to support the industry. She suggested there are other options for youth who have traditionally held processing jobs. REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ expressed interest in an opinion from the Department of Labor & Workforce Development in this regard. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER related his experience working in a cannery. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN opined Alaska's growth in other industries provides more choices for employment that do not involve housing in a bunkhouse or an uncertain income. For example, tourism is a more reliable choice. She said processers do not successfully recruit college-age workers, but hire groups from overseas communities. She described working conditions in processing facilities. 1:35:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS recalled pirate fishing vessels were illegally harvesting Alaska fish. MS. LEACH said it is still an issue. In further response to Representative Hopkins, she advised enforcement is by the Division of Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Also, the [Marine Exchange of Alaska] tracks vessels. 1:38:01 PM  The committee took an at-ease from 1:38 p.m. to 1:39 p.m. ^ARCTIC STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION AND RESOURCES Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources    1:39:00 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN announced the next order of business would be a presentation by the Department of Natural Resources on the Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources plan. 1:39:13 PM JEFF BRUNO, ASTAR Large Project Coordinator, Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), informed the committee the Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resource (ASTAR) plan began in 2017 in conjunction with the North Slope Borough (NSB). At that time, there was renewed interest in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), related to its integrated activity plan, and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) was working on transportation plans in the area. In response, leadership at DNR and DOTPF re-appropriated approximately $7.3 million to develop ASTAR. Mr. Bruno said the foundation of ASTAR is found in its mission: identify, evaluate, and advance opportunities to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunities in North Slope communities through responsible infrastructure development. He advised the presentation would inform the committee on ASTAR's mission and how ASTAR projects are chosen, the creation of a database, and how projects are advanced. He said DNR seeks to identify gaps in data throughout the region by conducting gravel surveys, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) surveys, and lake surveys. To do so the ASTAR goal is to prioritize community needs and identify projects that have the most cumulative benefit and best enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity. Mr. Bruno read the criteria for cumulative benefit [listed on slide 2] that were developed by NSB. Assessing how each project impacts the criteria will lead to a conclusion on the cumulative benefit to a community or region. He said DNR is currently in contact with each community to evaluate community support and to collect local information. The [ASTAR] project is a collaboration between NSB and DNR, state and federal agencies, and communities within NSB: Point Hope, Point Lay, Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Anaktuvik Pass. The boundary of the plan follows that of NSB while crossing political boundaries over state land, NPR-A, private land, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), to the Canadian border. Core partners include the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), the Division of Mining, Land and Water, the Division of Oil and Gas, and OPMP. Additional partners are the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED). He stressed all of the ASTAR partners are essential to creating a database with which to analyze the projects (slide 3). 1:46:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked for clarification as to the role of DHSS. MR. BRUNO explained DHSS compiled relevant regional health statistics to ensure accurate and current information. He returned to the presentation, noting ASTAR's first task is to develop a process built on community values and influence by visiting each community and gleaning information from residents, which he characterized as a robust stakeholder engagement process. Further, the plan will make detailed digital mapping of North Slope terrain by a geospatial information system (GIS) in order to analyze the projects. After completing the stakeholder engagement to create a project library, DNR will continue detailed mapping, and will develop a database to house mapping, community projects, and future resource development in order to help communities make informed decisions. For the purposes of ASTAR, projects that have the greatest positive impacts on communities will have the greatest potential benefit to the region. Further, ASTAR seeks to identify gaps in data; for example, gravel is scarce in NPR-A, so surveys will be conducted to locate sources of gravel. He observed this type of data will be useful to communities in the future (slide 4). CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked how the infrastructure required to make resources more accessible is factored into the benefit analysis for affected communities. MR. BRUNO said, on a regional scale, resource development projects "factor in more." The ASTAR plan will identify opportunities for community infrastructure and resource development infrastructure to benefit communities. He continued: ... we're not having the communities score and rate those projects, but we are assessing, you know, do they enable other community projects and trying to make connections that allow us to see where projects can potentially add to regional infrastructure for communities and other things. 1:51:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked for a history and sources of ASTAR funding. MR. BRUNO recalled the original funds were re-appropriated in 2017 and in 2018, DNR closed out some capital projects to move funds; funding ends in June of fiscal year 2020 (FY 20). REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN restated her question. MR. BRUNO added ASTAR state funding is in the amount of $7.3 million; in addition, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior, contributed funds for field studies. REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked for the original source of the re- appropriation. MR. BRUNO clarified the funds were re-appropriated from the Division of Oil and Gas, DNR, and DOTPF. He returned attention to the project library. The project library locates in a database information about community and regional projects for analysis; ASTAR has identified over 250 community specific and regional projects - including resource development projects - through review of literature such as NSB comprehensive plans or NPR-A impact applications, to see what communities have proposed. Another method is through surveys obtained by community outreach during Round 1 of ASTAR's stakeholder engagement meetings. After information is collected in the database, DNR will return to communities to discuss, analyze, and prioritize specific projects (slides 5 and 6). REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN questioned whether NSB contributes money to ASTAR. 1:55:43 PM MR. BRUNO said yes; NSB also participates in community engagement. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked if, after the data library is completed, NSB would have rights to use the data or if the state and NSB would share ownership of the intellectual property. MR. BRUNO stated the intent is for the information to be publicly available in perpetuity. He stressed ASTAR will assure each individual community's perspective is represented on specific projects as benefits to communities vary. Currently, ASTAR is in Round 2 of stakeholder engagement which includes a Pairwise Survey to determine the importance of projects. After the Round 2 data is compiled, Round 3 will be conducted to verify information and present the data to communities. Mr. Bruno advised ASTAR and the affected communities interpret cumulative benefits to be the basis of the analysis. The department and its contractors are now working on how to use the cumulative benefits tool to incorporate the project library, stakeholder values and benefits, and connections between communities and projects, and to develop an analytic hierarchy process model in coordination with the Pairwise Survey. He read information from slides 5 and 6. 2:01:09 PM STEVEN MASTERMAN, Director, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), DNR, informed the committee DGGS is working to support ASTAR by collecting and compiling data for a sand and gravel inventory. Sand and gravel resources on the western North Slope are sparse are and are needed for communities, as has been identified by ASTAR and BLM. Therefore, DGGS has compiled existing information to understand the geology of the area; in addition, a contractor has conducted terrain unit mapping on the surface of the coastal plain. Field work this summer will complete the mapping. Further, DGGS is reviewing shot hole samples at the Geologic Materials Center that were collected from the region, and he described the process. The review of samples has revealed 5 percent to 10 percent of the samples show sand and gravel. After further review of the mapping, DGGS will begin field exploration which will include drilling in NPR-A. Mr. Masterman said DGGS will compile all of the data and will provide the information to ASTAR and will also publish the information for public access (slide 7). 2:06:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked for a description of shot hole mapping. MR. MASTERMAN explained at the time two-dimensional seismic data was taken a drill rig set off explosives that created the seismic recordings and provided physical samples that are now at the Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage. Slide 8 illustrated terrain mapping that divided the coastal plain into three geologic units and that will support DGGS and others' field studies. He pointed out units 1 and 2 are complete. MR. BRUNO directed attention to the ASTAR budget. He said ASTAR has spent approximately $1.4 million for community stakeholder outreach, identifying 250 community projects, capturing and mapping projects, creating a database, terrain unit mapping, logging data, creating a transportation plan, and coordinating with NSB and federal agencies. Funds obligated in the amount of $5.5 million are related to contractual services for data analysis and field work, terrain unit mapping, Rounds 2 and 3 stakeholder engagement, and the ASTAR Strategic Plan final document (slide 9). The next steps for ASTAR are: complete Round 2 stakeholder engagement; finish the "cumulative benefit tool"; terrain unit mapping; finish database; continue field work; conduct final round of community outreach; deliver the final product (slide 10). 2:12:06 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked when the final product is expected. MR. BRUNO said June 2020. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether the projects considered by ASTAR include how to provide broadband and internet access to the region. MR. BRUNO said ASTAR looks at all projects and [broadband and internet access] projects have community value and benefit across the region. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN returned attention to the budget and asked for more information on the money that is obligated. MR. BRUNO clarified most of the funds are obligated for upcoming field work; he added, "... there were some delays in moving the money around too, so, we had to kind of back load some of that." 2:14:28 PM GORDON BROWER, Director, Planning and Community Services Department, NSB, said he has 28 years of experience in the planning department related to infrastructure, large projects, and oil and gas development. He informed the committee NSB is responsible for providing community services to all of the villages on the North Slope. The region has no connectivity and it is important to realize the needs and concerns of the villages, such as the high cost of living and an economy based solely upon oil and gas. There have been projects to demonstrate that other economies could flourish except for the lack of infrastructure. In addition, NSB is responsible for infrastructure needs and seeks to address the high cost of living in many communities and he provided examples. Mr. Brower said 80 percent of the regional activities are subsistence and the schools and public works contribute to the economy. 2:19:31 PM MR. BROWER referred to a community project, the Community Winter Access Trail, which originated with ASTAR and other planning initiatives. He said many large-scale resource development projects require infrastructure like roads, and roads cannot be built independently but need foundation projects. In the region, NSB subsidizes approximately $20 million in energy needs for the communities, which is unsustainable. He urged entities to work together to accomplish large projects such as connectivity. Ongoing planning initiatives in the region include the DOTPF Northwest area Transportation Plan, of which NSB's comprehensive plan is a component. He pointed out there have been large oil discoveries, such as the oilfield discovered at Smith Bay in nearshore state water, that cannot be reached. However, entities working together can provide communities a path forward and improve the climate for resource development with infrastructure projects based on the oil, gas, coal and minerals industries. He stressed the importance of finding common ground in responsible development and expressed confidence development can be balanced with subsistence activities, as has been shown by 40 years of oil and gas development. Lastly, Mr. Brower pointed out Congress passed the Barrow Gas Transfer Act of 1984, which required NSB work with industry and BLM to make natural gas accessible to communities, and he surmised the state should use all of the tools at hand to facilitate energy security in the Arctic and expand in-state use of resources. He mentioned failed initiatives and noted ASTAR makes a concerted effort to plan for communities and energy resources. 2:25:13 PM CO-CHAIR TARR asked if there are small-scale energy projects underway in the region that may have been funded by the federal government in 2008-2009. MR. BROWER said there are smaller independent operators who are developing more cost-efficient projects such as the Mustang project through the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development. In addition, there is a [DGGS] coalbed methane demonstration project near Wainwright that seeks ways to generate energy from local resources other than oil and gas. He noted NSB has directed funds to evaluate alternative ways to develop energy and benefit the region. Mr. Brower restated NSB's support for ASTAR and for joint planning exercises. 2:28:53 PM The committee took an at-ease from 2:28 p.m. to 2:29 p.m. HR 8-2019: INT'L YEAR OF THE SALMON    2:29:54 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8, Recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon and supporting an associated global initiative identifying the importance of wild salmon. 2:30:16 PM CO-CHAIR TARR moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 31-LS0667\U.3, Bullard, 4/25/19 which read: Page 2, following line 24: Insert new material to read: "WHEREAS resource managers have identified watersheds across the state in which the salmon stocks are "stocks of concern," and these managers recognize the need for more research to better understand the measures necessary to improve the health of the salmon runs; and" Page 3, line 27, following "Alaska;": Insert "the Honorable Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington; the Honorable Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon;" 2:30:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN objected for discussion purposes. CO-CHAIR TARR explained Amendment 1 adds a WHEREAS clause to integrate "stocks of concern" into HR 8. In addition, the amendment directs that copies of the resolution would be sent to the governors of Washington and Oregon. REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN removed her objection. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER objected for discussion purposes, noting his understanding that in the amendment stocks of concern were to be identified as a priority. CO-CHAIR TARR said the first version of the amendment may have been interpreted as a policy statement, and so the amendment was changed. 2:34:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER removed his objection, and without further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 2:34:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved to adopt Amendment 2, labeled 31- LS0667\U.2, Bullard, 4/25/19, which read: Page 3, line 25, following "States": Insert "and the international community" CO-CHAIR TARR objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said Amendment 2 seeks to denote the international significance of Alaska's fishery. CO-CHAIR TARR removed her objection, and without further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 2:35:33 PM CO-CHAIR TARR moved to report HR 8, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHR 8(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee. 2:36:40 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:36 p.m.