00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 360(RES) 01 "An Act establishing additional requirements for the consideration of applications 02 under the Right-of-Way Leasing Act for an Alaska North Slope natural gas project, 03 authorizing expeditious priority treatment of all applications under that Act and under 04 other relevant state laws for issuance of a right-of-way lease for that project, authorizing 05 the commissioner of natural resources to act to modify the terms of certain state oil and 06 gas leases related to the project and to act, with legislative approval, to waive, reduce, or 07 defer the collection of natural gas royalties due the state, and authorizing the 08 commissioner of revenue to act, with legislative approval, to waive, reduce, or defer the 09 levy and collection of taxes by the state and municipalities under the oil and gas 10 exploration, production, and pipeline transportation property tax related to the project, 11 authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to provide financing for the acquisition, 12 construction, improvement, maintenance, equipping, operation, or expansion of the 13 project and related facilities for the transportation of natural gas within and outside the 01 state by others and the corporation's issuance of its bonds to finance the project and 02 facilities, and limiting consideration of judicial challenges to decisions made with respect 03 to that project under this Act; and providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 06 to read: 07 SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Alaska Natural Gas Project Act. 08 * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 09 read: 10 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO BILL SECTIONS AMENDING 11 THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LEASING ACT (AS 38.35) AND RELATED PROVISIONS. The 12 legislature finds that 13 (1) expediting the exploration, development, production, and transportation of 14 northern Alaska natural gas is a matter of statewide significance because of its vital 15 importance to the state's economy; 16 (2) the best interests of the state would be served by a North Slope natural gas 17 pipeline project following a route that parallels the Trans Alaska Pipeline System and the 18 Alaska Highway to the Canadian border or a project from the North Slope to tidewater in 19 southcentral Alaska; 20 (3) in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 719 - 729o (the Alaska Natural Gas 21 Transportation Act of 1976), in a series of actions and decisions that recognize the critical 22 importance of the project, the President and the Congress have approved and authorized 23 completion of a North Slope natural gas pipeline project; 24 (4) under a portion of pending federal legislation referred to as the "Alaska 25 Natural Gas Pipeline Project of 2002," another North Slope natural gas project may be 26 approved and authorized; 27 (5) under the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976, Yukon Pacific 28 Corporation has received a presidential waiver to export Alaska natural gas, and holds several 01 permits, authorizations, and licenses to construct and operate a North Slope natural gas project 02 to tidewater; 03 (6) other entities have expressed interest in constructing various North Slope 04 natural gas projects; 05 (7) the maximum benefit for Alaskans from the commercialization of northern 06 Alaska natural gas lies in market exposure for the gas, opportunities for in-state use of the gas, 07 participation by Alaskans in construction, maintenance, and operation of the project, and 08 competition in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of additional 09 reserves of northern Alaska natural gas; 10 (8) 15 U.S.C. 719k(b) (section 13(b), Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act 11 of 1976) provides that the "State of Alaska is authorized to ship its gas on the approved 12 transportation system for use within Alaska . . . and . . . to withdraw such gas from the 13 interstate market for use within Alaska; the Federal Power Commission shall issue all 14 authorizations necessary to effectuate such shipment and withdrawal subject to review by the 15 Commission only of the justness and reasonableness of the rate charged for such 16 transportation"; 17 (9) the President's decision in support of his choice of the route approved 18 under the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 recognized that Alaska gas could 19 "supply the energy base required for long-term economic development" within the state and it 20 could supply natural gas to communities within the state along the route and to other 21 communities through local distribution lines; 22 (10) it is vital for the continued exploration and development of natural gas 23 resources in northern Alaska that oil and gas companies that do not have an ownership interest 24 in the project have access to it on a fair and reasonable basis and have the ability to seek the 25 pipeline's expansion when economically and technically feasible; 26 (11) it is vital to the economic development of the state that Alaskans and 27 Alaska businesses have access to gas from a North Slope natural gas pipeline project; 28 (12) it has the constitutional responsibility set out in art. VIII, sec. 2, 29 Constitution of the State of Alaska, to provide for the utilization, development, and 30 conservation of the state's natural resources for the maximum benefit of the people; and 31 (13) because of the magnitude and complexity of the development of a 01 project, issuance of a right-of-way lease under the Alaska Right-of-Way Leasing Act and of 02 permits, certificates, authorizations, and similar actions to be taken by state agencies in 03 connection with the development of a project implicates unique legal and administrative 04 considerations. 05 * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 06 read: 07 FINDINGS, INTENT, AND PURPOSE RELATING TO AMENDMENTS TO THE 08 ALASKA RAILROAD CORPORATION ACT (AS 42.40). (a) The Alaska State Legislature 09 finds that 10 (1) the Alaska Railroad Corporation is uniquely suited to serve essential 11 functions of the state by providing financing for an Alaska North Slope natural gas project; 12 (2) providing financing for the project furthers the purposes of both the state 13 and the Alaska Railroad Corporation by assuring that the state's northern Alaska natural gas 14 resources will be transported to their appropriate markets, thus creating revenue for the 15 Alaska Railroad Corporation and for the state and providing employment opportunities for 16 residents of the state; 17 (3) the project also will enhance and improve the state's ability to develop and 18 transport other natural resources of the state, including oil and gas resources located off the 19 North Slope of this state; and 20 (4) these results are essential purposes of the state, and the achievement of 21 these purposes is critical to the health and welfare of the state. 22 (b) A purpose of the amendments made by secs. 6 - 9 and 13 of this Act is to clarify 23 the statutory functions and powers of the Alaska Railroad Corporation by expressly including 24 the power to provide financing for transportation facilities as described in this Act. 25 (c) It is the intent of the legislature that 26 (1) secs. 6 - 9 and 13 of this Act be construed broadly to permit the Alaska 27 Railroad Corporation the greatest flexibility to accomplish the purpose described in (b) of this 28 section within the limitations set out in this Act; and 29 (2) other provisions of AS 42.40 in existence before the enactment of this Act 30 be similarly construed to complement the provisions of this Act. 31 * Sec. 4. AS 38.05.180 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 01 (ee) In conjunction with the development and construction of an Alaska North 02 Slope natural gas project, as defined by AS 38.35.259, that requires the grant of a 03 right-of-way lease under AS 38.35 for which the project applicant has complied with 04 AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in that section, the commissioner 05 (1) may, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this chapter, 06 negotiate, with the consent of the lessee, 07 (A) to modify any provision of an oil and gas lease entered into 08 under this section, except a provision described in (B) of this paragraph, that 09 impedes development of the project; and 10 (B) to waive, reduce, or defer the payment of all or any portion 11 of the natural gas royalty due the state under this chapter; a waiver, reduction, 12 or deferral of the natural gas royalty due may be made by the commissioner 13 only if the project applicant, or a lessee that has contracted with the applicant 14 to ship natural gas through the project, shows, by clear and convincing 15 evidence, that construction and operation of the project would not otherwise be 16 economically feasible; and 17 (2) shall transmit to the commissioner of revenue any proposed terms 18 relating to the lease and natural gas royalty developed under this subsection that 19 should be included in a contract developed under AS 43.56.185. 20 (ff) The commissioner may request from an applicant or lessee any 21 information and records that the commissioner determines may be necessary to carry 22 out a duty under (ee) of this section. Information and records requested by the 23 commissioner, and working documents that analyze or incorporate the requested 24 information and records that are prepared by the commissioner 25 (1) shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, be kept 26 confidential until the commissioner of revenue makes and publishes preliminary 27 findings and a preliminary determination under AS 43.56.185(c) if the information, 28 records, or working documents contain sensitive, proprietary, or privileged 29 information and the applicant or lessee requests that the information, records, or 30 working documents be kept confidential; 31 (2) are public records when the commissioner of revenue makes and 01 publishes preliminary findings and a preliminary determination under 02 AS 43.56.185(c). 03 (gg) The commissioner may not negotiate or take other action under (ee) of 04 this section unless the project applicant has met all requirements of AS 38.35.240 and 05 obtained all certificates described in that section not later than June 30, 2005. 06 * Sec. 5. AS 38.35 is amended by adding new sections to read: 07 Sec. 38.35.235. Purpose of AS 38.35.235 - 38.35.259. It is the purpose of 08 AS 38.35.235 - 38.35.259 09 (1) to expedite the approval, construction, and operation of a project 10 while ensuring that the maximum benefits consistent with the Constitutions of the 11 United States and Alaska are achieved for the people of the state; 12 (2) to ensure access to the project by oil and gas companies that do not 13 have an ownership interest in the project on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis, and 14 to promote competition in the exploration, development, and production of northern 15 Alaska natural gas; 16 (3) to ensure access to state royalty gas in the project for Alaskans and 17 Alaska businesses; and 18 (4) to ensure employment of Alaskans and the use of Alaska firms in 19 the construction and operation of the project. 20 Sec. 38.35.240. Applicability to Alaska North Slope natural gas project. 21 (a) The provisions of AS 38.35.235 - 38.35.259 apply to an applicant for a right-of- 22 way lease under this chapter for an Alaska North Slope natural gas project that 23 submits a written plan and study, as appropriate, and obtains the certificates described 24 in (b) - (d) of this section. 25 (b) Based upon the applicant's written plan, if the commissioner of labor and 26 workforce development is satisfied that the plan fulfills the requirements of this 27 subsection and makes an appropriate finding, the commissioner may certify that 28 (1) consistent with law, the applicant will use the applicant's best 29 efforts to train and employ state residents and, whenever feasible, will contract with 30 firms in this state for the construction and operation of the project; and 31 (2) the applicant's plan maximizes the opportunities for training and 01 employment of state residents and for the use of Alaska firms in the state for the 02 construction and operation of the project consistent with the Constitutions of the 03 United States and Alaska and AS 38.35.235(4); the commissioner may not make a 04 finding under this paragraph unless the commissioner conducts at least one public 05 hearing on the plan. 06 (c) Based upon the applicant's written plan and study, if the Regulatory 07 Commission of Alaska is satisfied that the plan and study fulfill the requirements of 08 this subsection and makes an appropriate finding, the commission may certify that the 09 applicant 10 (1) has completed a study examining in-state demand for northern 11 Alaska natural gas and, with the completed study, has submitted a plan demonstrating 12 that the applicant's plan will maximize the opportunities for access to state royalty gas 13 transported in the project to meet the reasonably projected in-state demand identified 14 in the study and is consistent with AS 38.35.235(3); 15 (2) has completed a study of the potential supply of northern Alaska 16 gas, including known and discovered reserves and undiscovered resources, and the 17 applicant has submitted a plan demonstrating how the applicant's plan and design of 18 the project will maximize the opportunities for access to initial and expansion capacity 19 on the project consistent with AS 38.35.235(2); the commission may not make a 20 finding under this paragraph unless the commission conducts at least one public 21 hearing on the study and plan; and 22 (3) agrees to complete for review by the commission updated studies 23 and plans consistent with (1) and (2) of this subsection at a date that is 10 years after 24 the construction commencement date of the project. 25 (d) Based upon the application submitted under this chapter, if the 26 commissioner is satisfied that the application meets all other requirements of law and 27 fulfills the requirements of this subsection and makes an appropriate finding, the 28 commissioner may certify that the applicant agrees to provisions of the lease 29 stipulating that the applicant will 30 (1) provide access to the project to the state or its designee to ship the 31 state's royalty gas for use within the state; and 01 (2) use the applicant's best efforts to seek and obtain 02 (A) all authorizations necessary to carry out the shipment and 03 withdrawal described in 15 U.S.C. 719k(b) (section 13(b), Alaska Natural Gas 04 Transportation Act of 1976) or other appropriate federal law from the Federal 05 Energy Regulatory Commission or any other applicable governmental agency 06 to ensure that access; and 07 (B) authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory 08 Commission or any other applicable governmental agency to expand the 09 project if the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, upon application by the state 10 or an entity seeking to ship Alaska natural gas through the pipeline portion of 11 the project, determines that expansion is in the best interests of the state and is 12 in accordance with this section and finds that 13 (i) the rates for expansion service are designed to ensure 14 the recovery, on an incremental or rolled-in basis, of the cost associated 15 with the expansion, including a reasonable rate of return on the 16 investment; 17 (ii) the rates do not require the existing shippers on the 18 pipeline portion of the project to subsidize expansion shippers; 19 (iii) the proposed shipper will comply with, and the 20 proposed expansion and the expansion of service will be undertaken 21 and implemented based on, terms that are consistent with the then- 22 effective tariff of the pipeline portion of the project; 23 (iv) the proposed facilities will not adversely affect the 24 financial or economic viability of the pipeline portion of the project; 25 (v) the proposed facilities will not adversely affect the 26 overall operations of the pipeline portion of the project; 27 (vi) the proposed facilities will not diminish the 28 contract rights of existing shippers to previously subscribed certificated 29 capacity; 30 (vii) all necessary environmental reviews have been 31 completed; and 01 (viii) the expansion is required by the present and future 02 public convenience. 03 (e) Each authority that may issue a certificate under (b) or (c) of this section 04 shall act within 90 days after receiving a request for a certificate. The commissioner 05 shall act under (d) of this section not later than 90 days after the commissioner 06 receives from the applicant the stipulations described in that subsection. 07 Sec. 38.35.245. Treatment of Alaska North Slope natural gas project lease 08 application by commissioner. (a) In the commissioner's consideration of an 09 application under this chapter for a lease for the Alaska North Slope natural gas 10 project, when the applicant has complied with requirements of AS 38.35.240 and 11 obtained all certificates described in that section, the commissioner may limit the 12 scope of review, analysis, and finding for the applicant's proposed lease application 13 under this chapter to a particular phase of the project if, in the judgment of the 14 commissioner, the project is capable of proceeding in discrete phases and 15 (1) the uses and activities involving the project on the land for which 16 the approval is to be granted are part of that discrete phase; 17 (2) before the next phase of the project may proceed, the commissioner 18 gives public notice and opportunity for comment about that phase, unless the use or 19 activity to be approved is subject to a consistency determination under AS 46.40 and 20 public notice and the opportunity to comment are provided under AS 46.40.096(c); 21 (3) the commissioner's approval is required before the next phase of 22 the project may proceed; and 23 (4) the commissioner sets out the reasons for proceeding on the 24 application in discrete phases. 25 (b) For the purpose of determining under (a) of this section that, in an 26 application pending on the effective date of this Act for a lease under this chapter for 27 an Alaska North Slope natural gas project, an applicant has complied with the 28 requirements of AS 38.35.240 by obtaining all certificates described in 29 AS 38.35.240(b) - (d), the commissioner 30 (1) shall consider the application to be in compliance with the 31 requirements of that section if the applicant has filed for all certificates described in 01 AS 38.35.240(b) - (d) and has included, with or as part of the filing for the certificates, 02 the applicable plans, studies, and stipulations described in that section; and 03 (2) may not decide that an application determined to be in compliance 04 under (1) of this subsection is no longer in compliance with the requirements of 05 AS 38.35.240 unless a certificate described in AS 38.35.240(b) - (d) is denied by the 06 applicable authority. 07 Sec. 38.35.250. Expeditious priority treatment by state officials and 08 agencies in support of development and construction of Alaska North Slope 09 natural gas project under this chapter. (a) In the development and construction of 10 an Alaska North Slope natural gas project that requires the grant of a right-of-way 11 lease under this chapter for which the project applicant has complied with 12 AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in that section, every state official 13 and agency shall give full cooperation to the commissioner, or to any official to whom 14 delegation of the authority of the commissioner is made by or under law, 15 (1) by assembling and furnishing all requested information; 16 (2) consistent with the provisions of the law administered by the 17 official or agency, by issuing or granting necessary permits, certificates, 18 authorizations, and similar actions required to be taken at the earliest practicable date, 19 on an expedited basis and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, with 20 precedence over any like matter pending before the official or agency; and 21 (3) consistent with the provisions of the law administered by the 22 official or agency, with respect to any previously issued or granted permit, certificate, 23 authorization, or similar action as to which the official or agency may exercise 24 discretion, by adding to, amending, or abrogating any term or condition as necessary 25 to further the purposes set out in AS 38.35.235 except 26 (A) changing or altering the basic nature or general route of an 27 Alaska North Slope natural gas project to which the federal government has 28 agreed; or 29 (B) otherwise significantly preventing or impairing the 30 expeditious construction and operation of an Alaska North Slope natural gas 31 project. 01 Sec. 38.35.255. Waiver of law. If the governor finds that any provision of 02 law applicable to actions to be undertaken by a state agency or official with respect to 03 any authorization necessary for a right-of-way lease or any other authorization 04 necessary for a project under this chapter or any action to be taken in the exercise of 05 rights conferred by that lease constitutes an obstacle to the expeditious construction 06 and initial operation of an Alaska North Slope natural gas project for which the project 07 applicant has complied with AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in 08 that section, the governor may submit a measure for the legislature's consideration to 09 provide by law for the waiver of the provision. 10 Sec. 38.35.257. Judicial review. Notwithstanding AS 38.35.200 and 11 notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to a decision made or action 12 taken bearing upon the development, construction, and operation of an Alaska North 13 Slope natural gas project for which the project applicant has complied with 14 AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in that section, a person may seek 15 judicial review of a decision of the commissioner under AS 38.35.100 or 16 AS 38.35.235 - 38.35.259 or of any agency or employee relating to the project only on 17 the grounds provided in AS 38.35.200(b). The claim for judicial review may be 18 brought only within 60 days after the making of the decision or taking of the action. 19 Sec. 38.35.259. Definitions. In AS 38.35.235 - 38.35.259, 20 (1) "Alaska North Slope natural gas project" or "project" means a 21 North Slope natural gas pipeline, as defined in AS 38.35.120, and related facilities, 22 including extraction and petrochemical plants, liquefaction plants, regasification 23 plants, and conditioning plants, and the expansion of that pipeline and those related 24 facilities, constructed to transport northern Alaska natural gas following a route that 25 parallels the Trans Alaska Pipeline System and the Alaska Highway to the Canadian 26 border or that initially parallels the Trans Alaska Pipeline System and then turns south 27 to tidewater in southcentral Alaska; 28 (2) "northern Alaska natural gas" means natural gas from the area of 29 the state lying north of 64 degrees North latitude. 30 * Sec. 6. AS 42.40.250 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 31 (31) provide financing for the acquisition, construction, improvement, 01 maintenance, equipping, operation, and expansion of an Alaska North Slope natural 02 gas project, as that term is defined in AS 38.35.259, within and outside the state 03 without regard to whether the project or facilities are or will be owned in whole or in 04 part by the corporation or located on land owned by the corporation. 05 * Sec. 7. AS 42.40 is amended by adding a new section to read: 06 Sec. 42.40.605. Public purpose of bonds. Bonds of the corporation issued to 07 finance the project and related facilities described in AS 42.40.250(31) are issued by a 08 public corporation and an instrumentality of the state for an essential public and 09 governmental purpose. 10 * Sec. 8. AS 42.40.630 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 11 (b) Before issuing bonds to provide the financing described in 12 AS 42.40.250(31) for a facility related to the Alaska North Slope natural gas project to 13 be owned in whole or in part by an entity other than the corporation, the corporation 14 shall enter into a contract, lease, or other form of agreement that will, in the judgment 15 of the corporation, provide sufficient consideration to 16 (1) pay the principal of and interest on the bonds as they become due; 17 (2) create and maintain the reserves for the payments that the 18 corporation considers necessary or desirable; and 19 (3) pay all costs necessary to service or additionally secure the bonds, 20 including trustee's fees and bond insurance premiums, unless these costs are to be paid 21 by a party other than the corporation. 22 (c) The corporation may retain any consideration in excess of the 23 consideration necessary to meet the payments and to maintain the reserves that are 24 required by (b) of this section. 25 * Sec. 9. AS 42.40 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26 Sec. 42.40.695. Alaska North Slope natural gas project bonds. (a) In 27 conjunction with the development and construction of an Alaska North Slope natural 28 gas project that require the grant of a right-of-way lease under AS 38.35 for which the 29 project applicant has complied with AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates 30 described in that section, and subject to the requirements of AS 42.40.630(b), the 31 corporation is authorized to issue bonds under the power granted to it in this chapter to 01 finance the construction of a natural gas pipeline and related facilities for the 02 transportation of natural gas recovered from the North Slope of this state. 03 (b) The maximum principal amount of bonds that the corporation may issue 04 under this section is $18,000,000,000. 05 (c) The corporation 06 (1) shall negotiate with an applicant as the corporation considers 07 appropriate and shall enter into agreements with the applicant to provide revenue 08 sufficient to accomplish the purposes described in AS 42.40.630; and 09 (2) may issue the bonds in a single issuance or in several issuances, 10 without limitation as to number of issuances or timing, and as the corporation 11 determines best furthers the purpose of financing the project and related facilities. 12 (d) Except as provided in AS 42.40.630(c), the proceeds of the bonds 13 described in this section shall be used only for an Alaska North Slope natural gas 14 project and related facilities that are owned by one or more entities other than the 15 corporation. 16 (e) In this section, "Alaska North Slope natural gas project" has the meaning 17 given in AS 38.35.259. 18 * Sec. 10. AS 43.56 is amended by adding a new section to read 19 Sec. 43.56.185. Action by the commissioner to develop a contract covering 20 certain tax laws; submission to governor for action; legislative action. (a) In 21 conjunction with the development and construction of an Alaska North Slope natural 22 gas project, as defined by AS 38.35.259, that requires the grant of a right-of-way lease 23 under AS 38.35 for which the project applicant or a lessee that has contracted to ship 24 natural gas through the project has complied with AS 38.35.240 and obtained all 25 certificates described in that section, the commissioner may negotiate terms for 26 inclusion in a contract to 27 (1) waive, reduce, or defer the payment of all or any portion of the tax 28 levied by the state or a municipality of the state under this chapter; 29 (2) make certain adjustments regarding the oil and gas lease under 30 AS 38.05.180(ee); and 31 (3) make or amend other terms and conditions that are necessary to 01 carry out the purposes of AS 38.35.235 or that are in the best interests of the state. 02 (b) The commissioner may develop a proposed contract described in (a) of this 03 section only if 04 (1) the commissioner has consulted with any affected municipality, has 05 considered and prepared a report on the socioeconomic effects of the project on any 06 affected municipality, and has considered how any affected communities will provide 07 services required by the project; 08 (2) the commissioner has considered whether other jurisdictions in 09 which the project will be located have granted financial incentives; 10 (3) the project applicant shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that 11 construction and operation of the project would not otherwise be economically 12 feasible; 13 (4) the commissioner and the project applicant have entered into an 14 agreement to begin construction of the project by a date certain; and 15 (5) the commissioner has incorporated into the contract 16 (A) any proposed terms relating to the oil and gas lease and 17 natural gas royalty developed under AS 38.05.180(ee); and 18 (B) for a contract that waives, reduces, or defers natural gas 19 royalty or tax payments, a mechanism to recapture all or any portion of the 20 natural gas royalty or tax payments that are waived, reduced, or deferred by the 21 operation of a contract provision if the price of natural gas increases above the 22 projected price of natural gas upon which the findings and determination made 23 under (c) of this section are based; 24 (c) If the commissioner develops a proposed contract under (a) and (b) of this 25 section, the commissioner shall 26 (1) make preliminary findings and a preliminary determination that the 27 proposed contract is in the long-term fiscal interests of the state, furthers the purposes 28 of AS 38.35.235, and is in the best interest of the state, including a description of the 29 principal factors, such as the projected price of gas, projected production rate or 30 volume of gas, projected recovery, and projected development, construction, and 31 operating costs, upon which the findings are based; 01 (2) give reasonable public notice of the preliminary findings and 02 determination, conduct a public hearing, and give a reasonable opportunity of at least 03 30 days, for receipt of public comment on the preliminary findings and determination; 04 (3) make copies of the proposed contract, the commissioner's 05 preliminary findings and determination, and the supporting financial, technical, and 06 market data available to the public and to 07 (A) the presiding officer of each house of the legislature; 08 (B) the chairs of the finance and resources committees of the 09 legislature; and 10 (C) the chairs of the special committees on oil and gas, if any, 11 of the legislature; 12 (4) if the legislature is not in session, offer to appear before the 13 Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to provide the committee a review of the 14 commissioner's preliminary findings and determination, the proposed contract, and the 15 supporting financial, technical, and market data; if the Legislative Budget and Audit 16 Committee accepts the commissioner's offer, the committee shall give notice of the 17 committee's meeting to the public and all members of the legislature; 18 (5) within 30 days after the close of the public comment period under 19 (2) of this subsection, 20 (A) prepare a summary of the public comments received in 21 response to the proposed contract and the preliminary findings and 22 determination; 23 (B) after consultation with the commissioner of natural 24 resources, if appropriate, prepare a list of proposed amendments, if any, to the 25 proposed contract that the commissioner determines are necessary to respond 26 to public comments; 27 (C) make final findings and a determination as to whether the 28 proposed contract and any proposed amendments prepared under (B) of this 29 paragraph meet the requirements and purposes of AS 38.35.235; and 30 (D) after considering the material described in (A) - (C) of this 31 paragraph and securing the agreement of the other parties to the proposed 01 contract regarding any proposed amendments prepared under (B) of this 02 paragraph, issue final findings and a final determination; and 03 (6) transmit the proposed contract to the governor, who may transmit 04 the contract to the legislature together with a request for authorization to execute the 05 contract. 06 (d) A contract developed under this section is not binding upon or enforceable 07 against the state or other parties to the contract unless the governor is authorized to 08 execute the contract by law. The state and the other parties to the contract may 09 execute the contract within 60 days after the effective date of the law authorizing the 10 contract. 11 (e) A person may not bring an action challenging the constitutionality of a law 12 authorizing a contract enacted under this section or the enforceability of a contract 13 executed under a law authorizing a contract enacted under this section unless the 14 action is commenced within 120 days after the date that the contract was executed by 15 the state and the other parties to the contract. 16 (f) The commissioner may request from a project applicant or from a lessee 17 affected by AS 38.05.180(ee) and (ff) and this section any information and records 18 that the commissioner determines may be necessary to carry out a duty under this 19 section. Information and records requested by the commissioner, and working 20 documents that analyze or incorporate the requested information and records that are 21 prepared by the commissioner 22 (1) shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, be kept 23 confidential until the commissioner makes and publishes preliminary findings and a 24 preliminary determination under (c) of this section if the information, records, or 25 working documents contain sensitive, proprietary, or privileged information and the 26 applicant or lessee requests that the information, records, or working documents be 27 kept confidential; 28 (2) are public records when the commissioner makes and publishes 29 preliminary findings and a preliminary determination under (c) of this section. 30 (g) The commissioner may not negotiate or take other action to develop a 31 contract under this section unless the project applicant, or lessee if applicable, has met 01 all requirements of AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in that section 02 not later than June 30, 2005. 03 * Sec. 11. AS 46.40.094 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 04 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for a natural gas 05 pipeline project from the Alaska North Slope following a route that parallels the Trans 06 Alaska Pipeline System and the Alaska Highway to the Canadian border or a route 07 that runs south to Alaska tidewater for which the project applicant has complied with 08 AS 38.35.240 and obtained all certificates described in that section, any agency 09 responsible for the consistency determination with respect to proposed uses or 10 activities involved in the project may, in its discretion, conduct the review and make 11 the consistency determination in separate phases in a manner that promotes review of 12 proposed uses and activities based upon the project's design, construction sequence, 13 and schedule. For the purpose of determining under (a) of this section that, in an 14 application pending on the effective date of this Act for a lease under this chapter for 15 an Alaska North Slope natural gas project, an applicant has complied with the 16 requirements of AS 38.35.240 by obtaining all certificates described in 17 AS 38.35.240(b) - (d), the commissioner 18 (1) shall consider the application to be in compliance with the 19 requirements of that section if the applicant has filed for all certificates described in 20 AS 38.35.240(b) - (d) and has included, with or as part of the filing for the certificates, 21 the applicable plans, studies, and stipulations described in that section; and 22 (2) may not decide that an application determined to be in compliance 23 under (1) of this subsection is no longer in compliance with the requirements of 24 AS 38.35.240 unless a certificate described in AS 38.35.240(b) - (d) is denied by the 25 applicable authority. 26 * Sec. 12. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 27 read: 28 LIMITATION OF CERTAIN ACTIONS. A legal proceeding may not be initiated to 29 challenge the constitutionality of sec. 2 of this Act or the constitutionality of AS 38.35.235 - 30 38.35.259, added by sec. 5 of this Act, more than 60 days after the effective date of this Act. 31 * Sec. 13. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 01 read: 02 LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL. AS 42.40.695, added by 03 sec. 9 of this Act, and this section constitute the approval required by AS 42.40.285 for the 04 issuance of the bonds described in AS 42.40.695. 05 * Sec. 14. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).