2022-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 1768
HB 303                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 303 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to commercial passenger vessel environmental                                                              
     compliance; relating to commercial passenger vessel fees;                                                                  
     establishing the wastewater infrastructure grant fund; repealing the                                                       
     authority for citizens' suits relating to commercial passenger                                                             
     vessel environmental compliance; repealing the commercial                                                                  
     passenger vessel recognition program; and providing for an                                                                 
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional                                                                
Affairs, Resources, and Finance Committees.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Environmental Conservation                                                                                 
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Environmental Conservation                                                                                 
3.  Fiscal, Dept. of Environmental Conservation                                                                                 
4.  Fiscal, Dept. of Environmental Conservation/Fund Transfers                                                                  

2022-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 1769
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 2 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Stutes:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to commercial passenger                                                         
vessel environmental compliance.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This bill is an update of the commercial passenger vessel                                                                       
environmental oversight statutes drafted by the Department of                                                                   
Environmental Conservation in 2001. The changes proposed in the bill                                                            
will allow them to be more effective in protecting Alaska's                                                                     
environment. It repeals the statutory requirement for on-board ocean                                                            
ranger observers created by ballot initiative in 2006 in favor of                                                               
Department inspection staff spending more time on board vessels. It                                                             
also changes the statutory fees applied to commercial passenger                                                                 
vessels, adjusts wastewater discharge definitions, and aligns the                                                               
commercial passenger vessel environmental compliance program                                                                    
within the Department of Environmental Conservation's regulatory                                                                
structure.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The proposal would retain the core structure of the Department's                                                                
oversight, while repealing detailed provisions that are better managed                                                          
in regulation for timely updates in response to changing science on                                                             
contamination and pollutants. It has delayed effective dates,                                                                   
particularly for small commercial vessels, that allow uniform                                                                   
implementation and time for the industry to come into compliance                                                                
with the new law.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Finally, the bill creates a new wastewater infrastructure grant fund that                                                       
would be available for municipal port communities to apply and                                                                  
receive partial funding toward establishing, upgrading, or improving                                                            
wastewater treatment collection systems or facilities that provide                                                              
services to commercial passenger vessels.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"