Legislature(2015 - 2016)BARNES 124
03/10/2015 11:15 AM House ECON. DEV., TOURISM, & ARCTIC POLICY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR5|| HB1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HCR 5-DECLARE 2015-2017 AS YEARS OF THE ARCTIC
[Contains discussion of HB 1]
11:22:52 AM
CHAIR HERRON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5, Declaring 2015, 2016, and
2017 to be the Years of the Arctic; encouraging the state and
its partners to join the Institute of the North; and encouraging
the state to promote its Arctic policy during the Years of the
Arctic and to take action to address the strategic
recommendations in the Arctic Policy and Implementation Plan of
the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.
11:24:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HCR 5, labeled 29-LS0562\W, Nauman, 2/23/15,
as the working draft.
CHAIR HERRON objected for discussion purposes.
11:24:27 AM
ROB EARL, Staff, Representative Bob Herron, Alaska State
Legislature, explained the changes to HCR 5 made in Version W.
Mr. Earl said the original bill directed the legislature to
"join" Institute of the North, which would have incurred cost;
however, Version W directs the legislature to "join with"
Institute of the North, and attached to the bill was a zero
fiscal note, Identifier: HCR5-LEG-SESS-03-09-15.
11:25:11 AM
CHAIR HERRON clarified that there are no fees related to joining
with Institute of the North.
MR. EARL said no.
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON surmised the legislature would not become
a member of Institute of the North. She noted that Institute of
the North was very involved in the issues brought forth by the
[Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Implementation Plan].
MR. EARL said correct.
CHAIR HERRON removed his objection.
There being no further objection, Version W was before the
committee.
11:27:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON moved to adopt Amendment 1 which read:
Page 2, lines 20-21, after "state"
Delete: "to promote its Arctic policy"
Page 2, line 21, after "Arctic"
Delete: "and"
MR. EARL explained that Amendment 1 simply removes duplicative
language.
There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
CHAIR HERRON opened public testimony on HCR 5.
11:28:03 AM
DRUE PEARCE, Chairman, Board of Directors, Institute of the
North, informed the committee she is a former member of the
Alaska State Legislature and is providing testimony on behalf of
Institute of the North ("Institute"). Ms. Pearce said the board
of directors of the Institute believe that the years 2015
through 2017 should be "Years of the Arctic." This is
especially appropriate in the U.S. because of the work of the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) and related proposed
legislation, the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council, and
Governor Bill Walker's interest in rejoining the Northern Forum,
which is an organization of the northernmost states, provinces,
and territories. She advised that over the years 2015-2017, the
Institute will hold monthly Arctic-related business forums, and
during the upcoming Arctic Council events, the Institute is
planning policy tours in hub communities such as Unalaska, Nome,
and Kotzebue in order to update Alaskans on circumpolar affairs,
and also to allow Alaskans to meet Arctic Council attendees.
Ms. Pearce mentioned the upcoming Arctic Energy Summit, to be
held in Fairbanks, which is associated with the Sustainable
Development Working Group of the Arctic Council. She directed
attention to the 2015-2017 "Years of the Arctic" calendar found
in the committee packet, which included a partial list of
upcoming Arctic events.
11:32:11 AM
CHAIR HERRON searched the calendar for the date of the October
Arctic Council Senior Arctic Official (SAO) meeting in
Anchorage.
MS. PEARCE said she did not know the date. She added that also
missing from the calendar is a three-day Smithsonian Arctic
Spring event scheduled for 5/8/15-5/10/15, at the Natural
History Museum. Also, the U.S. Department of State is planning
an event in May, and events are planned in Alaska as well to
herald the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
CHAIR HERRON asked Ms. Pearce to reflect on how some
Congressional legislators view Alaska in a different way than do
Alaskans.
11:34:19 AM
MS. PEARCE said her experience at U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's
recent Senate Energy hearing about the Arctic revealed different
attitudes toward development in the Arctic, and the economic
survival of Alaskans. Two Congressional legislators stated
there was irony in that leaders from Alaska stressed the
importance of economic development for jobs in villages,
regional hubs, and cities; in fact, two members of the minority
questioned why Alaskans would be advocating for onshore and
offshore development in Alaska, at the same time some Alaska
communities are seeing the impacts from climate change, or from
storms, resulting in erosion. She recalled that at the hearing,
Chair Herron made a strong statement that indigenous Alaskans
have been dealing with change for 10,000 years or more, and will
continue to adapt to change; however, for a strong economy and
food security, the economic development of resources is
necessary. Ms. Pearce said Senator Lisa Murkowski pointed out
that members of the Senate from other states discount the
development in their states, and wish "to turn Alaska into a
pristine wilderness where we are not able to develop our
resources." She cautioned that the focus on climate change in
the Arctic could be difficult for Alaska because of the
presumption that development in the Arctic will lead to more
climate change. Ms. Pearce stressed the importance to
articulate the foresight the legislature had in setting
statutory goals for renewable energy in Alaska, although the use
of renewables will not negate the need for hydrocarbons
overnight.
11:39:42 AM
CHAIR HERRON after ascertaining no one else further wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HCR 5.
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON acknowledged that HCR 5 does not address
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
however, language in support of UNCLOS is contained in the AAPC
Implementation Plan which is promoted in HCR 5. On pages 4 and
5 of the draft AAPC Implementation Plan, there is a reference to
legislation under consideration in the 29th Alaska State
Legislature, and she expressed her strong opposition to the
inclusion of the language regarding UNCLOS; in fact, this is
relevant to the bill title and to language in the bill on page
2, lines 20-23, which read:
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature
encourages the state to promote its Arctic policy
during the Years of the Arctic and to take action to
address the strategic recommendations in the Arctic
Policy and Implementation Plan of the Alaska Arctic
Policy Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON relayed that her constituents have
contacted her and she finds this "troubling language."
CHAIR HERRON read from the AAPC Implementation Plan on page 5 as
follows:
The Alaska Arctic Policy Commission submits to the
Legislature for consideration this language for an
Alaska Arctic Policy bill. It is possible that
through the legislative process changes will be made.
CHAIR HERRON pointed out that the foregoing was draft language
and the reference to UNCLOS in HB 1 has been removed.
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON stated she wanted her opposition on the
record.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked for verification that the reference
to UNCLOS has been withdrawn.
CHAIR HERRON pointed out that the language is in the draft
implementation plan document delivered on 1/30/15; however, HB 1
was amended by the Senate and the reference to UNCLOS was
removed.
11:42:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL recalled hearing from another Institute
board member, Dr. Mike Sfraga, that the reference to UNCLOS was
very important. This view was also heard from a constituent who
is an Arctic researcher. Representative Wool related that the
researcher said other countries are "staking out their
territory," Japan specifically, and advised it is important to
be part of UNCLOS.
CHAIR HERRON observed that UNCLOS is before the U.S. Senate, and
regardless of UNCLOS, HCR 5 advocates that the Arctic is very
important to Alaska. Therefore, the intent of the bill is to
join with the Institute to ensure that the Arctic is promoted
during the term of the Arctic Council chairmanship, when those
who affect circumpolar Arctic policies will be visitors to
Alaska. Chair Herron stressed that the legislature makes policy
and the executive branch executes policy, thus the legislature
should have as much effect on Arctic decisions as possible.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked Chair Herron for his opinion on
whether not being a party to UNCLOS hinders the ability of the
U.S. to advocate for its interests in the Arctic region.
CHAIR HERRON opined no, because nearly all of the provisions are
in place, except for the United Nations mining law provision; in
fact, former President Ronald Reagan endorsed UNCLOS after some
changes were made. He said UNCLOS is important, and he
expressed his belief that there will be a change in opinion at a
future time.
11:47:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON moved to report CSHCR 5, Version 29-
LS0562\W, Nauman, 2/23/15, as amended, out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSHCR 5(EDA) was reported out
of the House Special Committee on Economic Development, Tourism,
and Arctic Policy.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR5 - Legislation - CS version W.pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| HCR5 - Summary of Changes (For EDA).pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| HCR5 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| CSHCR 5(W) - Amendment 1.pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| HCR 5 - Supporting Document - Arctic Calendar.pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| HCR5 - Fiscal Note - LEG-SESS-03-09-15.pdf |
HEDA 3/10/2015 11:15:00 AM |