Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
05/12/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB10 | |
| HB41 | |
| HB80 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 10-FUNTER BAY MARINE PARK: UNANGAN CEMETERY
3:45:57 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 10 "An
Act relating to the Funter Bay marine park unit of the state
park system; relating to protection of the social and historical
significance of the Unangax cemetery located in Funter Bay;
providing for the amendment of the management plan for the
Funter Bay marine park unit; and providing for an effective
date."
CHAIR REVAK noted that most of the committee heard the bill last
year.
3:46:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 10, stated that the bill had not changed
since the committee heard this bill during the previous
legislature. She said she would go through a PowerPoint quickly
to refresh members' recall of the bill that seeks to protect the
Unangan Cemetery in Funter Bay for future generations. She
explained that two hundred fifty one acres of state land would
be transferred, at no cost, from the Department of Natural
Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water to the Division of
Parks and Recreation's existing Funter Bay State Marine Park.
The cemetery, which is on a portion of this land, holds the
remains of people who did not survive after they were relocated
and interred in two relocation camps in Funter Bay during World
War II. One of the camps was in an old mine and the other across
the bay in an old canary. The cemetery is adjacent to the old
canary. Funter Bay is located about 15 air miles from Juneau or
30 miles by water, which made for very isolated camps during WW
II. The Funter Bay relocation camps were two of six such camps
throughout Southeast Alaska and they were the deadliest.
3:49:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN directed attention to slide 4 and
explained it is a map from DNR's management plan for the land in
Funter Bay. The land shaded green reflects Tongass National
Forest land, the 162 acres of existing Funter Bay State Marine
Park is identified as A01, and the area identified as A02 is the
acreage that would be added by HB 10. The map scale does not
show the private land along much of the Funter Bay shoreline and
the bill does not affect this private land. She highlighted that
the Division of Mining, Land and Water advised it would be
easiest to add all the A02 lands into the existing marine park
to be managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, otherwise
it would leave DMLW with a fragment of land to manage that is
surrounded by state marine park, private property, or national
forest.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN displayed images of the remnants of an old
bunkhouse on canary property that was used for housing, and the
headstone of an 18 month old child who died at one of the Funter
Bay camps. She noted the cemetery has received little
maintenance since it was in active use starting 79 years ago.
Replacement crosses were first erected in 2017 when descendants
made a commemorative trip to Funter Bay. The exact number of
graves in the cemetery is not clear, but a Park Service survey
that looked at the historical significance of the site to
determine whether it should receive federal protection
identified 32 graves. She noted that some graves are unmarked
and some were moved to other cemeteries by the families.
3:51:48 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked where the people who were relocated to
Funter Bay came from.
3:52:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered they came from the Pribilof
Islands of St. Paul and St. George. They were the first of the
removals that began in June 1942.
SENATOR MICCICHE mentioned the unsuccessful effort to get the
bill through the process last year [before early adjournment due
to COVID-19]. He said the committee investigated the
mineralization potential of the land proposed for transfer and
the Alaska Miners Association since then sent a letter stating:
There is no documented mineral occurrences on the land
in question and access to existing mineral
occurrences, patented claims and federal lands open to
mineral entry are not unduly impacted.
He said the committee last year also evaluated the private
landownership and he was aware this year that some urban legends
had cropped up on this particular site. He asked, as a member of
the public, if he would be able to enjoy access to the land
designated A02 the same way as he can now without HB 10.
3:53:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered yes. The Funter Bay State Marine
Park is rural and has no state-supported infrastructure. All
hunting, harvesting, [and public access] activities are allowed.
3:54:29 PM
TIMOTHY CLARK, Staff, Representative Sara Hannan, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, added that the parcel that is
proposed to be transferred has been managed for recreation for a
number of years. "All the hunting, hiking, and fishing that has
existed for decades in the bay, all the access will remain
absolutely the same."
SENATOR MICCICHE asked for confirmation that the bill does not
in any way change the use of this land.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered that is correct. The bill does
not change the use of this land but it does provide park
protection so it cannot be sold for development.
3:55:56 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE thanked her for clarifying that for the record.
CHAIR REVAK agreed the clarification was important.
3:56:07 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated support for the bill, but asked for
assurance that the bill does not cut off access to any private
property in the vicinity of the cemetery.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered it does not, but the caveat is
that this land is in the Unorganized Borough, and it is
difficult to find plats. She offered her understanding that most
of the private property is beachfront.
MR. CLARK suggested the committee might benefit from hearing
from the director of state parks and/or the superintendent of
state parks for Southeast.
CHAIR REVAK announced invited testimony.
3:57:59 PM
RICKY GEASE, Director, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Department
of Natural Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that HB 10 does
not cut off access to any private property in in the vicinity of
the cemetery.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked him to reaffirm the answer to his
question about whether the bill in any way restricts public
access to the cemetery or other state marine park land or if it
affects private landowners in the area either positively or
negatively.
MR GEASE answered no, but the division would have enforcement
powers if there was any vandalism on the state park land.
3:59:36 PM
CHAIR REVAK opened public testimony on HB 10.
3:59:57 PM
JOEL BENNET, Board Member, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau,
Alaska, stated he resides in Juneau and owns property in Funter
Bay that abuts the cemetery. He said he has no objection to HB
10, and he knows of no other landowners in the immediate
vicinity that object to it either. He said deer hunting is a
major recreational and subsistence activity on Admiralty Island
and he is sure none of the landowners adjacent to the cemetery
would support the bill if they thought it would restrict their
deer hunting activities. He said he was familiar with the land
that would be transferred to the marine park and most of it is
low-lying vegetation with scrub spruce and hemlock that has no
commercial timber value or potential for mineral development. He
concluded that this legislation has been a priority for Friends
of Admiralty Island for several years. As a group they have
promoted understanding of the injustices of the internment of
the Pribilof Islanders in the relocation camps at Funter Bay.
4:03:09 PM
MARTIN STEPETIN, Advocate, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau,
Alaska, stated he resides in Juneau but is from St. Paul Island.
His maternal and paternal grandparents were relocated and
interned in Funter Bay 79 years ago. His dad was born during
that time. The relocation was said to be for protection of the
Pribilof Islanders but reckless disregard and lack of planning
by the military resulted in the deaths of 10 percent of the
people who were relocated to Funter Bay. The headstones show the
relocation was deadliest for the elderly and very young. He
opined that failing to recognize this history increases the risk
that similar atrocities could occur in the future. Protecting
the cemetery at Funter Bay is a step in the right direction. It
is squarely in the state's hands.
4:05:55 PM
ED KING, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he was
working in the DNR commissioner's office when Mr. Stepetin
brought the issue forward, so he is aware of the work that has
gone into the bill. It recognizes an issue of historical
significance that he wholeheartedly supports. He urged the
committee to support HB 10 as well.
4:06:31 PM
CHAIR REVAK discerned no one else wished to comment and closed
public testimony on HB 10.
4:6:46 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated that the events that have been described
occurred during World War II. The notion was to remove people
from a war zone in the Pribilofs even though the war never went
there. He agreed the federal government and military handled the
evacuation and relocation recklessly. He also agreed with Mr.
Stepetin that it is crucial to remember this history so it is
not repeated.
4:07:37 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE commented on the importance of protecting
sacred places, one of which is the Unangan Cemetery at Funter
Bay. He said he is pleased that the cemetery enjoys volunteer
caretakers but he looks forward to it being protected
officially.
4:08:24 PM
CHAIR REVAK recalled supporting the legislation three years ago
as a member of the other body, as a member of this committee
last year, and again this year. He shared that he was honored to
visit Unalaska during the 75th anniversary of the bombing of
Dutch Harbor. Attending the ceremony were evacuees who were
young at the time, World War II veterans, and a Japanese film
crew. It was the most amazing healing event he had ever
encountered. What he learned in Dutch Harbor makes him realize
how important it is to recognize and protect the cemetery at
Funter Bay as a way and perhaps a place of healing.
He asked the will of the committee.
4:09:30 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report HB 10, work order 32-LS0096\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
4:09:43 PM
CHAIR REVAK found no objection and HB 10 was reported from the
Senate Resources Standing Committee.