04/08/1993 02:05 PM Senate JUD

                                                                               
  SENATOR TAYLOR returned  HB 99 (REPEAL 65-DAY  DEADLINE: OIL                 
  SPILL PLANS)  and  invited the  sponsor, REPRESENTATIVE  JOE                 
  GREEN, to testify.                                                           
                                                                               
  Number 398                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN explained,  currently, AS  46.04.030(p)                 
  requires  the Department  of  Environmental Conservation  to                 
  "...approve or disapprove a proposed contingency plan within                 
  65 days after it  receives a complete application ...".   He                 
  further explained the  time-line necessitated by the  65 day                 
  statutory requirement  conflicts with the time-line  set out                 
  in  the Alaska  Coastal Management Plan  regulations carried                 
  out by the Division of Governmental Coordination (DGC).                      
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said the conflict between the two time-                 
  lines make the  progress cumbersome  for both the  applicant                 
  and  members of  the public  wishing  to participate  in the                 
  review process.  He said the removal of the 65 day statutory                 
  requirement allows the DEC and  DGC to coordinate their time                 
  lines for approving contingency plans.                                       
                                                                               
  SENATOR LITTLE  asked for clarified as to what the provision                 
  actually does.   REPRESENTATIVE GREEN  said an applicant  is                 
  not sure which time-line  to follow, and he  explained there                 
  were  two over-lapping  agencies,  whose  time clocks  don't                 
  correspond.                                                                  
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LITTLE  commented that  the  DEC time  clock starts                 
  first and asked if getting a permit would take longer.                       
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN  explained how the  two agencies, which                 
  support the bill,  would coordinate their efforts  and clean                 
  up the problem.                                                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR LITTLE asked for any downside to the bill.                           
                                                                               
  Number 437                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said  there was  some concern the  bill                 
  did not  address an interior oil spill contingency plan, and                 
  he explained the DGC would be the responsible agency.                        
                                                                               
  Number 437                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR  HALFORD moved  to pass  HOUSE BILL  NO.  99 (REPEAL                 
  65-DAY  DEADLINE:  OIL  SPILL  PLANS)  from  committee  with                 
  individual recommendations.  Without objections, so ordered.