Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
04/05/2013 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB99 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB96 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 99-EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION
3:34:15 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 99 would be up for consideration.
[CSHB 99(RES) was before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 99, said the bill would help to ensure the
growth and sustainability of a vital sector of the Alaskan
economy; that being the minerals development and mining sector.
HB 99 would extend the sunset of the Alaska Minerals Commission
(AMC) for ten years. AMC was established by the Alaska
Legislature in 1986 and had been reauthorized four times. AMC
was responsible for identifying road blocks to mineral
development in Alaska and for making recommendations to the
governor and the legislature on how to clear those impediments.
AMC meets three times a year in Anchorage, Fairbanks and in
Juneau where the commissioners deliver their annual report at
the Capitol during the first ten days of the legislative
session. Since its last reauthorization in 2003, AMC had made
several key recommendations which the legislature had since
implemented or was working out to put into place that included
but are not limited to: reforming the state permitting process
to make them more timely and efficient; funding infrastructure
development under the Roads to Resources Program; and asserting
and defending public access to roads, trails, and navigable
waterways. AMC was a proven and rather affordable voice for an
important sector of Alaska's economy. He referred to AMC's
fiscal note regarding program affordability. He said mining
employed 4,500 Alaskans, provided more than $620 million in
direct and indirect payroll, and provided jobs and revenue for
local governments and rural areas that sorely need them. He
explained that HB 99 started out as a simple extension bill, but
now provided for three years terms with a limit of two
consecutive terms and provided for the annual election of a
Chair and Vice Chair of the commission.
3:36:26 PM
DEANTHA CROCKETT, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association
(AMA), Anchorage, Alaska, said AMA was a statewide association
representing the six large metals mines the state, one operating
coal mine, exploration projects, miners, contractors,
engineering firms, and anybody that really does business with
the mining industry. She said AMA supported HB 99 and noted that
AMC worked very closely with AMA and other resource development
organizations to identify ways to promote the industry and
eliminate barriers. She called attention to a letter from the
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development (DCCED) that had a list of AMC's accomplishments
over the years. She noted that AMC had come up with and been an
integral part of decisions that were recommended to the
legislature and to the governor to help the mining industry
succeed.
3:37:37 PM
SENATOR MCGUIRE joined the committee.
MS. CROCKETT asserted that AMC was an important commission with
a small fiscal note on behalf of Alaska. She said AMC did a lot
for the mining industry and noted that she would be remiss if
she did not remind the committee that mining was the state's
second largest industry, had a high employment level in Alaska,
and a very high wage average of $100,000 that employed residents
from approximately 120 communities around the state. She
emphasized that mining had a far reaching impact and AMC helped
the mining industry greatly.
3:38:20 PM
MARLEANNA HALL, Project Coordinator, Resource Development
Council (RDC), Anchorage, Alaska, said RDC was a membership
funded statewide business association that represented forestry,
oil and gas, mining, tourism, and the fishing industry. She
stated that RDC supported passage of HB 99. She asserted that
the mining industry had been a cornerstone of Alaska's economy.
Many roads and other infrastructure throughout Alaska were
originally constructed to serve the mining industry. She said
RDC believed AMC provided the necessary voice for issues as well
as recommendations and mitigation ideas for Alaska's mineral
prospect and projects. AMC's appointed group made
recommendations to the legislature and the governor in an effort
to promote Alaska's mineral, exploration and development
industry. AMC continued to be an effective means of insuring
policy makers had the benefit of the collective input of lead
practitioners in the mining industry. She explained that mining,
consisting of exploration, development, and production in
Alaska, provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs with a
large payroll of approximately $620 million. She noted that HB
99 had incorporated term limits for commission members and term
limits for members selected as Chairman and Vice Chairman. RDC
believed that the proposed term limits would help to provide for
a fresh prospective on the minerals industry. HB 99 would bring
AMC in alignment with other boards and commissions, extend it
for another ten years, and help keep the members fresh and
active in identifying ways to mitigate constraints on mineral
development in Alaska. She said AMC had a relatively low fiscal
impact and RDC believed that the commission had a significant
impact promoting Alaska's minerals and mineral exploration
development. She explained that AMC was comprised of 11
commission members with broad-based mineral industry expertise
and represented a diverse expertise in mineral exploration and
development. She said RDC urged the committee to pass HB 99.
3:40:41 PM
BILL JEFFRESS, Chairman, Alaska Minerals Commission (AMC),
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
(DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, announced that he was available of
questions.
3:41:19 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL found no questions and asked for closing remarks
from the bill's sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said there were seven operating mines in
the state and the prospects were good for six more with the
potential for many more in the future. He emphasized the need
for Alaska to diversify its economy and resources. He said
Alaska's mining industry was the state's future as well as its
past and AMC would help the state achieve a diversified economic
future.
3:41:43 PM
SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSHB 99(RES) from committee to the
next committee of referral with attached fiscal notes and
individual recommendations.
CHAIR GIESSEL announced that, without objection, CSHB 99(RES)
passed from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.