03/28/2011 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

         HB 185-EXEMPT DISCHARGES FROM USE OF MUNITIONS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:08:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SEATON  announced that  the first  order of  business is                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 185,  "An  Act  relating  to an  exemption  from                                                               
authorizations  that  may  be  required   by  the  Department  of                                                               
Environmental  Conservation  for  the  firing  or  other  use  of                                                               
munitions on active  ranges."  [Before the  committee was Version                                                               
27-LS0506\E,  Bullard,  3/14/11, adopted  as  the  work draft  on                                                               
3/18/11.]                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:09:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   TAMMIE   WILSON,   Alaska   State   Legislature,                                                               
referenced  the  letter  from  the  Department  of  Environmental                                                               
Conservation   (DEC)  [Included   in   members'  packets]   which                                                               
supported  an exemption  for the  military from  State of  Alaska                                                               
permitting for [active firing]  range requirements under Alaska's                                                               
Clean Water  Act.  She  pointed out  that a [federal]  permit was                                                               
still necessary,  but that  proposed HB  185 would  eliminate the                                                               
need for permit duplication by the state.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:10:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SEATON asked  if the required permit would  be a general                                                               
permit, as opposed to a specific permit for a particular range.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:10:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T.  WILSON asked  that the  response be  from "the                                                               
attorney ... let's make sure we get it right."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:11:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN  TOMICH KENT,  Director, Division  of  Water, Department  of                                                               
Environmental  Conservation (DEC),  agreed that  proposed HB  185                                                               
would prevent  duplication of  permitting, as  a permit  from the                                                               
State of Alaska  would be issued in conjunction  with the federal                                                               
program.  She  stated that none of the  conditions for protection                                                               
would be  changed with  the proposed  bill.   In response  to the                                                               
earlier question  from Representative  Seaton, she said  there is                                                               
not  a  general  permit  for   munitions  use,  as  currently  an                                                               
individual permit is required by each facility.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:12:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SEATON,  noting that although public  testimony had been                                                               
previously closed,  asked if there  were any  further statements.                                                               
There being none, public testimony remained closed.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:13:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GARDNER, reading  from the  DEC letter,  asked if                                                               
proposed  HB 185  would now  require just  one permit  instead of                                                               
two.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON stated that was correct.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:14:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MUNOZ  moved  to  report CSHB  185,  Version  27-                                                               
LS0506\E,  Bullard, 3/14/11,  out  of  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being                                                               
no  objection,   CSHB  185(RES)  was  reported   from  the  House                                                               
Resources Standing Committee.