05/03/2002 01:44 PM Senate JUD

               HB 208-AQUATIC FARMS FOR SHELLFISH                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DREW  SCALZI, sponsor of  HB 208, said  the aquatic                                                              
farming act was passed in 1988 to  streamline the process by which                                                              
people interested  in mariculture could acquire  sites for aquatic                                                              
farms.   He said  acquiring sites  had become problematic  because                                                              
people often  found sites conducive  to procreating  species close                                                              
to transportation  routes and applicants were met  with contention                                                              
from individual  landowners or fishermen  who used the sites.   HB
 would require  the Alaska Department of Fish  & Game (ADFG) to                                                              
find 90 specific sites that would  be conducive to both the farmer                                                              
and the people in  the surrounding area.  He said  ADFG would work                                                              
with the Department of Natural Resources  (DNR) and the Department                                                              
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to accomplish this task.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Roger Painter to provide testimony.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROGER PAINTER,  Alaska Shellfish Growers Association,  said HB
 would  provide a way for  the mariculture industry  to partner                                                              
with local  communities to find  sites around communities  seeking                                                              
economic development  and bring aquatic  farms into  production to                                                              
benefit the local  economy.  He said the public  process regarding                                                              
aquatic  farm sites  is very  intensive, and  includes the  Alaska                                                              
Coastal  Zone Management  process, DNR's  best interest  findings,                                                              
involvement  of  the   U.S.  Corps  of  Engineers   in  issues  of                                                              
anchorage, and ample time for public  input.  He said HB 208 would                                                              
not affect that process.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR  asked  if  there  were  any  questions  for  Mr.                                                              
Painter.  There were none.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. RON  LONG said he  was employed by  a shellfish hatchery.   He                                                              
said HB 208 would not change any  priority uses or displace prior,                                                              
existing or  conflicting uses.   He wanted  to reiterate  that the                                                              
bill would not change the public process.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
He said one of the goals of HB 208  was to engage agencies and the                                                              
public  in determining  sites suitable  for aquatic  farming.   He                                                              
said the  intent was  not to  cut corners,  bump people  off their                                                              
sites or  take over anchorages.   He said  the intent of  the bill                                                              
was  to identify  sites that  would work  for the  farmer and  the                                                              
State.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  asked if there were  any questions for  Mr. Long.                                                              
There were none.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  moved  CSHB  208(RES)   out  of  committee  with                                                              
attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being  no objection,  CSHB 208(RES)  moved out of  committee                                                              
with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations.