Legislature(2013 - 2014)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/12/2014 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB244 | |
| HJR22 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HJR 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 244 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 244
"An Act extending the termination date of the
Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management
Areas in Alaska; and providing for an effective date."
1:37:26 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze noted the birthday of President Abraham
Lincoln.
REPRESENTATIVE WES KELLER introduced the bill with a brief
description. He stated that the Constitution advised the
use, conservation and the development of natural resources.
He informed the committee that Alaskans had rights related
to their natural resources. The rights were defined and
laid out in both federal and state levels. He experienced
an erosion of the rights in Alaska, with 66 percent owned
by the federal government. He stated that the Citizens'
Advisory Commission on Federal Areas' (CACFA) was involved
in multiple issues, including the right to access Alaska's
resources, water rights, personal use, substance, mineral
development, access to rural cabins, management of fish and
game and transportation planning. He noted that CACFA
retained a good working relationship with federal agencies
operating in Alaska. He noted that the annual report laid
out the efforts of CACFA. He mentioned a CACFA conference
about federal overreach including invited testimony. All
testifiers were required to present a solution. The
testimony was captured on record and available by
transcript online.
1:44:13 PM
Representative Keller described the commission. Regulations
that eroded rights were carefully tracked. He noted that
Stan Leaphart worked hard to track the various agencies. He
detailed the recent critical habitat label of the Cook
Inlet that resulted from the Endangered Species Act. He
explained that the furlough prevented response from the
federal agencies regarding the summit's findings.
1:46:45 PM
Representative Keller noted the names of the Citizen's
Advisory Commission on Federal Areas. The members worked on
a volunteer basis in Anchorage. He listed the members as
Rod Arno, Senator John Coghill, Mark Fish, Teresa Hanson,
Charlie Lean, Kathleen Liska, Mike Meekin, Warren Olsen,
Ron Somerville, Susan Smith, Frank Woods, and himself. He
spoke to the commitment of his fellow members.
Representative Keller stated that the bill moved the
commission's sunset date to 2021.
Co-Chair Stoltze added that the budget would continue to
support the commission if a decision was made to extend it.
1:48:31 PM
STAN LEAPHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITIZEN'S ADVISORY
COMMISSION ON FEDERAL AREAS (via teleconference) testified
on behalf of the legislation. He had 8 of the 12 commission
members with him working on a follow-up for the August
summit. The group refined the recommendations seen in the
annual report. He pointed out that the commission had
invited federal agency representatives to gather in
October, but the national government's furlough prevented
the meeting. He met with regional directors of the United
States National Park Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, the United States Forest Service and the
Secretary of the Interior Special Assistant.
Mr. Leaphart informed the committee that the commission
shared the transcript from the summit with a request for
feedback. The commission did receive feedback from the
United States National Park Service. He pointed out that
work with federal issues was increasing daily. He noted
four major management plans that were underway. The plans
would dictate the uses of the lands by the stakeholders. He
noted interest in the stakeholder's concerns.
1:51:20 PM
Representative Gara asked about the number of personnel
working in Mr. Leaphart's office.
Mr. Leaphart replied that two people worked in his office.
He stated that the office served the general public by
answering pertinent questions. Employees also reviewed
proposed management plans. The work load involved reviewing
the National Park Service Compendium. Attendance for
meetings involving federal agencies and the public
comprised another piece of the workload. The office
monitored the activities of the four major federal land
management agencies.
Co-Chair Stoltze noted one full-time and one part-time
position listed in the fiscal note.
Mr. Leaphart replied that the part-time position worked
full time for nine months.
Representative Gara asked how the $285 thousand was spent.
Co-Chair Stoltze referred to the fiscal note.
1:53:49 PM
Representative Gara clarified that $230 thousand was spent
on salary for one and one-half positions.
Mr. Leaphart clarified that the $230 thousand covered one
and three-quarters positions.
Vice-Chair Neuman asked about the recommendations made to
the legislature. He wondered which recommendations were
acted on and implemented in the last couple of years.
Mr. Leaphart replied that the commission made
recommendations regarding a local hire program, which
involved working with a congressional delegation to make
changes in the program. The program employed several
hundred Alaskans seasonally. Although the program did not
involve action by the legislature, it involved action by
the congressional delegation. He mentioned a new task force
assembled by the Bureau of Land Management addressing
placer mining policy.
1:56:08 PM
Vice-Chair Neuman explained that he wanted to know about
the commission's accomplishments.
Co-Chair Stoltze considered it an accomplishment to stop a
federal process. He wondered if the commission had halted a
federal process.
Representative Keller replied that he took testimony from
around the state regarding federal overreach. Some
successes involved interactions with federal agencies.
Policy changes were made as a result. He noted that Mr.
Leaphart worked with state agencies such as Department of
Natural Resources.
Representative Keller stated that recommendations were made
by the commission regarding federal lawsuits. He
acknowledged that the Department of Law did not always heed
recommendations made by CACFA.
1:58:53 PM
Representative Guttenberg asked about the address, 3700
Airport Road.
Mr. Leaphart replied that the 3700 Airport Road was located
at the corner of University Avenue and Airport Way.
Representative Guttenberg applauded the commission's work
on the wood bison. He found some federal recommendations
inconsistent. He wondered if the issues were voted on by
the members.
Representative Keller replied that both the annual report
and a report on the summit were included in the committee
back up. The report did not include commission
endorsements.
Representative Guttenberg stated that reports generally
included majority votes.
2:01:21 PM
Representative Gara noted mention of recommending
litigation and fighting federal overreach. He understood
that the governor also supported the movement. He asked
what the commission was doing to enhance the governor's
efforts.
2:02:38 PM
Mr. Leaphart clarified that the commission worked closely
with ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act). The program reviewed similar management plans and
regulations and weighed them against the effect of the
state's management prerogatives. He mentioned the
commission's newsletter and website. The information was
available to stakeholders and public groups in an effort to
incorporate their views. He provided an example related to
a bath house in the Tongass National Forest.
2:04:21 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze viewed the commission in the same way that
he viewed the Minerals or Forest Advisory Commissions. He
suggested that the state would engage in fewer lawsuits and
press releases about them with less federal overreach. He
noted that the state was in a reactive mode.
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony
2:05:28 PM
Representative Costello discussed FN 1 from the Department
of Natural Resources for $285,300 from FY 15 through FY 20
for one full-time and one part-time position.
Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to REPORT HB 244 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 244 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a previously published fiscal
impact note: FN1 (DNR).
2:06:46 PM