03/31/2010 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

         HB 267-SNOW MACHINE USE IN DALTON HWY CORRIDOR                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:17:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR JOHNSON  announced that the  first order of  business is                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 267, "An Act  relating to travel by  snow machine                                                               
within  five  miles  of  the right-of-way  of  the  James  Dalton                                                               
Highway."  [Before the committee was CSHB 267(TRA).]                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:18:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   JOHNSON,  in   response   to  Representative   Seaton,                                                               
confirmed that  no public testimony  will be  taken on HB  267 at                                                               
this time.   He said he knows the bill  is contentious, so public                                                               
testimony will be allowed the next  time it is brought before the                                                               
committee.   In response to  Representative Kawasaki, he  said no                                                               
people are  online to testify and  the bill is being  put forward                                                               
today so that it can be heard later.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:19:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEREK  MILLER, Staff,  Representative  Mike  Kelly, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  introduced  HB  267  on  behalf  of  Representative                                                               
Kelly, joint  prime sponsor.  He  said that since 1980  state law                                                               
has  prohibited  virtually all  off-road  vehicle  use along  the                                                               
Dalton  Highway.   The  bill  would lift  only  the  ban on  snow                                                               
machine use  between the months  of October  1 and April  30 when                                                               
the  tundra  is  frozen.     The  House  Transportation  Standing                                                               
Committee  amended the  bill in  three  ways in  response to  the                                                               
concerns that  were heard:   the prohibition for  snowmachine use                                                               
would be  lifted, but only  to south of Coldfoot  [milepost 176];                                                               
the  existing snowmachine  prohibition  would  take effect  again                                                               
after two  years so  data on  the use can  be utilized  in future                                                               
discussions; and  users would be  required to obtain a  permit so                                                               
usage can  be tracked.   He added that  the bill is  supported by                                                               
the Alaska Outdoor Council and the Alaska Outdoor Alliance.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  JOHNSON  stated that  HB  267  will  be a  policy  call                                                               
because it is equally contentious pro  and con.  He held over the                                                               
bill.