05/04/1999 08:45 AM House FIN

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Relating to extension of the James Dalton Highway to                                                                       
     the Arctic Ocean.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JEANETTE JAMES  sponsor spoke  in support  of                                                                   
HCR5. She  explained that  the goal of  the resolution  is to                                                                   
complete the  opening of  the Dalton  Highway from  the Yukon                                                                   
River  to  the Arctic  Ocean,  before  the beginning  of  the                                                                   
summer's tourism  season. She  noted that  it is possible  to                                                                   
walk to the Arctic Ocean. The  Dalton Highway was open to the                                                                   
public until the installation  of two oil company checkpoints                                                                   
that are  approximately  eight miles from  the Arctic  Ocean.                                                                   
Visitors must pay $20 dollars  per-person for a tour bus ride                                                                   
past  this  point.  She  noted   that  this  is  a  point  of                                                                   
contention  for  many  people.  She  observed  that  statutes                                                                   
relating  to the  Dalton Highway  refer  to a  road from  the                                                                   
Yukon  River  to the  Arctic  Ocean.  She stressed  that  the                                                                   
public has a right to access the Arctic Ocean.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault  asked what would be done  to protect the                                                                   
security  of  the  oil  companies   operating  in  the  area.                                                                   
Representative  James  stated  that the  resolution  did  not                                                                   
address   security   measures.   She  emphasized   that   the                                                                   
department would need to settle the issue.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Grussendorf asked if  the road would  compete                                                                   
for federal  funds. He noted  that it  is a service  road. He                                                                   
stated that he would support the  resolution, but anticipated                                                                   
that RV parks would result.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault  asked if there  is currently a  route to                                                                   
the end of the  road.  Representative James  pointed out that                                                                   
there is a private road to the  ocean. She stated that people                                                                   
that drive  from Fairbanks should  have access to  the Arctic                                                                   
Ocean.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Therriault  asked  if  there is  land  under  state                                                                   
control  that  would allow  facilities  to  be built  at  the                                                                   
ocean.  Representative  James did  not know.  She  reiterated                                                                   
that the  state should  not restrict  access to public  water                                                                   
bodies.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  G. Davis estimated  that all  of the  land to                                                                   
the beach is under private lease.  He questioned if the point                                                                   
is  to  provide  free  access.   He  stressed  the  need  for                                                                   
cooperation.  He  stated  that  he  did  not  object  to  the                                                                   
resolution, but  estimated that the  ability of the  state to                                                                   
control access would be limited.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster  MOVED to report  CSHCR 5 (TRA)  out of                                                                   
Committee with  the accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSHCR 5 (TRA) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department                                                                    
of Transportation and Public Facilities dated 4/23/99.