Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
02/08/2017 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission | |
| HB40 | |
| HB111 | |
| HJR5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 40 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | HJR 5 | ||
HJR 5-ENDORSING ANWR LEASING; RELATED ISSUES
7:02:40 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON announced that the final order of business
would be CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5(AET), Urging the
United States Congress to pass legislation to open the coastal
plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas
development; urging the United States Department of the Interior
to recognize the private property rights of owners of land in
and adjacent to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; relating to
oil and gas exploration, development, production, and royalties;
and relating to renewable and alternative energy technologies.
7:02:48 PM
MIKE SATRE expressed his support of HJR 5, and urged the opening
of leasing and oil and gas development in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). He said Alaskans and previous
legislatures have historically supported this action. Mr. Satre
explained the resolution does not open all of ANWR to oil and
gas development, but does open approximately 0.01 percent of the
refuge close to existing development on the North Slope. Alaska
has a history of responsibly developing oil and gas resources in
that area, and can leverage the existing infrastructure, in
order to provide oil and gas for the decades of world demand
ahead. Alaska's future depends upon increased oil and gas
development on state and federal lands. Taxing a declining
resource will not provide fiscal stability because the state
needs more oil in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. This issue
is critical to his family's future. Mr. Satre urged the
committee to expeditiously pass the resolution.
7:05:26 PM
FRANK BERGSTROM provided a brief description of his many
positive experiences on the North Slope and said he intends to
return. Alaska needs ANWR's oil, and the magnitude of [oil and
gas] development there is minimal; in fact, it is known it would
take only 2,000 acres to recover all of the oil located there.
He said there is no unmanageable downside to the thoughtful
development of ANWR. At [Prudhoe Bay], one sees a large
industrial plant: the footprint of development is small. This
is a wonderful opportunity and he encouraged the committee to
support the development of ANWR.
7:07:24 PM
JULIA YORK informed the committee she was born and raised in
Fairbanks and holds a master's degree in biology. She said she
is aware of the state's budget crisis as her family has been
affected, but the crisis is occurring because the state has been
dependent upon oil revenue for too long; it is time to invest in
a more reliable future for Alaska. The bill is financially and
environmentally irresponsible and is based on outdated polling.
In fact, oil development cannot be done in an environmentally
responsible manner on the tundra. Ms. York said she has been to
the North Slope oil fields and advised that restoration by oil
companies after spills and disturbance is measured by "how much
area is green," which is achieved by planting grass. She opined
this is a misunderstanding of the coastal plain and is
misleading; furthermore, the testimony of oil companies should
be discounted as they have a direct financial incentive. Ms.
York said this is not a matter of 2,000 acres of land, but of
wide-reaching and permanent effects on a sensitive ecosystem,
including multiplying the effect of climate change. She
concluded that villages are in imminent danger.
7:11:08 PM
STEVEN GREENLAW said he has lived in Alaska for four years and
is a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He stated
there is a moral imperative to protecting ANWR because the
dignity of the human person is tied to the land, and opening up
the area for oil development would be a shortsighted and short-
term benefit for a few. Further, there is an urgent need to
substitute renewable resources for fossil fuels, for a new
economy in Alaska that values its indigenous voices and lives.
Mr. Greenlaw urged the co-chairs to consider the dignity of a
human person in their ethics; to Gwich'in, ANWR is home and
turning the land into resources would alienate and displace
them. He quoted from a source in regard to the environmental
crisis and the suffering of the excluded [document not
provided], and expressed his opposition to HJR 5 "for the 1002
area."
7:13:19 PM
RICHARD GLENN, Vice President, Land and Natural Resources,
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), informed the committee
ASRC, together with the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation, own
approximately 91,000 acres of land within the coastal plain of
ANWR. He said ownership of the land is true, legitimate, and
legal ownership of the land, but its owners are prevented from
developing their land unless Congress acts to open ANWR for
exploration. The 13,000 shareholders of ASRC, the village
corporation, residents of Kaktovik, and the North Slope Borough
have fought for the responsible exploration of the coastal
plain, which can be done safely on the land where residents
hunt, fish, and catch caribou. Mr. Glenn advised only through
exploration of the area will a determination be made that there
are resources for development - and the location of said
resources - so responsible decisions can be made. He urged for
the passage of the resolution.
7:15:37 PM
KARA MORIARTY, President/CEO, Alaska Oil and Gas Association,
said she was representing the Alaska oil and gas industry and
referred to a letter of support for the resolution provided in
the committee packet. She said opportunities to explore for
resources cannot commence until the land is available for
purchasing a lease. The resolution endorses Congress opening
the land for the leasing process, which is extensive and
requires environmental impact studies before and after lease
sales. Furthermore, she pointed out the 1002 area was set aside
specifically for oil and gas development in the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and in the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), in order to protect
"90-some percent" of the refuge and allow development in a
certain area. Ms. Moriarty opined safe development is underway
"right next door" and will continue for decades. She said the
issue is on the national stage, and the industry has long
supported increased access to this area.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked for the average cost of a lease.
MS. MORIARTY stated that is very difficult to speculate; for
example, lease sales can generate from $200,000 to
$2,100,000,000 in bids.
7:18:41 PM
ALEXANDER GEDSCHINSKY acknowledged the state depends on oil and
the exploration for oil should not be unreasonably stopped;
however, ANWR should not be exploited. He pointed out
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. has announced a massive discovery of
oil in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA), which can
be brought to market quickly and cheaply. He said he was
speaking for younger residents whose voices are not heard, and
questioned why when forty people testified in opposition to the
bill and one was in favor, legislators continued to support the
bill. He asked whether constituents' comments matter as much as
those of oil companies.
7:20:23 PM
PRINCESS JOHNSON drew attention to a map in the committee room
and pointed out about 95 percent of the North Slope is open to
oil development; of the 5 percent left, she questioned when
there will be protection for the remaining places. She said she
is Neets'aii Gwich'in, a member of the Fairbanks Climate Action
Coalition, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and has been speaking
out on this issue, along with her home village of Vashraii K'oo,
or Arctic Village, since she was 15 years old. Ms. Johnson
referred to earlier testimony, noting people love Alaska because
of its hunting, fishing, and natural resources. In regard to
transparency, equity, and [governmental] process, she said over
the past three years the U.S. Department of Interior updated the
comprehensive conservation plan for ANWR, and during public
testimony in Fairbanks the majority of Alaskans opposed
development. As a result of that public process, the Obama
Administration recommended to Congress to designate wilderness
for the coastal plain of ANWR thus the resolution disregards,
silences, and marginalizes the voices of Alaskans. In addition,
continuing to privatize and enclose Alaska robs residents of
their ability to enjoy the land and to feed their families. Ms.
Johnson said the belief that all Alaskans want development in
the coastal plain of ANWR is untrue.
7:22:47 PM
ANNE SENECA, Spokesperson, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA)
Alaska, informed the committee CEA Alaska seeks to raise
awareness about Alaska's contribution to domestic energy
production for the Lower 48. Alaska's onshore and offshore
production supplies oil to America's western region and
establishes America's geopolitical presence in the Arctic
region, which plays a role in consumer energy prices. The
Arctic is a region of growing geopolitical significance, and CEA
Alaska works to remind consumers of the importance of the Arctic
region. Representative Westlake's leadership affords CEA Alaska
the opportunity to educate consumers and advocate for lower
energy prices through the following key points: only 8 percent
of ANWR would be considered for exploration; if oil is
discovered, 2,000 acres of the 1002 area would be used for
surface structures; exploration would have a positive impact on
the economy in Alaska and the Lower 48; there will be a need for
tens of thousands of manufacturing and service jobs nationwide;
history shows that oil and gas development and wildlife can
peacefully coexist in the Arctic; in the oilfields there is a
healthy population of brown bear, fox, musk ox, birds, and fish;
dependence on imported oil contributes to national debt and
threatens national security. Ms. Seneca concluded CEA Alaska
supports an energy policy that includes renewable energy sources
and fossil fuels, and supports exploration in the 1002 area of
ANWR.
7:25:59 PM
DONETTA TRITT said she is originally from Arctic Village. She
informed the committee in late July or August, the Porcupine
Caribou Herd leaves the 1001 area, also known as the calving
grounds in the refuge, and then migrates to Canada. The
migration route travels near Arctic Village, providing for the
village as it has done for thousands of years. However in 2015,
for an unknown reason, the caribou traveled directly to Canada,
and that fall elders in Arctic Village were sick because Native
foods were not available that winter. Ms. Tritt opined this is
a hint of what could happen.
7:27:43 PM
RON YARNELL said he owns a wilderness guiding business, All
About Adventure, and has been leading trips in the Brooks Range
since the early '70s and in ANWR since 1976. The Arctic refuge
has provided his living for over 40 years, and for others as
well. He questioned why some are anxious to open Alaska's
treasures because over 95 percent of the north slope of the
Brooks Range is already open to oil development, or is being
opened, and opined protecting the 5 percent left is enough of a
compromise. Mr. Yarnell inquired as to why one would destroy
what one loves about Alaska: wilderness. His significant
amount of experience in the coastal plain reveals that a unique
wilderness experience, available only there, would not survive
oil development. He said he has guided thousands across the
coastal plain of the refuge and opined one should not vote for
this resolution if one has not spent time there. In fact, the
federal government is needed to protect special areas from local
pressure which seeks to exploit other resources. Mr. Yarnell
urged the committee to drop this resolution and concentrate
development in Prudhoe Bay, which has high potential and fewer
conflicts.
7:30:12 PM
NARIEEZH PETER said she lives in Fairbanks and is Neets'aii
Gwich'in and Navajo. She expressed her belief that not all
Alaskans support oil drilling, especially in ANWR. Ms. Peter
said oil is not bad, but through its extraction humans destroy
the world, cause climate change, and hurt the land, which is
bad. In the future she wants there to be caribou, moose,
salmon, ducks, and blueberries that have supplied people with
food and energy for generations; however, opening ANWR for
drilling will disturb wildlife, the Porcupine Caribou Herd may
be forced to find new birthing grounds, and the amount of salmon
may be decreased. In addition, plants may become polluted which
will diminish Native food sources thus ANWR should be protected.
Ms. Peter went to Arctic Village with her family and wants to go
again to see the beauty and eat Native foods. She said this is
her future. In response to Co-Chair Josephson, she said she is
12 years old and goes to middle school in Fairbanks.
7:32:45 PM
MATT GILBERT said he is Gwich'in Athabascan and is self-
employed. He has a master's degree in rural development and is
speaking from an economic point of view and from his Gwich'in
culture worldview. He has learned the legislature gives up to a
$500 million tax credit to oil companies just for drilling. In
addition, oil companies make more from Alaska wellheads than
from those in other countries - a 30 percent return - which he
compared to corporate welfare. Mr. Gilbert opined if the state
stopped the aforementioned [corporate welfare], it wouldn't need
to develop ANWR. Also, climate change is worsening, and
continuing the use of fossil fuels is suicidal; he urged for
diversification and suggested the use of federal grants for
renewable energy.
7:35:06 PM
ENEI PETER said she is Navajo and (indisc.) and the mother of
three Gwich'in Alaska Native daughters. She asked the committee
to oppose HJR 5 because disturbing the refuge would be an
affront to the Gwich'in way of life and to the cultural and
subsistence survival of Alaska Native people; further, the
severity of climate change demands that resources remain in the
ground in some places. Opening more places for development will
prevent the U.S. from meeting its commitment to curb climate
change. Ms. Peter said there are other ways to find new
opportunities for the economy and for jobs; in fact, there is no
other choice but to diversify the state's economy. The existing
policies that encourage more oil and gas development are
outdated, and are based on a history of colonization and
corporate structures that were set up to profit from Native
people.
7:37:37 PM
LINDA DEFOLIART spoke in opposition to HJR 5. Although oil
companies assure development can occur safely and with a small
footprint, climate change is warming the Arctic ground bringing
different conditions such as thawing, freezing, sinking,
heaving, and melting, which are unknown conditions. She
questioned how oil companies can guarantee safety following the
many spills from drilling and transporting oil; in addition, the
viewshed in the refuge is huge and equipment could been seen for
miles. The original footprint for Prudhoe Bay was 2,100 acres
and is now over 600,000 acres. If the current course continues,
eventually there will be no more fossil fuel, and she opined
Alaska needs to find long term fiscal stability from another
source. Ms. DeFoliart urged for the committee to take the long
view and save the refuge for its intrinsic value and sustainable
renewable resources.
7:38:48 PM
JUSTINA BEAGNYAM spoke in opposition to HJR 5. She said she
moved from Texas last year to Alaska because it is the last
great wilderness, and she wished to merge her education in
business with a career in environmental policies. She read a
quote [document not provided]. Ms. Beagnym pointed out ANWR is
one of the last remaining intact ecosystems in the world with a
rich and fragile habitat, heritage, and culture. Ms. Beagnyam
agreed there is too much reliance on fossil fuels and urged for
a transition to renewable energy with no new leases on any land,
and further research into renewable energy, which would lead to
a more diversified economy.
7:41:55 PM
JENNA JONAS stated the coastal plain of ANWR is a special place
to her as she works as a guide in summer and explores and hunts
with a dog team in fall, winter, and spring. Her personal
experience has shown ANWR is a lush and delicate ecosystem;
further, over the past 10 years, she has studied this issue,
"and how much the narrative is changing." Decisions made today
will have repercussions far in the future due to Alaska's
position in the global crisis of climate change. Alaskans take
pride in their independence, the land, their management of fish
and game, and their respect for Native cultures. Ms. Jonas
opined drilling for oil in one of the world's last great
ecosystems does not honor the aforementioned values or improve
the lives of future generations. She encouraged the committee
to recognize that the value of oil will increase as it becomes
scarcer, to value the opinion of those who live in the region,
and to consider the long term effects of its decision on future
generations.
7:43:53 PM
CHRISTINA EDWIN stated her hope is the legislature is based on
the core ideology of respect, obligation to the community, and
stewardship. Based on this core ideology, she said she was
present for the public process and noted there are different
visions for the future: some wish to drill in the Arctic and
some do not. Ms. Edwin urged members of the committee to follow
their core ideology and serve their community; her core ideology
is to oppose the resolution.
7:46:19 PM
KEITH SILVER spoke in support of HJR 5 and advised he does not
work for an oil company. The issue under discussion addresses
0.5 of 1 percent of ANWR and can be compared to Point Thomson,
which is nearby and is an example of oil development done right
in a small development. Point Thomson has been developed with
long reach drilling and stringent safety environmental
standards, as has Alpine. Mr. Silver said 70 percent of
Alaskans agree with developing ANWR, which should be their
decision. Recently, 9,000 jobs have been lost mostly due to the
lack of oil and gas development work. He observed the 1002 area
is about 150 miles north of Arctic Village over a mountain
range, and the land has multiple uses. He urged for passage of
the resolution in order to put oil in the pipeline and people to
work.
7:48:24 PM
MISTY NICKOLI said she is a lifelong Alaskan from Fairbanks.
She read a quote [document not provided]. Ms. Nickoli said she
and others have met with numerous legislators who have expressed
the following: 1.) a desire to maintain the Alaska way of life
and its ecosystems; 2.) frustration that "big oil" spent money
from Permanent Fund Dividends (PFDs) instead of risking their
tax subsidies; 3.) support of the economy by big oil is
overshadowed by the fact the state does not profit, but pays out
$319 million annually to big oil for mostly out-of-state
workers, and Alaskan employees are the first to be laid off.
Further, many legislators indicated an unwillingness to contest
the refuge as that would mean political suicide. Ms. Nickoli
said anti-Alaska policies cannot be conducted in shadow, and it
is past time for legislators and Alaskans to develop sustainable
industries and to stop the welfare system provided to big oil.
7:52:18 PM
KERI PETERSON spoke against the bill. Her personal experience
from spending a lot of time in the refuge is that it is not a
wasteland, unlike what politicians and the oil companies say.
She said she was happy that about 150 years ago, others had the
foresight to preserve Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon,
and other national parks, and ANWR is more wild and special.
She worked at Prudhoe Bay, which is the opposite of wilderness,
and it would be criminal to put this type of development in a
pristine wilderness; in fact, there is no true wilderness left
in the Lower 48, and now that it is known the earth is finite,
existing intact wildlife systems should be preserved. The
entire refuge, including the 1002 area, is critical habitat for
wildlife, and its loss would be devastating, especially to the
caribou and the Gwich'in people. If the refuge is not drilled,
it will still exist after the oil is gone, which is important
for tourism.
7:54:10 PM
ODIN MILLER said according to a 2010 estimate, 95 percent of the
food Alaskans eat is imported [document not provided]. Although
Alaskans pride themselves on self-reliance, the state is
vulnerable to disruptions in its food pipeline, such as after
[the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]. A large portion
of the 5 percent of local and wild food sources comes from
salmon, salmonberries, and caribou, which are depended upon by
indigenous rural Alaskans. Mr. Miller said he is a lifelong
Alaskan and is an anthropology student studying
human/reindeer/caribou interactions in Northwest Alaska.
Caribou are facing challenges from climate change and have
disappeared from parts of the circumpolar North, and caribou as
a food source cannot be replaced. He questioned whether one can
trust a presidential administration that is going to dismantle
existing environmental regulations, to conduct responsible
environmental impact studies in ANWR.
7:56:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked to call for the question.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON said there is no question.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON offered to make a motion to move [the
resolution] out of committee.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON said, "I would decline that, if I can."
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON opined a vote on her request is needed.
7:57:32 PM
The committee took an at ease from 7:57 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.
8:25:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON removed [her request to make a motion].
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON, stating there was no objection, continued
public testimony.
8:26:01 PM
SAM ALEXANDER spoke in opposition to HJR 5. He stated he is a
Gwich'in from Fort Yukon and a lifelong Alaskan who is tired of
seeing Alaska kick the can of fiscal responsibility down the
road. For 40 years oil fields have bestowed immense wealth upon
the state, but the state remains addicted to oil and more
revenue, and willing to gamble its children's birthright to a
truly wild and natural world. As a veteran serving in Iraq, he
saw the waste and death the effect of greed for oil had on the
Iraqi people. The same oil companies are destroying Alaska and
do not have a long term interest in the state, except to make
money. Mr. Alexander advised drilling for oil will not provide
national security; in fact, oil development contributes to peril
by causing climate change and emitting greenhouse gasses. He
urged the committee to stop gambling with the future of Alaska.
8:27:37 PM
JESSICA GIRARD stated she is a disabled combat veteran who
served twice in Iraq. She said the addiction to oil sent her to
Iraq, and she has been fighting against the addiction ever
since. The answer to security is to "transition" so wars are
not fought over oil, and refugees will not need to come from
other states to untainted places. Alaska has immense resources
and a culture that provides depth and essence to the land. Ms.
Girard served in the military for the diversity of culture and
said the Gwich'in cannot be separated from the caribou they
depend upon, or from the land which is theirs.
8:29:42 PM
MICHELLE TOOHEY stated she is one of the 70 percent of Alaskans
who support opening exploration and production of oil and gas in
the small portion known as the 1002 area of ANWR. The
percentage of 70 percent support comes from polls conducted in
2016 which also showed support has been consistent since the
1990s. Strong support should not be a surprise as the 1002 area
was intentionally set aside from being designated wilderness as
part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act; in
fact, 19 million acres is federally designated wilderness and 92
percent of the refuge is closed for development. Ms. Toohey
opined showing Congress that Alaskans support the resolution is
a must. She recommended the resolution move through the process
as quickly as possible in order to inform Congress that Alaskans
firmly stand behind oil and gas development in ANWR.
8:31:38 PM
MELINDA CHASE, spokesperson, Fairbanks Climate Coalition, said
she strongly believes fossil fuel should be left in the ground
because Interior Alaska is experiencing an increasingly warming
climate. Last year in the Interior, there were four deaths
related to open water and two of the victims had traditional
knowledge of the land; however, the weather has become variable.
She urged for the committee to look beyond Alaska to the
environment of the world, and advance Alaska to a more just
economy, as children need the land. Ms. Chase referred to
national plans to keep the atmosphere clear. As the only Arctic
state in the nation, Alaska has a responsibility to its children
and the nation, and she urged that the resolution not pass, and
for members of the committee to educate themselves on the
changing climate and its effects on Alaska.
8:34:39 PM
SHANNON BUSBY said she was speaking in opposition to HJR 5. The
practice of assigning numbers to places distances one from a
sense of place. The beautiful coastal plain and ANWR are
beautiful places to be left untouched.
8:35:33 PM
BARBARA HUFF TUCKESS, Director, Legislative Affairs, Teamsters
Local 959, spoke in support of the committee substitute (CS) for
HJR 5. Teamsters Local 959 represents approximately 7,000
members working in industries except for fish, and represents
members who work in the oil and gas industry. The opportunity
for Congress to open the 1002 area and ANWR would create
additional jobs as well as put additional barrels of oil in the
pipeline. She directed attention to her written testimony
provided in the committee packet.
8:37:16 PM
KIM HEACOX said he was opposed to HJR 5. He is a contract
writer with National Geographic who has lived in Alaska for 35
years, and has visited the coastal plain of ANWR which he found
to be a beautiful and compelling place. Mr. Heacox opined wild,
natural beauty is essential to one's mental and spiritual health
and inspires one to care for the planet. He read a quote
[document not provided]. Although burning oil has brought
wealth, it would be a poor decision to drill for oil and gas in
the 1002 area, which is the biological heart of ANWR. He read
another quote [document not provided]. Science warns if 20
percent of known oil reserves in the world are burned, the
global environment and the geopolitical sphere will be
destabilized and condemn future generations to a diminished
quality of life. However, the GOP in Congress refuses to
acknowledge human-caused climate change. He read another quote
[document not provided]. Mr. Heacox has heard fears that the
fossil fuel economy is becoming immoral, in a manner similar to
200 years ago in the Old South, when its economy was based on
slavery. He concluded drilling for oil is an economic narcotic
and a short term solution to a long term problem, and suggested
the clean energy revolution is waiting.
8:40:35 PM
JEANINE ST. JOHN said she was representing the Lynden family of
transportation and logistics companies, which is a multimodal
transportation company providing transportation links that bring
essential goods and services to Alaska, and transporting Alaska
products to world markets for over 100 years, and she further
described Lynden companies' services. Ms. St. John said Alaska
is a resource state and all benefit from a healthful economy;
Alaskans rely on the ability to develop resources whether they
are fish, minerals, oil and gas, and Alaska's robust economy is
based on the ability to produce resources. She said Lynden's
support of the development of the 1002 area is based on history
that development of energy resources can be accomplished in an
environmentally safe manner. She stated concern about the
recession and the budget deficit and, on behalf of Lynden and
its over 900 Alaska employees, urged support for HJR 5.
8:42:48 PM
SARAH JAMES said she against HJR 5 and grew up in the Arctic
Village area where she and her family hunt, fish, and gather in
a remote village and live a good life. She is proud Gwich'in
Athabascan Alaskan, and (indisc.) Indian, an elder, and she
respects elders of the past. She said she was speaking on
behalf of the Gwich'in nation, and she was one of four chosen to
speak for her nation, for the caribou, and her way of life. In
Arctic Village in 1988, there was a rebirth of the Gwich'in
nation after it was divided by the U.S. and Canada border.
Before first contact, the coastal plain of ANWR was the
birthplace of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and was not threatened
by oil and gas development. Since then, the Gwich'in nation
fought hard with others and won battles without compromise to
say "no" to oil and gas. Ms. James stated 75 percent of her
food is wild meat, mostly caribou, which also provides materials
for clothing, arts and crafts, and tools. She further described
life and a culture focused on caribou, and urged the committee
to permanently protect the coastal plain of ANWR, which is a
sacred place.
8:47:02 PM
ELLA EDE said she is one of thousands of Alaskans who have been
laid off due to industry layoffs in the past few years. She
said she was proud of having worked in the industry for over 25
years in the environmental field and stakeholder relations, and
helping the industry responsibly develop the North Slope. Ms.
Ede questioned why anyone would oppose the resolution, and
expressed her support of HJR 5 on behalf of her husband and four
children. She said she hopes her children will be able to live
in Alaska and earn a living wage. Her entire family is in
support of opening ANWR and continuing to develop resources,
which is mandated by the state constitution, the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, and Native corporations. Ms. Ede said
she was not paid to testify, but felt it was important to speak
on behalf of the resolution.
8:49:33 PM
MICHELLE EGAN said she was speaking on behalf of the Alyeska
Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) in support of HJR 5.
Expanded access to responsible development of oil and natural
gas resources on the North Slope is vitally important to
national energy security, job prosperity, the Alaska economy,
and the future of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The
ongoing success of the pipeline system is dependent upon healthy
levels of Alaska crude oil production; in fact, TAPS once
delivered 2,100,000 barrels of oil per day, but in 2016, after
the first throughput increase since 2002, delivery averaged
517,000 barrels per day. Although Alyeska can respond, the
lesser flow creates long term challenges that will grow in
difficulty if the decline trend continues. The most effective
solution is to deliver more oil into TAPS from the North Slope.
Ms. Egan said Alyeska strongly supports responsible exploration
efforts that result in increased throughput into TAPS, including
the 1002 area of ANWR.
8:51:49 PM
CARL PORTMAN, Deputy Director, Resource Development Council
(RDC), informed the committee RDC strongly supports HJR 5 and
has consistently supported the opening of the 1002 area of ANWR
to oil and gas development. According to a study, oil and
development in ANWR could increase domestic production from
510,000 to nearly 1,500,000 barrels per day for approximately 12
years, saving the nation billions of dollars in imported oil,
creating thousands of new job, refilling TAPS and generating new
state and federal revenue. He said the 1002 area is the most
prospective conventional onshore prospect in the country,
holding an estimated 5.7 [billion] to 16 billion barrels of
technically recoverable oil. Not one acre of designated
wilderness would be disturbed by opening the 1002 area due to
advances in technology; it is possible to develop the energy
reserves inside ANWR using only a fraction of the area and
without significant disturbance to wildlife. He concluded that
the 1002 area of ANWR should be open to exploration and
development for national security and the Alaska economy,
because the Arctic outer continental shelf (OCS) is not
available, and RDC strongly urges for the passage of HJR 5.
8:54:00 PM
CAROLYN KREMERS said she has lived in Alaska for thirty years
and served in Russia for two years as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar.
In 1999, she began writing a poem which she submitted as her
testimony in opposition to HJR 5. She read from the poem in
part [document not provided].
8:56:44 PM
JAMES SQUYRES recommended a book on ANWR and spoke in support of
HJR 5. He urged for the bill to move from committee.
8:57:38 PM
JOHN HYDE spoke in opposition to the bill. He questioned how
much the oil in the 1002 area is worth, in order to define
whether it is worth the risk of destroying what exists there.
He observed most wildlife refuges and national parks have a
buffer zone surrounding them, but ANWR has none, and wildlife
does not adhere to boundaries. In his experience working for
the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, he learned safety cannot
be guaranteed; for example, shortly after the [Exxon Valdez oil
spill of 3/24/28], he witnessed what was caused by human error,
and all errors cannot be prevented.
9:00:04 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH directed attention to a letter provided in
the committee packet from Governor Walker that indicated the
governor's support for HJR 5. He questioned whether comments
from Representative Westlake's staff should be heard at this
time.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON expressed his confidence that Representative
Westlake supports moving the resolution from committee.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH encouraged a yes vote on the resolution.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON addressed the witnesses in the room who
testified about their concerns, and opined their concerns are
not wrong in their "long view" of [environmental impacts to the
planet]; however, the state needs revenue, which is also an
important factor.
9:02:57 PM
The committee took a brief at ease.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON announced public testimony was reopened.
9:05:08 PM
KRISTINA OLESKA (indisc.) said she does not want the resolution
to pass. Her community of Sutton has experienced what happens
when the fossil fuel industry destroys habitat; Moose Creek is a
place that has taken millions of dollars, work by the community,
and decades, to return to "a fraction of what it was in the
past." She pointed out the oil and gas industry has a poor
record of placing the health and safety of people and the
environment over that of its profits. In Alaska, the Exxon
Valdez oil spill affected the economy through the losses in
commercial fishing, recreation, and tourism. She opined there
is a need for the state to stop giving [disasters] a chance.
The former chief executive officer of the company responsible
for the Exxon Valdez spill is now the Secretary of State, and
she does not trust him or the federal administration to protect
the lives of Alaskans, thus it is now up to the committee. She
referred to recent oil spills and other disasters and opined the
state cannot afford to clean up after industry - putting the
burden on the younger generation - and she urged the committee
to not pass the resolution.
9:07:49 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON closed public testimony.
9:08:05 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR said she shares concerns and the sense of urgency
about climate change; however, the state's current revenue
situation is very resource dependent. She recalled during
former Governor Sarah Palin's administration there was a
statewide energy plan coordinator and a climate change
subcabinet, and cautioned the state has missed opportunities
without those positions in place. Co-Chair Tarr expressed her
hope the current administration will reconvene the subcabinet,
and spoke of relevant legislation that will come before the
committee. The committee seeks to support environmentally
responsible development, to meet the state's energy needs, and
to share concerns about the urgency of climate change action.
9:10:10 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR moved to report [CSHJR 5(AET)] out of committee
with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal
note.
CO-CHAIR TARR objected.
9:10:39 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Birch, Johnson,
Rauscher, Talerico, Drummond, Parish, and Josephson voted in
favor of CSHJR 5(AET). Representative Tarr voted against it.
Therefore, CSHJR 5 (AET) was reported out of the House Resources
Standing Committee by a vote of 7-1.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| House Resources 2017 AOGCC.ppt |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
|
| House Resources 2017 AOGCC.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB040 CS ver U.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 Summary of changes.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 Supporting Documents 1.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB 40 support.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 1 vers D.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 2 vers D.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 3 vers D.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 1 vers U.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 2 vers U.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| hb040 fiscal note 3 vers U.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 CS ver U.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 Summary of changes.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |
| HB040 Supporting Documents 1.pdf |
HRES 2/8/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 40 |