Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
01/27/2017 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR6 | |
| HB6 | |
| HJR5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 6-SUPPORT ROAD: KING COVE & COLD BAY
1:17:43 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6, Expressing the Alaska
State Legislature's support and appreciation for legislation
introduced by the state's congressional delegation that would
allow for the construction of a single-lane gravel road through
the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, connecting the community
of King Cove with the Cold Bay Airport; and urging the United
States Congress to pass the legislation.
1:19:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking
as the sponsor, introduced HJR 6. Representative Edgmon
informed the committee that the issue addressed by HJR 6 is not
unfamiliar to most; in fact, connecting King Cove and Cold Bay
through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge ("refuge") has been
discussed for 30 years, and [inaction] has exacted a human toll
from residents of King Cove in need of medical attention who
need to reach the airport in Cold Bay. The Cold Bay Airport was
built by the military and consists of one of the bigger and more
accessible runways and a generous cross [landing strip]. In
2010, a solution was in place under the federal Omnibus Public
Land Management Act of 2009 ("lands Act of 2009") [passed in the
111th U.S. Congress], and supported by the Alaska State
Legislature which in 2010, unanimously passed enabling
legislation related to a land exchange that would create a
corridor through the refuge and allow the construction of a
road. To the disappointment of residents of King Cove and many
others, in 2015, it was found that completion of the road was
not in the public's interest. Representative Edgmon expressed
his support of responsible resource development and his respect
for those who are concerned with the sensitivity of the affected
lagoon and habitat. However, he opined the footprint of a
single lane gravel road is highly prescriptive and very doable,
so he introduced the resolution in support of proposed
congressional legislation to successfully progress the issue.
Representative Edgmon asked for the committee's support.
1:23:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO stated his belief that the foregoing is
a life and safety issue for residents of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON agreed and directed attention to
supporting materials from the National Transportation Safety
Board found in the committee packet. He described his personal
experience flying into King Cove during perilous conditions that
are present "about a third of the year."
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether the legislation proposed
by the Alaska congressional delegation includes a land exchange.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON explained that legislation passed by the
Alaska State Legislature in 2010 anticipated an exchange of 206
acres for "a package" of about 43,000 acres of state and village
corporation inholdings. He was unaware of the parameters of the
legislation proposed by U.S Senator Lisa Murkowski or U.S.
Congressman Don Young.
1:26:13 PM
TIM CLARK, staff, Representative Bryce Edgmon, Alaska State
Legislature, said the legislation introduced in Congress alludes
to the exchange of federal and non-federal land as contained in
the lands Act of 2009. He expressed his understanding that the
same two parcels of state land of approximately 43,000 acres
will be exchanged for a 206-acre road corridor through about 12
miles of the refuge.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND surmised that the authority [for the
exchange] is already in place by the lands Act of 2009.
MR. CLARK responded that although the lands Act of 2009 exists,
the authority granted for the land exchange and the construction
of the road has expired; the current proposed federal
legislation utilizes the details from the 2009 agreement on the
land exchange and the parameters of the road.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON added that the road is about 30 miles
long, of which 18 miles are in place; HJR 6 targets the
remaining route that goes through the "more sensitive habitat
area" of the refuge.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH suggested there may be an advantage to
revisiting the proportions of the land exchange, and said, "It's
certainly not an acre for an acre ... it's an acre for a whole
lot of acres."
MR. CLARK first qualified his response to Representative
Drummond by adding that the new exchange proposed in Congress
"probably will be less, in balance, so to speak, than the
previous exchange."
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH surmised the land exchange is "headed
towards the value for value ...."
CO-CHAIR TARR questioned whether the community's perspective is
that the road will not impact economic activity in the area.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON agreed and added that although the
community of Cold Bay has had mixed feelings about the road,
Cold Bay and King Cove residents now strongly support the road
because of enhanced access that would contribute to economic
activity.
1:32:18 PM
[The committee treated the hearing of HJR 6 as open for public
testimony.]
1:32:46 PM
STANLEY MACK, mayor, Aleutians East Borough, Anchorage Office,
informed the committee he is an Aleut born in King Cove, which
is a community of mostly indigenous Aleut people whose ancestors
have lived there for thousands of years. Representative Edgmon
and others have been involved in this matter for over a decade
and Mayor Mack urged for the passage of HJR 6. He spoke of 30
years of efforts to obtain authorization from the federal
government to construct the road, and the hard work of the
Alaska congressional delegation. Mayor Mack commended Senator
Lisa Murkowski for her support that will continue until King
Cove has transportation to the Cold Bay Airport for emergency
medical purposes and access to the outside world. Finally, the
approval of federal legislation is near to address the difficult
weather and geographical issues that impact residents' daily
lives, and sometimes prevent access to the Cold Bay Airport.
Regularly, high winds prevent safe and dependable air access,
and King Cove lives have been lost or compromised. The land
exchange will lead to the construction of a one-lane gravel road
and improve the quality of life. Mayor Mack expressed his
appreciation for the work of the current legislature - and that
of Governor Walker's administration - to resolve the
transportation access problem.
CO-CHAIR TARR asked about the financing of the road, and whether
the hovercraft [provided by a Congressional appropriation and
operational from 2007 to 2010] will be utilized.
MAYOR MACK said financing works through the state. The
Aleutians East Borough had the operation of the hovercraft,
which proved unreliable and unaffordable. He continued, "We
have taken that one out, completely out of the picture, and
hopefully we could sell it and, and recapture the money for
some, [and] we [can] help finance the access project."
1:38:42 PM
LOIS EPSTEIN, spokesperson, The Wilderness Society, informed the
committee she is a licensed Alaska engineer and former director
of the non-profit Alaska Transportation Priorities Project.
Currently, she represents The Wilderness Society which has
testified before Congress on this issue. The Wilderness Society
opposes HJR 6 for numerous reasons, including the importance of
the Izembek Wildlife Refuge, the precedent regarding national
wildlife refuges, the adverse impact to subsistence, and the
high cost to the state for capital, operating, and maintenance
costs. The Wilderness Society will provide the committee
further detailed information, and she urged the committee not to
support HJR 6.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON asked whether congressional legislation is
needed, or if the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior could
authorize [the land exchange and road corridor].
MS. EPSTEIN understood an analytical process would need to be
redone by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In further
response to Co-Chair Josephson, she said she did not know
whether further legislation was required.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH inquired as to what evidence on which The
Wilderness Society based its testimony that the bill would
contradict or complicate the subsistence values of the
community.
MS. EPSTEIN responded that the Association of Village Council
Presidents opposes the "Izembek road ... through the refuge" and
she urged the committee to consult with members of that
organization regarding impacts to subsistence.
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON questioned whether the committee substitute
(CS) for HJR 6 makes substantial changes to the original bill.
MR. CLARK responded that the CS and explanation of changes was
previously provided to the co-chairs' staff. In further
response to Co-Chair Josephson, he said the CS corrects a
drafting error of bill numbers referring to legislation
introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Young as
follows:
Page 3, line 2, S. 3204 and H.R. 5777 were deleted and
replaced with S. 101 and H.R. 218;
Page 3, line 6, S. 3240 was deleted and replaced with
S. 101;
Page 3, line 7, H.R. 5777 was deleted and replaced
with H.R. 218
1:44:29 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR moved to adopt the CS for HJR 6, Version 30-
LS0329\D, Bullard, 1/18/17, as the working document.
1:44:44 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH expressed his support for the bill.
1:45:28 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON removed his objection. There being no
further objection, Version D was before the committee.
[The committee treated public testimony on HJR 6 as closed.]
1:45:36 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR moved to report [the CS for HJR 6, Version 30-
LS0329\D, Bullard, 1/18/17], out of committee with individual
recommendations [and a zero fiscal note]. There being no
objection, CSHJR 6(RES) was reported out of the House Resources
Standing Committee.
[Later in the meeting, Co-Chair Tarr clarified that her motion
was to move CS for HJR 6.]
CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON stated there were no fiscal notes attached to
the bill.
[Later in the meeting, Co-Chair Josephson clarified that there
was a zero fiscal note attached to Version D of the bill.]