04/19/2023 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

            HJR 11-ADDRESS AIR POLLUTION IN FAIRBANKS                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:44:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP   reconvened  the  meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 11 Urging the United                                                               
States  Environmental Protection  Agency to  develop a  woodstove                                                               
certification  program that  addresses  the threat  to clean  and                                                               
healthy winter air in Fairbanks;  and urging the state Department                                                               
of  Environmental Conservation  to  develop  an economically  and                                                               
legally defensible  state implementation  plan for  the Fairbanks                                                               
North Star Borough nonattainment area.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on HJR 11.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:45:23 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID  PRUHS,  Mayor,  City   of  Fairbanks,  Fairbanks,  Alaska,                                                               
Testified in support  of HJR 11. He stated that  80-85 percent of                                                               
the PM2.5  fine particulate  matter is  caused by  woodstoves and                                                               
that is  what the resolution  addresses. He highlighted  that the                                                               
Environmental  Protection Agency  (EPA)  has  threatened to  take                                                               
measures  against the  transportation and  heating industries  in                                                               
the  Fairbanks   area  even  though  those   industries  are  not                                                               
responsible for  the PM2.5 issue.  He reiterated support  for HJR
.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:46:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony on HJR 11.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:46:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   KAWASAKI  referenced   the  first   "Further  Resolved"                                                               
statement  that says  DEC will  continue efforts  to develop  and                                                               
defend the PM2.5 implementation plan.  He asked what DEC would do                                                               
in that regard.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:47:33 PM                                                                                                                    
JASON OLDS, Acting Director, Division  of Air Quality, Department                                                               
of Environmental  Conservation, Juneau,  Alaska, stated  that DEC                                                               
is defending the plan when  it submits amendments and supplements                                                               
the  Administrative  Record  to  ensure it  represents  the  best                                                               
interests  of  Alaska. DEC  is  trying  to  support the  plan  it                                                               
developed, using stakeholder engagement  from the community, as a                                                               
guide for  what will address  the issues  and clean the  air. DEC                                                               
will continue these efforts.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL  said she understands  the problem  and supports                                                               
the  resolution.  She also  expressed  hope  that the  resolution                                                               
would  have  the  side benefit  of  helping  encourage  Fairbanks                                                               
smokers stop smoking.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR BISHOP  commented on  the difference  between carbureted                                                               
engines in  automobiles versus the new  fuel-injected engines. He                                                               
asked  Mr. Olds  if  he agreed  that  fuel-injected engines  have                                                               
helped to cut emissions in Fairbanks.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.   OLDS   said   fuel-injected  technologies   and   catalytic                                                               
converters helped  to resolve some of  the CO issues, but  the PM                                                               
contribution from automobiles is minimal.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI wondered  whether  an amendment  was needed  on                                                               
page 4, line  11 to remove the second reference  to the President                                                               
of the United States.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:51:25 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:51:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP reconvened  the meeting  and recognized  Senator                                                               
Dunbar.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:51:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR said he believes  the language is accurate. Kamala                                                               
Harris is identified  as Vice President of the  United States and                                                               
President of the U.S. Senate.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR BISHOP thanked the members and solicited a motion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:52:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to report  HJR 11, work order 33-LS0548\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:52:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP found  no objection and SJR 11  was reported from                                                               
the Senate Resources Standing Committee.