04/12/2006 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

            SB 278-ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE TASK FORCE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WAGONER announced SB 278 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:55:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  OLSON, sponsor  of SB  278, read  the sponsor  statement                                                               
into the record.                                                                                                                
     I introduced  SB 278 to  address the  real implications                                                                    
     that  climate warming  has  for  Alaska's economic  and                                                                    
     domestic   well  being.   Climate  change   discussions                                                                    
     usually  center   on  the   question  of   whether  the                                                                    
     measurable   gradual    warming   we    are   currently                                                                    
     experiencing is  a natural cyclic  change or  the onset                                                                    
     of some humanity  induced environmental catastrophe. To                                                                    
     many Alaskans, the reality of  the warming situation is                                                                    
     of direct  and immediate  concern that  overshadows the                                                                    
     global  debate  over   causes  and  appropriate  macro-                                                                    
     solutions.  What  matters is  that  our  region of  the                                                                    
     world  is  experiencing   detrimental  effects  of  the                                                                    
     warming  trend today  and prospects  for even  the near                                                                    
     future may be more damaging.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     For  these reasons,  I think  it is  important for  the                                                                    
     state to  take a hard  and honest  look at what  can be                                                                    
     expected  if warming  temperatures  continue. What  are                                                                    
     the implications for the social  and economic health of                                                                    
     our  citizens, communities,  and industries?  Right now                                                                    
     there are  too many  unanswered questions.  What effect                                                                    
     will  this   have  on  our   forests,  fish   and  game                                                                    
     resources, river  and shore line erosion?  What does it                                                                    
     mean for  permafrost stability in  areas of  our homes,                                                                    
     our community  facilities, our roads and  airports, our                                                                    
     pipeline?   How   will   it  affect   new   development                                                                    
     opportunities in Arctic and sub Arctic Alaska?                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     SB 278 creates  an Alaska Climate Change  Task Force to                                                                    
     review and  analyze warming impacts  on Alaska  and its                                                                    
     citizens. This task  force will be made  up of thirteen                                                                    
     individuals  from diverse  backgrounds. Five  will have                                                                    
     some   expertise   in  Arctic   climatology,   geology,                                                                    
     engineering, ecology  or other  appropriate discipline.                                                                    
     There are  four representatives of state  agencies that                                                                    
     have  key responsibilities  for  the state's  resources                                                                    
     and transportation infrastructure.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The task force is charged with the following:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
        · Assess current and potential aspects of climate                                                                       
          warming on the citizens, natural resources, and                                                                       
          economy,                                                                                                              
        · Estimate the costs to the state and its citizens                                                                      
          caused by climate warming, and                                                                                        
        · Make recommendations to address the near and                                                                          
         long-term effects of climate change on Alaska.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Climate change is one of  the most important challenges                                                                    
     to our  way of life.  This legislation is  an important                                                                    
     first step in preparing the state for the impacts.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:57:56 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEDMAN asked why the university wouldn't work in                                                                       
conjunction with the task force and what the task force would do                                                                
with the information.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON replied the task  force is charged with determining                                                               
whether   there  is   a  legitimate   concern  and   then  making                                                               
recommendations.  He  noted  that  he   had  amendments  for  the                                                               
committee to consider.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WAGONER asked him to give the amendments to Ms. Jackson                                                                   
and announced he would hold SB 278 for further consideration.