03/30/2004 09:04 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 298(TRA)                                                                                            
     "An Act relating to the use of off-road vehicles within five                                                               
      miles of the right-of-way of the James Dalton Highway."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH  SEEKINS,  the  bill's  sponsor,   stated  that  this                                                            
legislation  would  serve to  address  concerns regarding  a  letter                                                            
[copy  on file],  date  stamped January  20,  2004 from  the  United                                                            
States  Department  of  the Interior's  Bureau  of  Land  Management                                                            
received  by trappers  who operate  trap  lines north  of the  Yukon                                                            
river bridge.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken stated  that this legislation would allow the use of                                                            
off-road  vehicles  within five  miles of  the right-of-way  of  the                                                            
James Dalton Highway south of Mile 235.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Seekins  declared  that, unless  State  law is  changed  to                                                            
accommodate the use of  motorized vehicles in this area, individuals                                                            
would have a May 1, 2004  deadline to change to non-motorized access                                                            
of the area.  Use of the  area by trappers  and others on  motorized                                                            
vehicles  should not be eliminated  "due to  a quirk in State  law."                                                            
Addressing  this  issue in  a  manner that  would  allow  continuing                                                            
access  to the  area on motorized  vehicles  is the  intent of  this                                                            
legislation.  He  stated  that  he has  discussed  this  issue  with                                                            
trappers, the Alyeska Pipeline  Authority, and other affected users.                                                            
In order to address the  variety of questions that have been raised,                                                            
he asked  that the bill  be referred to  a subcommittee, chaired  by                                                            
Senator Olson.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Wilken  stated   that  SB  298  would  be  assigned  to  a                                                            
subcommittee.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bunde  stated that there has been a history  of over zealous                                                            
Alaska  State   Trooper  enforcement   in  the  affected   area.  He                                                            
encouraged  the  subcommittee  to investigate  the  opportunity  for                                                            
people to use existing  mining trails and roads in the area, outside                                                            
of the Alaska  pipeline corridor.  He noted that there are  numerous                                                            
differences  of  opinions  regarding  the legality  of  using  these                                                            
roads.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  stated that it is troubling that there  is an agency,                                                            
and  in  this  case  a  federal  agency,  that  is  working  against                                                            
traditional users and is  threatening to burn down cabins that often                                                            
provide shelter  and have saved lives  of hikers, downed  pilots and                                                            
others  in need  of protection  against  the elements  of nature  in                                                            
remote areas of the State.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken appointed Senator Olson chair of subcommittee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken ordered the bill HELD in Committee.