Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
03/20/2025 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR12 | |
| SB104 | |
| SJR11 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 12-NOAA BUOY OUTAGES
1:36:16 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 12 Urging the United States Congress and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address
outages of National Data Buoy Center stations.
1:36:24 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
1:36:26 PM
SENATOR TOBIN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SJR 12, work order 34-LS0449\H, as the working document.
1:36:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSSJR 12 was adopted as
the working document.
1:37:10 PM
SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR, District J, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, introduced SJR 12. He paraphrased from the
following sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SPONSOR STATEMENT
SJR 12: NOAA BUOY OUTAGES
SJR 12 calls attention to a small but important piece
of federal infrastructure: National Data Buoy Center
meteorological stations. Weather buoys provide
important data points for forecasting models and real
time observations that are critical to safe fishing
and navigation in coastal Alaska. They inform mariners
decisions on when to leave harbor and when to return.
Of particular concern is the Seal Rocks Buoy in Prince
William Sound. The Coast Guard relies on this station
to determine if conditions in Hinchinbrook Entrance
are safe for the transit of laden oil tankers
departing the Alyeska Terminal in Valdez. Like many
other NDBC meteorological stations in Alaska, the Seal
Rocks Buoy has experienced lengthy service outages in
the last few years, including the entirety of last
winter. Currently, it has been non-functional since
October 2024. Without this station, the Coast Guard
must rely on spot reports from passing ships and data
from more distant stations to estimate conditions in
Hinchinbrook Entrance.
This situation is dangerous. Hinchinbrook Entrance is
narrow; if a tanker were to lose control there would
be very little time to prevent it from grounding.
Attaching a tow line or performing any other rescue
operations is very difficult in high winds and waves.
If a tanker did ground in bad weather, Prince William
Sound would experience a repeat of the Exxon Valdez
disaster. This would be devastating for the local
environment, fisheries, and tourism. It would cost the
state and federal government tens of billions of
dollars to clean up. When the stakes are this high, it
is essential that safety equipment like the Seal Rocks
Buoy kept in service.
1:38:59 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR continued to paraphrase from the sponsor
statement for SJR 12:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SJR 12 will convey this information to Alaska's
Congressional delegation and the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the
parent agency of NDBC. It will ask NOAA to restore
reliability to NDBC and Seal Rocks Buoy service and
ask Congress to ensure NOAA has the resources to do
so. At a time when federal agencies and services are
under threat, it is important to remind decision-
makers that these functions are critical to Alaska.
1:39:45 PM
JOHN GUTHRIE, Maritime Operations Project Manager, Prince
William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council (PWSRCAC),
Valdez, Alaska, gave a brief overview of PWSRCAC. He stated that
oil from the EXXON Valdez can still be found on the beaches
throughout the region and briefly discussed the negative impacts
the EXXON-Valdez oil spill had on wildlife and residents of the
affected communities. He stated that the Prince William Sound
has one of the most comprehensive oil prevention systems in the
country and described this system. He said that weather
information in remote locations is critical to the safe
transportation of oil in the region. He noted that PWSRCAC is
primarily focused on the prompt maintenance of buoys that aid in
oil spill prevention and response; however, he acknowledged that
those stations provide weather information that increases safety
for a wide range of maritime activities.
MR. GUTHRIE expressed particular concern for the weather buoy at
Seal Rocks, which has been functional for only 35 days over the
past year and a half. He briefly explained the ways that weather
impacts safe travel through the area. Data from the buoy allows
the Coast Guard to accurately determine when the passage at
Hinchinbrook Entrance should be closed. When buoy data is not
available, the Coast Guard must rely on data compiled from less
accurate sources. He expressed concern about the safe passage of
oil tankers and accompanying tugboats in high winds and waves.
1:42:02 PM
MR. GUTHRIE stated that having an operational Seal Rocks buoy is
critical to ensuring that loaded tankers and escort tugboats are
only in Hinchinbrook Entrance when winds and seas are below the
closure limits. He reiterated that all National Data Buoy Center
(NDBC) buoys in Alaska provide an invaluable service. The Seal
Rocks Buoy is of particular importance as it is a key component
to the oil spill prevention system in the Prince William Sound.
He emphasized that the risk of another oil spill increases
whenever the buoy is not working.
1:43:04 PM
SENATOR SHOWER asked about buoy maintenance.
1:43:58 PM
MR. GUTHRIE replied that PWSRCAC submitted a National Data Buoy
Center (NDBC) funding request through Senator Murkowski's
office. PWSRCAC is primarily focused on the buoys that impact
oil transportation. He explained that NDBC funds those buoys,
though they do occasionally rely on USCGC Fir (WLB-213), the
Coast Guard buoy tender located in Cordova. Sometimes a vessel
is chartered to perform maintenance work.
1:44:39 PM
SENATOR SHOWER suggested that Senator Sulivan would also be a
good contact.
1:44:55 PM
SENATOR KIEHL agreed that the sensors and systems around Valdez
are important. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that all
buoys in the state are functional, as this increases the safety
of those on the water.
1:45:53 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR responded to Senator Shower's comment. He stated
that Senator Sullivan is one recipient of SJR 12. He then turned
to Senator Kiehl's comment and expressed agreement. He explained
that SJR 12 applies to all buoys throughout the state. He
emphasized that buoy maintenance is a statewide life safety
issue. He pointed out that some members of Congress may not
understand Alaska's unique needs and the ways in which Alaskans
rely on the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and the National Weather Service. He opined that it is important
to communicate those needs to Congress.
1:47:02 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN emphasized the importance of buoy data reports to
ensure the safety of all navigators.
1:47:59 PM
[CHAIR BJORKMAN held SJR 12 in committee.]