Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/07/2018 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Big Game Commercial Services Board, Regulatory Commission of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 7, 2018
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Click Bishop
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Adam Trombley
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
Janis Wilson
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SJR 13-URGING CO-MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SEA OTTERS
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13
Urging the United States Congress to amend the Marine Mammal
Protection Act and urging the United States Department of the
Interior to permit Alaska Native organizations and the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game to co-manage, take, and study marine
mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
ADAM TROMBLEY
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reappointee to the Big Game Commercial
Services Board.
JANIS W. WILSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reappointee to the Regulatory Commission of
Alaska (RCA).
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:32 PM
CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bishop, Meyer, Stedman, Wielechowski, Von
Imhof, and Chair Giessel. Senator Coghill was excused.
^Confirmation Hearing(s): Big Game Commercial Services Board,
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
3:31:18 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL said the committee would take up the reappointment
of Adam Trombley to the Big Game Commercial Services Board. She
invited him to tell the committee a little bit about himself and
why he wants to continue serving on this board.
3:32:12 PM
ADAM TROMBLEY, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, said he
had been involved in public service for the last 10 years at the
local level and enjoys serving on this board because he respects
the disciplinary actions that don't favor anyone within the
industry. When someone screws up, it doesn't become just a good-
ole boys club. He said he has been on the board one year and at
the last meeting he was elected as vice chairman. It has been a
real enjoyment to learn about the issues around guiding and
transporters.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked his thoughts on the board's budget
shortfall.
MR. TROMBLEY answered one of the reasons they started to get
themselves out of the financial hole is to start addressing
discipline by using consent agreements. So, there is not a lot
of litigation after that, which can really drive the cost up. By
the time the issue comes to the board, everyone has already
agreed. He didn't foresee that changing. The fee structure has
changed and he can see the board being completely out of debt in
a couple of years.
CHAIR GIESSEL remarked that she didn't realize that consent
agreements weren't being used by the board until recently.
MR. TROMBLEY said he couldn't remember how far back the board
started using them, but it is really helping keep litigation
costs down.
CHAIR GIESSEL noted seeing a substantial increase in fees in the
last audit and that many members of the Resources Committee also
sit on the Legislature Budget and Audit Committee and will be
interested in its review of this board.
She found no further questions for Mr. Trombley from committee
members and thanked him.
3:36:48 PM
At ease
3:37:48 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL called the meeting back to order and said the
committee would next take up the reappointment of Janis Wilson
to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). The term is six
years and it is actually a full-time job. Members have salaries
at range 27 and have to do some substantial work. She invited
Ms. Wilson to tell the committee why she wants to continue
serving on the RCA.
JANIS W. WILSON, reappointee to the Regulatory Commission of
Alaska (RCA), Anchorage, Alaska, said she had been an RCA
commissioner for 12 years and would like to continue serving,
because it is interesting and challenging work. She makes group
decisions with four other very deep-thinking people; she enjoys
making those kinds of decisions and further enjoys the reading
and studying that all the commissioners have to do.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked her for her desire to continue and
remarked that Ms. Wilson's resume is substantial. She obviously
has a great deal of experience in utilities and law.
SENATOR BISHOP said he asked his questions this morning in the
Finance Committee and thanked her for putting her name forward.
MS. WILSON remarked that Governor Hammond gave a number of women
opportunities to serve as officials in his administration and
thanked him for mentioning it this morning.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI thanked her for her long-time service to
the state and asked a question on a controversial decision
regarding the ML&P/Chugach Electric approval to buy a portion of
the Cook Inlet gas field from ConocoPhillips about a year and a
half ago. A pretty scathing dissent was issued by Commissioner
McAlpine saying the late filing and the ensuing process the
utilities engaged in was "abhorrent." He was concerned that it
impacted the decision in that case. He asked if that filing
timeframe gave her pause in retrospect.
MS. WILSON answered that the whole panel of five commissioners
paused when they were asked to make a decision in such a brief
period of time, a matter of six to eight weeks. They did the
best they could with the information. The reasons had to do with
tax and the availability of tax credits. A majority of the
commissioners took everything into account and decided that it
was acceptable, though not desirable, to make such a short-
notice decision.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he appreciated her response. It was a
tough situation. He asked how she might look at future
consolidation in the Railbelt between utilities, something the
RCA has suggested in the past.
MS. WILSON answered the RCA submitted a report to the
legislature on Railbelt utilities that also made recommendations
and one consolidation may come before them soon depending on the
outcome of the upcoming municipal election. They will handle it
in the same way they handle all transfers of certificates, which
is an application will be filed; it will be noticed to the
public. The RCA will take public comment and then decide whether
to have a public hearing on it. They will gather all the
information whether it's hearing information or comment
information and make their decision.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked what the consensus on consolidation
was in the RCA report.
MS. WILSON recalled there were five recommendations. They did a
study and hired a consultant and found that consolidation is a
good idea. It would cut down on litigation amongst the Railbelt
utilities of which there have been quite a lot.
3:45:23 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked her and opened public comment on both
appointees. Finding no comments, she closed public testimony.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked both appointees for their service and said
in accordance with AS 39.05.080, the Resources Committee
reviewed the following and recommends the appointments be
forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Big Game
Commercial Services Board, Adam Trombley, term expires 3/1/2022
and Regulatory Commission of Alaska, Janis Wilson, term expires
3/1/2024. This does not reflect an intent by any of the members
to vote for or against the confirmation of the individuals
during any further sessions.
3:47:51 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL adjourned the Senate Resources Committee meeting
at 3:47 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Appointments - Fact Sheet - Regulatory Commission of Alaska - 2 - 19 - 2018 .pdf |
SRES 3/7/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Appointments |
| Appointments - Resume - Janis Wilson to RCA.pdf |
SRES 3/7/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Appointments |
| Appointments - Fact Sheet - Big Game Commercial Services Board - 2 - 26 - 2018.pdf |
SRES 3/7/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Appointments |
| Appointments - Resume - Adam Trombley to Big Game Comm Services Board 3 - 7 - 2018.pdf |
SRES 3/7/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Appointments |