Legislature(2015 - 2016)BARNES 124
04/17/2015 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB70 | |
| SJR18 | |
| HB191 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 70 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 191 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SJR 18-SUPPORT SHELL PORT OF SEATTLE LEASE
1:48:15 PM
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK announced the next order of business is CS FOR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18(RES), Supporting the leases
issued by the United States Department of the Interior to Royal
Dutch Shell in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas; urging the
Governor of the State of Washington, the Seattle City Council,
and other public officials in the State of Washington to refrain
from destructive attacks on the economy, jobs, and lives of the
people of this state and the State of Washington and to look
first at closing the Boeing production facilities to reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide from commercial activity; inviting
Royal Dutch Shell to use a port in this state as the homeport of
its Arctic drilling fleet if the lease with the Port of Seattle
is terminated; and requesting that the Alaska Congressional
delegation support restricting the Export-Import Bank of the
United States to lending only to small businesses.
1:48:40 PM
KARI NORE, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced CSSJR 18(RES) on behalf of Senator
Giessel, sponsor. She explained the resolution is in support of
Royal Dutch Shell's Port of Seattle leases. The resolution
urges Washington to stop interfering with Alaska's economic
development, especially when it comes to the development of the
oil and gas deposits in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, as well
as the economic development in Alaska's Arctic region. The
resolution offers ports in the state of Alaska as other possible
ports for Royal Dutch Shell to base its operations if Seattle
decides to move forward with its attempts to nullify Shell's
current leases at the port.
1:49:48 PM
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK opened public testimony, then closed it after
ascertaining that no one wished to testify.
1:50:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON commented that there is an outstanding
article in today's Bristol Bay Times written by Mayor Brower of
the North Slope Borough in which she puts forth some good
arguments. He reminded committee members that he has already
indicated on the House floor that he has real concerns with
Shell as an institution because its record in 2012 was really
bad. He said he thinks drilling in the Chukchi Sea is a riskier
proposition than drilling in the Beaufort Sea. While the
resolution is a clever argument in some ways and he takes the
point about Boeing, he doesn't know how helpful any of this is.
1:51:38 PM
CO-CHAIR TALERICO offered his appreciation and support for the
resolution. He said he has read much of the documentation from
the governor of Washington and is disappointed with the
discussion of Arctic policy without the mention of Alaska. The
only reason the U.S. is an Arctic nation is because of Alaska.
There was complete misrepresentation in that letter with
absolutely no mention of Alaska or Alaska's economy, he said, so
he takes offense to what was produced with no prior
communication. There could have been some outreach and contact
with Alaska's administration. Further, he is disappointed by
the letter from Washington that went to Sally Jewell, Secretary
of Interior.
1:53:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON agreed it is a clever resolution and said
he has read Mayor Brower's letter to the governor of Washington
and the mayor of Seattle and the city council, which he thinks
was appropriate. He reported that Mayor Brower gave the same
kind of speech when she spoke to Secretary Jewell in Kotzebue.
Many people, including Secretary Jewell, didn't realize that in
her polite speech Mayor Brower kicked Secretary Jewell in the
rear end. The Washington government entities are biting off
their nose to spite their face because Alaska is not a colony.
This conversation between the state of Alaska and the state of
Washington is an issue that Alaska is going to face elsewhere as
well. He related that while he was before Congress, Minnesota
U.S. Senator Al Franken asked him whether he understands the
irony that Alaska wants to drill for its future yet contribute
to the carbon footprint so that Alaska's coastal communities
will go under water. He said he does not take his vote lightly
to pass CSSJR 18(RES) because the resolution emphasizes Alaska's
difficult realities in maintaining sustainable communities and
to have a vibrant economy for the residents of Alaska.
1:56:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he appreciates the last resolve
clause that the legislature invite Royal Dutch Shell to use a
port in the state of Alaska. However, he added, he has a
question about the second to last resolve clause regarding the
legislature requesting the congressional delegation of the state
to support restricting the Export-Import Bank of the United
States to only small businesses. He noted that this resolve
relates to the last whereas clause on page 2 regarding the
financing of Boeing by that bank. He said he thinks there are a
lot of other things the Export-Import Bank can do and he is not
wanting there to be an impact on Alaska businesses or other
businesses that are not involved in this dispute. He urged it
be put on the record that it is for one company and not a
general statement for all import/export activity across the U.S.
1:58:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR noted that the Alaska State Legislature
hasn't asked other states when it considers resolutions that
pertain to another state; for example, the resolution for New
York's Central Park and the resolution for the proposed Keystone
pipeline. She urged the legislature to tread carefully in
relationships with Alaska's economic partners and to not be
confrontational, but rather find ways to resolve the state's
concerns in constructive ways in recognition that each
legislature is representing its constituents. The Alaska State
Legislature needs to hold itself to the same standards that it
is asking the other states to uphold.
2:01:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON added that Mayor Brower's article was
well considered. An irony, though, is that Mayor Brower talks
about Alaska needing to buildout the Arctic so search and rescue
can be done for hunters drifting on the ice, while the push back
from Washington is that there isn't going to be any ice.
2:02:03 PM
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK offered a reminder about the history between
Alaska and Washington, especially Seattle. In the past Alaska
and Washington were closely tied together by the economics and
proximity of Alaska to Washington. Seattle used to tout itself
as the gateway to Alaska because everything going up to Alaska
came through Seattle. U.S. Senator Magnuson from Washington and
U.S. Senator Stevens from Alaska created the Magnuson-Stevens
Act on fisheries, a relationship of the two states that
continues today. Washington depends on Alaska as seen by the
crab fishermen from Washington who fish in Alaska waters.
Therefore, he said, he was upset when the City of Seattle
starting writing resolutions. The two states used to work
together and now they are working against each other and that is
not good for either state or for Seattle. Alaska is a huge
economy for Seattle and this is how Seattle is paying back
Alaska. He said he is glad Mayor Brower responded accordingly.
2:06:14 PM
CO-CHAIR TALERICO moved to report CSSJR 18(RES) out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSSJR 18(RES) was reported from
the House Resources Standing Committee.