02/23/1994 04:00 PM House ECO

  HB 199 -OIL & GAS EXPLORATION LICENSES/LEASES                                
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, Chair of the Oil and Gas                           
  Subcommittee, gave reasons why House Bill 199 would benefit                  
  the state of Alaska.                                                         
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked about the consequences if the                     
  bill passed.  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that if the bill                  
  passed but was not used, there would be no harm done.                        
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY expressed concern that too much of                      
  Alaska would be opened up.                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that the Governor would only                    
  select one area per year.                                                    
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES expressed concern that oil companies                    
  would just tie up large areas to keep other companies from                   
  getting them; prohibiting other industries such as timber                    
  and tourism to develop.                                                      
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that oil exploration created                    
  very small footprints and would allow other activities to                    
  occur simultaneously.                                                        
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY said that it may be too late to attract                 
  big dollars back to Alaska, but there was a need to at least                 
  try to attract small capital and small block leasing.  He                    
  suggested seeing if there was an existing House Bill to                      
  accomplish this.                                                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said that, if there were no objections,                 
  the Task Force would endorse the Committee Substitute for                    
  House Bill 199.  Both members agreed.