03/01/1993 01:00 PM House JUD

  HB 99 - REPEAL 65-DAY DEADLINE: OIL SPILL PLANS                              
                                                                               
  Number 028                                                                   
                                                                               
  STEVEN PORTER, MANAGER, PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE, ARCO,                        
  representing ARCO and other parties supporting HB 99,                        
  explained that the Department of Environmental Conservation                  
  was required to approve or disapprove oil spill plans within                 
  65 days of receipt.  He said the rule sounded good on paper,                 
  but was not easily implemented.  He noted that the process                   
  often stopped for public hearings or requests for additional                 
  information or for other reasons.  Because of those delays,                  
  he noted that the 65-day period would have to start at the                   
  end of the process to ensure that the plan was approved                      
  within that time frame.                                                      
                                                                               
  MR. PORTER commented that the 65-day rule had become a                       
  burden that regulations were written around.  He said it                     
  would be best to scrap the 65-day rule and rewrite the                       
  regulations to streamline the process for getting an oil                     
  spill plan approved or disapproved.                                          
                                                                               
  MR. PORTER said that oil spill plans had to comply with the                  
  Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP), a complex process                  
  that analyzed the plans and allowed for public comment.                      
  Compliance with the ACMP assured oil spill plan writers that                 
  the Department of Environmental Conservation would also                      
  approve the oil spill plans.                                                 
                                                                               
  MR. PORTER commented that he was part of a large coalition                   
  of supporters, including the Prince William Sound Regional                   
  Citizens' Advisory Council, the Cook Inlet Regional                          
  Citizens' Advisory Council, oil companies, coastal                           
  districts, and municipalities.                                               
                                                                               
  Number 103                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. JOE GREEN, PRIME SPONSOR of HB 99, said that he would                   
  entertain any questions the committee members might have.                    
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN PORTER announced that BETH KERTTULA of the                          
  DEPARTMENT OF LAW, and ED COLLAZZI of the DEPARTMENT OF                      
  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, were present and willing to                      
  answer questions on HB 99.                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 126                                                                   
                                                                               
  RUSSELL HEATH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALASKA                              
  ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY, testified in support of HB 99.  He                      
  noted that the environmental community's only real concern                   
  regarding the issue was that oil spill contingency plans                     
  were adequately reviewed.  He said he thought that repeal of                 
  the 65-day rule would enhance that review process.                           
                                                                               
  Number 147                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. JAMES made a motion to move HB 99 from the House                        
  Judiciary Committee with individual recommendations and a                    
  zero fiscal note.                                                            
                                                                               
  Number 152                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN PORTER, seeing no objection to the motion, ordered                  
  HB 99 out of committee with individual recommendations and a                 
  zero fiscal note.