04/05/1997 01:12 PM House RES

 CSSJR 20(RLS) am - MODIFY FED WETLANDS PROGRAM FOR AK NEEDS                 
                                                                               
 Number 2017                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced the next item on the agenda was CS for           
 Senate Joint Resolution 20(RLS) am, requesting the United States              
 Congress to accommodate Alaska's unique wetlands circumstances by             
 amending the Clean Water Act to modify the wetlands regulatory                
 program and to recognize Alaska's outstanding history of wetlands             
 conservation.                                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 2064                                                                   
                                                                               
 ANNETTE KREITZER, Legislative Assistant to Senator Loren Leman,               
 said CSSJR 20(RLS) am supports the Alaska Congressional                       
 delegation's efforts to modify the wetlands regulatory program and            
 recognize Alaska's historical wetlands conservation.  Development             
 activities such as airports, safety measures, mining, logging, ice            
 pad or road construction and snow removal add to the cumulative               
 loss of wetlands nationally.  This is detrimental and inequitable             
 to a state with as little development as Alaska.  Under the                   
 national no net loss standard, the government can require anyone to           
 pay for the protection or restoration of wetlands elsewhere to                
 compensate for wetlands loss to their project.  Alaskans have                 
 argued that the no net loss standard makes little sense in Alaska,            
 where we have lost less than 0.1 percent of wetlands since the                
 1700s.                                                                        
                                                                               
 MS. KREITZER explained that the resolution also requests                      
 modification to the wetlands regulatory program to provide                    
 flexibility for wetland permitting, whether it is for Section 404             
 fill permits or a new customized permitting process to replace the            
 nationwide permit, number 26.  It would also eliminate existing               
 requirements to mitigate unavoidable impacts or to prove that no              
 alternative sites are available.  The purpose for the Congressional           
 action and the thrust of CSSJR 20(RLS) am is to encourage states              
 with a good record of wetlands protection to continue those efforts           
 and reward them with more flexible permitting.                                
                                                                               
 Number 2112                                                                   
                                                                               
 DALE BONDURANT testified via teleconference from Kenai.  He felt              
 there was a lot of rhetoric attached to CSSJR 20(RLS) am and it               
 reduces wetland protection.  He expressed concern that there was              
 danger in Alaska that some of our species and races of fish are               
 increasingly in danger.  He found value in trying to bring some of            
 those things back.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 2189                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN made a motion to move CSSJR 20(RLS) am with              
 individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note.  There being no            
 objection, CSSJR 20(RLS) am moved from the House Resources Standing           
 Committee.