04/20/2001 01:50 PM House RES

HJR 26-STELLER SEA LION RESEARCH TEAM TO ALASKA                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCALZI announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.  26, Requesting the National Marine                                                               
Fisheries  Service  to  relocate  the  Alaska  Fisheries  Science                                                               
Center Steller sea lion research team to Alaska.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[There was an  unnecessary motion to adopt HJR  26 for discussion                                                               
purposes.]                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0112                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STEVENS reminded  the committee  that HJR  26 was                                                               
created  as a  response to  another bill  regarding the  study of                                                               
Steller  sea  lions, in  an  effort  to  move the  scientists  to                                                               
Alaska,  where the  research  is being  conducted  and where  the                                                               
Steller sea lions  live.  He said there are  facilities in Alaska                                                               
and space is available.   He mentioned recent travel restrictions                                                               
placed  on the  National Marine  Fisheries Service  (NMFS) staff.                                                               
Representative Stevens said  he talked with NMFS  people who have                                                               
indicated that they  have been considering sending  some of their                                                               
staff to Alaska.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 0239                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  MASEK referred  to page  2, lines  12-13, of  the joint                                                               
resolution  and asked  why  the language  was  not made  specific                                                               
regarding the location of the proposed facility in Alaska.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0262                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS  responded that  the western  "portion" of                                                               
the  Steller  seal lion  [range]  occurs  from Yakutat  to  Dutch                                                               
Harbor, so  rather than  be too specific,  the language  was left                                                               
more general to let [NMFS] determine the best location.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 0318                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FATE moved to report  HJR 26 [version 22-LS0841\A]                                                               
out  of   committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  the                                                               
accompanying zero fiscal note.   There being no objection, HJR 26                                                               
was moved  out of the  House Resources Standing Committee.   [Co-                                                               
Chair Scalzi turned the gavel over to Co-Chair Masek.]