Legislature(2013 - 2014)
02/24/2014 02:06 PM House RES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB161 | |
| HB79 | |
| HB246 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 246-CREAMER'S FIELD REFUGE; WICKERSHAM HOUSE
2:52:13 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 246, "An Act adding additional land and
water to the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge."
2:52:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PETE HIGGINS, Alaska State Legislature,
testifying as the prime sponsor, introduced HB 246. He stated
that this bill would add additional lands to Creamer's Field
Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. He characterized this as basically
being a boundary change that would incorporate a total of four
additional parcels adjacent to Creamer's Field. This land is
state-owned land purchased by the state - some in 2001 - and the
land has been transferred to the refuge. These acquired parcels
have been managed as refuge lands.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS said that question arose as to whether
hunting could still occur if the land is designated as a refuge
and the answer is yes. There isn't any plan to change the
activities currently being done on these parcels.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS explained that the refuge is currently
managing the lands the statutes must be changed to reflect the
actual boundaries to ensure that the Creamer's Field Migratory
Waterfowl Refuge can control the land.
2:54:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON understood that nothing in the bill would
change the statutory purposes. He understood that ADF&G will
change the management plans, but those plans must correspond to
the statutory purpose.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered that is correct.
2:55:28 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER asked whether there has been consideration
given to managing this land for other purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered no, that the land was given to
the refuge in 2001 and everyone has been using it. The only
question that has arisen is whether the activities would change
if the land was designated as part of the refuge and the answer
is no.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER understood this will not change the character
of the management or recreational activities on the land.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered that it would not. In further
response to a question, he said that Creamers Field is located
on College Road near the Fairgrounds. The property in question
goes farther north and the land is boggy in the summer.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER asked whether there has been any known
opposition to the bill designating the land as refuge land.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered no.
2:57:18 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE inquired how the four parcels were acquired by
the state.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS replied that in 2001 the state purchased
the parcels with the intention of giving the parcels to the
[Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl] Refuge.
2:58:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether there has been any
opposition to HB 246.
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Acting Director, Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), stated
that one individual expressed concern about his use of the
refuge to train his dogs. Only one section of the refuge has
been restricted from dogs and it consists of some ponds that
were constructed for waterfowl enhancement. He stated that
these parcels will not have any restrictions in terms of the
current activities. Additionally, the DNR has been managing
these lands in accordance with the refuge plan for some time
without hearing a lot of complaints.
2:59:37 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER assumed DNR was consulted in terms of the
drafting of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS answered that is correct.
2:59:56 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER opened public testimony on HB 246.
3:00:09 PM
GEORGE HAPP, Vice President, The Friends of Creamer's Field,
stated that the Friends of Creamer's Field offers educational
programs on the refuge. The organization supports the addition
of lands to the refuge in the interests of more efficient
government to have it all managed within the refuge instead of
managing the lands "consistent" with the refuge. He concluded
by saying "And we support the plan."
3:01:00 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 246.
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON asked whether there is any reason to hold
the bill over since it is non-controversial.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER said he didn't think so.
3:01:36 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE moved to report HB 246 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, HB 246 was reported from the House
Resources Standing Committee.
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