04/25/1996 08:07 AM House STA

 HJR 66 - OPPOSE AMERICAN HERITAGE AREAS                                     
                                                                               
 Number 0081                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES noted the first order of business was HJR 66, a                   
 resolution presented by the House Rules Committee.  She called upon           
 Marieke Nordlinger from the office of House Speaker Gail Phillips             
 to introduce the resolution.                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 0129                                                                   
                                                                               
 MARIEKE NORDLINGER, Legislative Administrative Assistant to                   
 Representative Gail Phillips, explained HJR 66 was drafted in                 
 response to a bill, currently before the United States Congress,              
 that proposed creating a new arm of the U.S. Department of the                
 Interior to assist states in identifying and managing a new system            
 of public park lands.  "The congressional bill was drafted with all           
 the best intentions and unfortunately has become a bill which is              
 unfriendly to the state of Alaska," Ms. Nordlinger said.                      
                                                                               
 MS. NORDLINGER read from that bill the definition of eligible                 
 lands:  "The term National Heritage Area means a place designated             
 by the Congress where natural, cultural and historic resources                
 combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape                  
 arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography."  She            
 suggested every acre in Alaska could be defined as eligible under             
 the program.  "While there is merit in the conservation of heritage           
 areas, the impetus for the set-aside of these lands should come               
 from the level of government closest to the people and should                 
 provide for ... private property rights," she stated.  "And in the            
 absence of those two provisions, the resolution before you opposes            
 the bill, as it's currently drafted."                                         
                                                                               
 Number 0370                                                                   
                                                                               
 IRENE ANDERSON, Sitnasuak Native Corporation, testified via                   
 teleconference from Nome, saying they opposed the American heritage           
 program.  "And we do not want clouded title over our ANCSA land,              
 and that's one thing these heritage programs could do, is by                  
 getting the idea out in the Lower 48, and then those people out               
 there can try to plan our land use," she stated.  She believed                
 opposing the program would help protect property rights.                      
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were others wishing to testify and                 
 concluded the teleconference.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 0520                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER made a motion that HJR 66 move from the           
 House State Affairs committee with individual recommendations.                
 There being no objection, HJR 66 moved from committee.