Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/05/2003 09:02 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 101(FIN) am
"An Act making special appropriations to promote the opening
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas
exploration and development; and providing for an effective
date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
TOM WRIGHT, Staff to Representative John Harris, presented the bill
to the Committee. He explained that this legislation would
appropriate funds to Arctic Power to further their educational
efforts regarding the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge (ANWR) on the Congressional level. He stated that the bill
would additionally provide funds to the village of Anaktuvuk to
continue their efforts in promoting ANWR; provide funds to the
Office of the Governor; and provide funds to Arctic Power to
develop monthly expenditure reports for the Legislature.
Senator Hoffman asked the purpose of the appropriation to the
Office of the Governor.
Mr. Wright responded that he was unaware of the reason for the
appropriation.
Senator Hoffman asked whether a written request from the Office of
the Governor is available.
Mr. Wright replied that a letter from the Governor was not included
in the packet.
Co-Chair Wilken suggested that a title change be considered by the
State House of Representatives to clarify that the area being
considered for exploration and development is a relatively small
portion of ANWR referred to as Area 1002. He voiced that
identification of the area in this manner might more accurately
convey that a small portion of ANWR, rather than all of ANWR would
be opened to exploration.
Mr. Wright voiced that the House of Representatives would not be
opposed to this suggestion.
Senator Hoffman asked whether the number of supporting votes in
Congress has changed.
Mr. Wright responded that ANWR is addressed in two pieces of
Congressional legislation: one is the inclusion of Area 1002 in the
Budget Reconciliation Act which is up for a reconsideration vote;
and the other is ANWR's inclusion in the Energy Bill. He specified
that a majority vote and 60 votes, respectively, are required.
Senator Hoffman asked the latest tally of the support in Congress.
Mr. Wright responded that the supporting vote tally ranges from 46
to 52 votes; however, he could not verify the actual count.
KIM DUKE, Executive Director, Arctic Power stated that the private
non-profit entity has been coordinating the effort to open ANWR for
approximately ten years. She stated that the State has allocated
funds to help Arctic Power in this endeavor, and she expressed
optimism that the circumstances have improved. She stated that
State funding has provided for such things as Congressional member
visitations to ANWR as well as allowing ANWR advocates to travel to
other states to explain the project. She stressed that this on-
going effort has benefited the State, and she voiced optimism that
the effort would be rewarded this year.
Senator Hoffman, noting that this request is $2 million less than
the original request, asked what items were omitted.
Ms. Duke voiced that this "conservative" request would allow for
the continuance of a short-term aggressive campaign; however, she
asserted, were the effort to be lengthy, additional appropriations
would be sought. She summarized that, while it is difficult to
predict the proceedings in Congress, the hope is that the campaign
would be effective.
Ms. Duke continued that in order to be effective, there are no
plans to curtail or eliminate any of the programs that Arctic Power
conducts. She stated that the campaign would continue to include
such things as the North Slope tours and the outreach program. She
stressed that the funding would be sufficient for a shortened but
aggressive campaign effort; however, she continued that were this
funding spread over a nine-month or yearlong timeframe, it would be
insufficient.
Senator Olson questioned whether this "conservative amount" of
funding, as compared to historically higher levels of funding,
might jeopardize the effectiveness of the campaign.
Ms. Duke responded that Arctic Power would pursue the campaign with
the assumption that additional funding would be forthcoming. She
reiterated that the decision was made to conduct an aggressive
campaign.
Senator Bunde asked whether Congressional visits to ANWR have
historically occurred in July.
Ms. Duke responded that tours have been conducted as early as
March. She communicated that the Office of the Governor extends
invitations to Congressional members, and that Arctic Power then
coordinates the tour.
Senator Bunde voiced support of the program.
Senator Hoffman inquired as to the type of documentation that would
be supplied to the Legislature.
Ms. Dukes explained that Arctic Power would continue to submit the
monthly reports to the Legislature, the Governor and to Alaska's
Congressional delegation as required in the grant. She mentioned
that, as required, expense reports are submitted for reimbursement
and audits of the program are conducted. She stated these records
are public.
Senator Hoffman voiced that this documentation is important as
there is a "misconception" that documentation has not been
provided.
AL ADAMS, Volunteer and Co-Chair of Arctic Power and former State
Senator, testified via teleconference from an offnet site in
Washington, DC. He stated that the campaign to open ANWR is a
coordinated effort in conjunction with such entities as the Office
of the Governor, associated industry and labor unions, and Alaska's
Congressional delegation. He opined that while this lower level of
funding might hamper the process, the Arctic Power campaign would
aggressively pursue the additional votes required to open Area
1002.
The bill was HELD in Committee.
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