Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/27/2013 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB27 | |
SB2 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | SB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
= | SB 27 | ||
SENATE BILL NO. 2 "An Act enacting the Interstate Mining Compact and relating to the compact; relating to the Interstate Mining Commission; and providing for an effective date." 9:39:01 AM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, stated that SB 2 would allow Alaska to become a full member of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC). She explained that full membership would give the governor an active vote which would give the state a broader voice on mining discussions at the national level. She shared that the IMCC was a coalition of mining states that join together to represent natural resource development and environmental protection as it related to mining. She furthered that there were currently 19 member states and that Alaska was one of 6 associate member states. She said that the IMCC recognized the basic importance of the mining industry and the essential balance between the country's need for minerals and the protection of the environment. She noted the various elements of the compact found in the bill. She spoke to the fiscal note, and stated that the dues were based on the amount of minerals that were produced in each state. She pointed out that the highest dues were paid in West Virginia and that Alaska could experience annual dues of approximately $35,000 per year, not including the provisions for travel to compact meetings. She stated that the membership could be cancelled at any time. 9:42:06 AM Senator Hoffman remarked that it was odd that western states were only associate members. She explained that the most prolific mining states to date had been eastern states. She said that all of the associate western states were in the process of gaining full membership. She added that Montana was evaluating joining the compact as well. 9:42:55 AM Senator Dunleavy remarked that the eastern states with full membership were huge coal producers. 9:43:12 AM Co-Chair Meyer wondered why a state would not join. He felt the cost of joining the IMCC was minimal when compared to the benefits of membership in the compact. Senator Giessel responded that she did not know why some states were not yet full members. She noted that associate members had lower dues. She shared that some of the associate members had similar legislation in place to gain full membership in 2013. 9:44:26 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered when the original compact was formed. Senator Giessel replied that the IMCC was formed in April of 1971. 9:45:53 AM Senator Bishop wondered if full membership would give the state more standing against Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) overreach. ED FOGELS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES responded that full membership would include voting rights for the state to influence the policy direction of the compact. 9:47:51 AM Mr. Fogels stressed that mining was becoming increasingly important to the state; the state now had 7 operating mines that were strong economic contributors to the state economy. He said that the state had a strong regulatory permitting process and he gave assurances that all of the active mines had strong environmental records. He shared that the governor had tasked the department with crafting a more efficient permitting system. He relayed that work with federal agencies was a key part of changing the process. He asserted that the IMCC would foster a better and more productive relationship with the federal government. He reiterated the benefits of joining the compact. He offered the example of IMCC pushback against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning hard rock mining bonding efforts. He shared that he was the governor's current designee to IMCC and he believed that full membership would put the state in a stronger position. 9:51:33 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough queried the travel line in the fiscal note of $20,000. Mr. Fogels responded that a key component to membership in the IMCC was attending meetings which required travel to various locations. He noted that travel expenses for associate membership had been covered in departmental budget to this point. He felt that it was important to show a commitment that in the long-term the state would be represented at all meetings. 9:52:50 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough if DNR had expended all the money that was currently assigned for travel in the department's budget. Mr. Fogels referred the question to another staff member within the department. 9:53:14 AM Senator Dunleavy understood that Alaska had more coal than any other state in the country. Mr. Fogels replied in the affirmative. 9:54:27 AM DEANTHA CROCKETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION, (AMA) testified in support of SB 2. She said that it was increasingly difficult for mineral development to happen under federal constraints. She believed that having regulators engaged with IMCC would give the association a better understanding of how to communicate with federal agencies. She felt that full membership would give Alaska greater access to expertise in the mining field. She said that miners in the state were having a lot of trouble with MSHA issues and oversight and that the IMCC had been helpful. 9:57:51 AM MICHAEL SATRE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COUNCIL OF ALASKA PRODUCERS, spoke in support of SB 2. He said that the state should join as a full member in order to ensure a smooth permitting process and to join with other states in fighting against federal overreach. He said that the council believed that the state was a leader in permitting of all resources. He believed that the state's process was rigorous, science based, transparent and predictable. He felt that the state needed to go out and benchmark permitting procedures with other states. He concluded that a combined voice was always better than a single voice. 10:00:57 AM GREG CONRAD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERSTATE MINING COMPACT COMMISSION (via teleconference), testified in support of SB 2. He stated that Alaska had joined the IMCC as an associate member in 2006. He said that the legislative and regulatory climate on the federal level highlighted the importance for the state to maintain a strong voice. He pointed out that IMCC was recognized and respected in Washington D.C. as an expert on mining issues. He said that the act of participation and commitment of the full members carried the organization forward in terms of support and leadership. He relayed that full membership would put the state in a position that would be favorable for resource development. He stated that the state's full membership would be recognized by those who worked with the compact on a regular basis and would bring about a greater degree of recognition and influence regarding Alaska's participation in the compact. 10:05:43 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered what the dues were for the associate membership. Mr. Conrad replied that Alaska's associate member dues were $15,000 annually. 10:07:03 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough queried the number of times the IMCC met each year. Mr. Conrad replied that there were two formal meetings per year, with the possibility of other meetings. 10:07:43 AM Senator Hoffman wondered whether other states had considered joining the associate member status. Mr. Conrad replied that Montana, Arizona, and Idaho were considering associate membership. Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony. 10:09:42 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough MOVED to REPORT SB 2 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 2 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal notes: FN1 (DEC), FN2 (DNR), and FN3 (LAW).
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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SB 2 - IMCC Annual Report 2011.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - IMCC Dues Assessments 2014 and 2015.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - IMCC Membership 2013.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - IMCC Welcome.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Letter of Support AMA.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Letter of Support CAP.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Letter of Support Mr. Steffy.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Letter of Support RDC.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - List of Testifiers.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Sectional.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |
SB 2 - IMCC Testimony on AK SB 2 Senate Finance.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 2 |