02/02/1994 02:20 PM Senate HES

 CHAIRMAN RIEGER introduced  HJR 37  (FED MONEY FOR RURAL WATER/SEWER     R    
 PROJECTS) as the next order of business before the committee.                 
                                                                               
 ROGER MCKOWAN, Aide to Representative Hoffman, discussed                      
 Representative Hoffman's resolution.                                          
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER asked if this legislation would require a 50 percent           
 state match.  ROGER MCKOWAN clarified that this would require a 10            
 percent state match to a 90 percent federal contribution, $300                
 million nation-wide.                                                          
                                                                               
 ROGER MCKOWAN mentioned that the unique needs of the state of                 
 Alaska had been presented to the sponsor in Washington.  Three                
 quarters of the native waste problems of this country are located             
 in Alaska.  He said that these needs would be considered.                     
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asked if this program was the same as the programs              
 for funding along the Texas boarder.                                          
                                                                               
 KEITH KELTON, Division Director, the Department of Environmental              
 Conservation, clarified that Senator Leman was referring to the               
 Colonias program which has been receiving direct appropriations               
 through the efforts of their congressional staff.  These                      
 appropriations have been coming from Environmental Protection                 
 Agency (EPA) money for this type of authorization.  This is a                 
 separate funding program outside of what the EPA currently has                
 available.                                                                    
                                                                               
 JENNY NORRIS, Volunteer for the Alaska Environmental Lobby, stated            
 the support of HJR 37 by the lobby.  She said that the success of             
 such programs is dependent upon active community participation in             
 planning and implementation.  These communities must have access to           
 appropriate technology and training, regulations sensitive to                 
 cultural needs, and solutions that are environmentally and                    
 economically practical in design and maintenance.  She urged                  
 support for HJR 37.                                                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asked for an example of an unethical response.  MS.             
 NORRIS specified that unethical means not appropriating training or           
 technology within the community, in other words, not allowing                 
 community participation.                                                      
 SHERRIE GOLL, representing Kid Pac, supported HJR 37.  She pointed            
 out that a 1993 Alaskan community survey of communities with                  
 populations under 1,000 revealed that 48 percent of the children              
 living in those communities were living without piped water and               
 sewer.  Such circumstances make the children vulnerable to the                
 health risks mentioned in the bill.                                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN suggested that in some instances in this state a non-           
 pipe system can and should be used.  SHERRIE GOLL agreed with                 
 Senator Leman and she said that alternatives should be considered.            
 She reiterated that the sanitation risks are present and should be            
 dealt with.  If federal money is available to help, she expressed             
 the desire to use that money to correct the situation.                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR SHARP made a motion to move HJR 37 out of committee with              
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objections, it was so                 
 ordered.