Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
05/03/2006 08:30 AM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB442 | |
| HB190 | |
| HB322 | |
| HB422 | |
| HB190 | |
| SJR17 | |
| HJR9 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 442 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 322 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 17-COLLECT MORE EXXON VALDEZ SPILL DAMAGES
10:05:53 AM
CHAIR RALPH SEEKINS announced SJR 17 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH introduced the resolution. He explained
that it simply asked the state and the federal government to
pursue the "Reopener for Unknown Injury" clause in the 1991
civil settlement with the Exxon Corporation over the 1989 Exxon
Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound.
Since the spill and settlement, scientists have determined a
number of unanticipated injuries to the spill zone, such as the
1993 crash of the herring population. Also, crude oil has yet to
biodegrade on many of the beaches in the Sound. These issues,
among others, show the necessity of pursuing the "reopener
clause" and the $100 million dollars that would help remedy the
harm.
10:09:17 AM
TIM JOYCE, Mayor of Cordova, testified in support of the
legislation. He detailed the negative economic impacts since the
1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill surrounding Prince William Sound. He
described the downfall of the herring fishery and said there was
strong evidence that the collapse started in 1989 with the oil
spill. The surrounding economy has suffered for over ten years
and continues to suffer, he stated.
There are three criteria the government must establish to reopen
the claim; that a population, habitat, or species has suffered a
substantial loss or decline, the loss or decline must be
attributed to the oil spill, and the loss or decline could not
have been known or reasonably anticipated when the settlement
was signed in 1991. He said he could list at least two instances
that meet the criteria including the unanticipated lingering
effects of the herring population.
10:13:39 AM
MR. JOYCE asserted that the oil is lingering under the surface
on the beaches and would remain a toxic environment far longer
than the experts thought it would.
ROBERT MAXWELL, Commercial Fisherman, testified that the loss of
the herring fishery has negatively impacted his family and the
community of Cordova profoundly. He recalled years past with
great herring fisheries and the accompanying positive economic
impacts. He testified in support of SJR 17.
10:16:49 AM
JEFF SHORT, Research Scientist, Auke Bay Fisheries Laboratory,
offered to answer questions regarding research done on the Exxon
Valdez oil spill and the effects of the lingering oil.
SENATOR FRENCH asked Mr. Short to give the committee an overview
of the research they have done and of the effects of the
lingering oil.
MR. SHORT complied. He said the study was sponsored by the Exxon
Valdez Trustee Council and was executed in the summer of 2001.
It was a random sampling design aimed at providing an estimate
of the amount of oil left. They sampled over 90 beaches and dug
over 7000 pits. They estimate between 100-200 tons of oil
remains on the subsurface of the beach, meaning it is mainly
non-visible. Oil that remains visible on the beach is hard and
resembles pavement. The beaches are still extremely toxic and
will remain so indeterminately.
10:20:07 AM
MR. SHORT continued the area of damage corresponds to
approximately six miles of shoreline. Studies conducted indicate
the oil dissipation through natural processes is extremely slow
and is expected to remain for several decades.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked Mr. Short whether there is a scientific
connection between the oil spill and the decline of the herring
fishery.
MR. SHORT said that is a difficult question because the science
is not clear. There is a reason to believe there may be a
relationship but reason to believe otherwise, he said.
10:23:25 AM
CHAIR SEEKINS asked Mr. Short whether there have been other
fisheries negatively impacted by something not connected to an
oil spill.
MR. SHORT said yes. There was a major herring stock in Russia
that vanished in the 1950s for unknown reasons.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked whether there was a similar impact in any
Alaska fishery.
MR. SHORT said not on the scale of the Prince William Sound
incident. He conceded he was not an expert in that arena, but as
an environmental chemist he was specifically following the
herring fishery closely.
KEN ADAMS, Cordova, testified in support of the resolution. He
said he is one of the stakeholders trying to achieve the
application of science for the improvement of fisheries. He
spoke about the Herring Summit that was held by the ExxonMobil
Corporation in Anchorage in April of 2006. A dozen expert
scientists and other stakeholders attended and testified. The
group presented a plan to aid the restoration of herring, as
they believe that through direct intervention something can be
done. The current population estimate is at 17,000 tons. Prior
to the oil spill the population estimate was 120,000 tons.
"Nature is not aiding the recovery of herring," he said.
10:27:31 AM
MR. ADAMS said the group proposed to utilize the expertise of
fishermen and scientists toward a major resource plan that he
referred to as the "sound ecosystem assessment." The
intervention program would involve moving herring eggs and
larvae into locations that would make it more suitable for
survival. He explained the technique to be used to track the
movement of herring called "otolith marking" through
spectrophotometry.
MR. ADAMS compared Prince William Sound with Sitka Sound and
said that for years the two herring fisheries were identical.
However, after the oil spill, the two could no longer be
compared. Sitka Sound continues to be a normal productive
fishery and Prince William Sound is not.
10:32:38 AM
CHAIR SEEKINS held the resolution in committee.
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