Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
04/28/2006 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB395 | |
| HB420 | |
| Pt. Thomson Unit Update | |
| Michael Menge, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 395 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 420 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
CSHB 395(FIN)-FIRE SEASON DATES
CHAIR THOMAS WAGONER announced HB 395 to be up for
consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE CURT OLSON, sponsor of HB 395, introduced Conrad
Jackson.
3:35:58 PM
CONRAD JACKSON, staff to Representative Curt Olson, said that HB
395 would move the start and end dates of the fire season back
one month. He explained that moving the start date back is
particularly important so that fire fighting personnel and
equipment will be in place to fight early-season fires.
More early fires are seen around the state because spruce bark
beetle infestations have resulted in increased fuel sources.
Without the proper equipment and personnel in place, these early
fires have the potential of growing and becoming much more
difficult to contain and extinguish.
3:37:09 PM
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN joined the committee.
SENATOR KIM ELTON asks if the season starts one month earlier
and ends one month earlier.
Mr. Jackson replied yes. Initially the idea was to start the
season one month earlier to deal to pre-green up fires, but that
resulted in a fiscal note that approached $1 million. Moving the
end date back one month made it possible to zero the fiscal note
so that's what was done.
CHAIR WAGONER commented that on the Kenai Peninsula the rainy
season begins in early August. By the end of August the dew
point is usually down so this wouldn't be a problem for that
area.
3:39:54 PM
SCOTT WALDEN, Coordinator, Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of
Emergency Management, stated support for the amended version of
HB 395. In the Kenai area the spring fires are of greater
concern than in the late season and it's prudent to mobilize
resources early. He noted that if a fire were to overlap past
August, there is the opportunity for supplemental help.
CHAIR WAGONER closed public testimony.
3:42:01 PM
Senator Dyson moved to report CSHB 396(FIN) from committee with
individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. No objection
was stated, and it was so ordered.
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