Legislature(1995 - 1996)
01/23/1995 08:10 AM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 23, 1995
8:10 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Joe Green, Co-Chairman
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chairman
Representative Scott Ogan, Vice Chairman
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Ramona Barnes
Representative John Davies
Representative Pete Kott
Representative Irene Nicholia
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Eileen MacLean
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Organizational Meeting
WITNESS REGISTER
None
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-1, SIDE A
Number 000
The House Resources Committee was called to order by Co-Chairman
Joe Green at 8:10 a.m. Members present at the call to order were
Representatives Green, Williams, Davies, Kott, and Ogan. Members
absent were Representatives Austerman, Barnes, MacLean, and
Nicholia.
CO-CHAIRMAN JOE GREEN announced there is a quorum present. He told
committee members that all legislators will receive a memo
regarding bill packets for committee members. He said testimony
will not be heard on a bill if the packet is not complete prior to
the committee meeting. He noted that on several occasions in other
committees last year, committee members received information as
they were coming into the meetings and he did not want that to
happen in the Resources Committee.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN asked each committee member to introduce
themselves, discuss why they wanted to be on the committee and
state what expectations they have.
Number 034
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES stated he represents District 29 which
is the University district in the Fairbanks area. He said he was
reelected and served on the House Resources Committee last year.
He advised that resources is an area he is interested in as he
worked for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for four and
one-half years. Prior to being elected to the legislature he was
the state seismologist.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES said one of his principle areas of interest,
in terms of public policy, is natural resource development. He
stated he would like to ensure that there is a reasonable
opportunity for the public to be involved in the development of
public policy.
Number 055
REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT announced he represents District 24 and
was also reelected. He felt the committee was going to be
interesting and added that the effect of the development of the
state's resources is vitally important to the state's well-being.
He stated the economic condition of the state is primarily based on
resource development and he wanted to be a part of that process.
He felt good public policy is important.
Number 068
REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AUSTERMAN told committee members he represents
District 6 - Kodiak Island. He advised his agenda is basically
fisheries issues. He felt fish, as a natural renewable resource,
is a very important part of the state since the resource brings in
a lot of jobs and money. He said his district is interested in the
state's tax structure and noted that out of 17 taxes collected,
five of them are fish-related taxes.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN felt fish should be of more importance
than in the past because it is a renewable resource and has a major
impact on the state's economy. He added it was important there be
a balance between the use of fish in the state. He stated he also
wanted to be on the committee because the resources of the state
are what will make the state continue to grow.
Number 097
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN stated this is his first term in the
legislature. He said he is a cabinet maker by trade, so he is an
end user of forest products. He felt it important that forestry
begin in his district as there are forests which are overripe,
under-utilized and dying from lack of proper management. He said
he would like to see local, small-scale logging begin there.
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN added there are also fish issues in the valley
and he does not view those issues as "us versus them" issues but
rather a resource issue. He stated if any of the state's resources
disappear, everyone loses--not just one user group. He advised he
served as a public member on the Big Game Commercial Services Board
for two years.
Number 133
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN noted for the record that Representatives
Austerman and Nicholia had joined the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE IRENE NICHOLIA stated she represents District 36
which encompasses most of the Yukon River, part of the Kuskokwim
River and all of the Tanana River. She said fisheries has been her
district's most important resource and has been in the news for the
past five years. She added she is also concerned about the other
natural resources in her district, particularly big game, the
timber industry and subsistence uses of all resources in the
district. She advised she is a member of the committee to ensure
the protection of the rights of the use of those resources.
Number 149
CO-CHAIRMAN BILL WILLIAMS announced he represents Ketchikan and
served as Chairman of the House Resources Committee last year. He
said his goal is to do a good job like last year and ensure that
all of the state's resources are utilized. He stated fish and
timber are the primary resources in his district and discussed his
background in those industries.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN announced he represents District 10 - South
Anchorage and by profession is a petroleum engineer. He said he
served on this committee last year and a lot of good work was done.
He stated even though he is from an industry which represents
80-85 percent of the state's income, he is committed to trying to
develop other resources within the state. He noted that oil
production is a finite issue, especially in a high cost area like
Alaska, and while the state has the luxury of some time to produce
oil and gas, he felt it was incumbent upon the state to develop the
other resources such as timber, fisheries, tourism and mining.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN stated he was excited about serving as Co-
Chairman of the committee. He said there is a good balance in
regard to the state's resources and felt it important to maintain
that balance. He noted he envisions Alaska as a resource state
well into the 21st century and feels the state can show through
innovative processes, the ability to not only extract the resources
but can be a model for rehabilitation.
Number 209
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced the committee staff. Gail Ford will
serve as committee secretary and the two senior staff members will
be Jack Phelps (Representative Williams) and Jeff Logan
(Representative Green).
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN explained there is a division of responsibilities
for the Co-Chairmen. He announced Co-Chairman Williams will handle
all timber and commercial fishing issues. He stated he will handle
sport fishing and all other issues. He advised there is a desire
to assign certain days to certain issues, although those
assignments have not been determined. He told committee members
that when he is chairing a particular meeting, he plans to express
his desire on a bill when the committee hears it.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN said he plans to have a full hearing on bills but
wants to avoid repetitive input. He stated there will be a few
issues coming before the committee which will require
subcommittees.
Number 268
CO-CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS felt it important that the public get an
opportunity to give input on the various issues.
REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA asked who would be chairing the subsistence
use related bills.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN stated that had not been determined.
CO-CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS added if there are issues which relate
specifically to his district, then he would chair those issues.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN noted for the record that Representative Barnes
had joined the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE RAMONA BARNES stated subsistence issues will be
given to the World Trade and State/Federal Relations special
committee.
Number 305
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES said she previously served six to eight years
on the House Resources Committee and is familiar with the issues in
the committee. She stated she chose to serve on the committee
because she feels the committee has a great effect on the committee
she is chairing.
CO-CHAIRMAN GREEN announced the committee will meet Wednesday,
January 25 at 8:00 a.m. for an overview from the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC). He added the committee will also
meet on Friday, January 27 at 8:00 a.m. for an overview from the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the House Resources
Committee, Co-Chairman Green adjourned the meeting at 8:40 a.m.
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