Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
03/11/2019 01:20 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Board of Game | |
| Big Game Commercial Services Board | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 11, 2019
1:23 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Lincoln, Co-Chair
Representative Geran Tarr, Co-Chair
Representative Grier Hopkins, Vice Chair
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Chris Tuck
Representative Dave Talerico
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Sara Rasmussen
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Game
Jerry Burnett - Juneau
CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Jason Bunch - Kodiak
Alfred Thomas Harris - Anchorage
CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JERRY BURNETT, Appointee
Board of Game
Boards and Advisory Committees
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Game.
SAM ROHRER, President
Alaska Professional Hunters Association
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Jerry Burnett, appointee to the Board of
Game.
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director
Resident Hunters of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Jerry Burnett, appointee to the Board of
Game.
RON SOMERVILLE, Spokesperson
Territorial Sportsmen
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Jerry Burnett, appointee to the Board of
Game.
JASON BUNCH, Appointee
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
SAM ROHRER, President
Alaska Professional Hunters Association
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Jason Bunch, appointee to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
MARK RICHARDS, President
Resident Hunters of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Jason Bunch, appointee to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
ALFRED THOMAS HARRIS, Appointee
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
MARK RICHARDS, President
Resident Hunters of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the
confirmation hearing of Alfred Thomas Harris, appointee to the
Big Game Commercial Services Board.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:23:45 PM
CO-CHAIR GERAN TARR called the House Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:23 p.m. Representatives Hannan,
Talerico, Spohnholz, Rasmussen, Hopkins, Lincoln, and Tarr were
present at the call to order. Representatives Tuck and Rauscher
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Board of Game
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Game
1:24:09 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced the first order of business would be a
confirmation hearing for Jerry Burnett, appointee to the Board
of Game.
1:25:14 PM
JERRY BURNETT, Appointee, Board of Game (BOG), Boards and
Advisory Committees, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG),
informed the committee he was appointed to BOG on 2/22/19. He
gave a brief personal history that included fishing and hunting
beginning at an early age and continuing throughout his life.
Mr. Burnett has been a resident of Juneau since 1981 and has
worked in a variety of positions including 12 years as staff at
the Alaska State Legislature and 15 years as a director and/or
deputy commissioner for the Murkowski, Palin, Parnell, and
Walker administrations; he retired as the deputy commissioner of
the Department of Revenue in 2017. He and his wife now operate
a fishing charter business. Mr. Burnett listed his many years
of service to the Alaska Outdoor Council and Territorial
Sportsmen, and authoring comments and proposals to BOG and the
Board of Fisheries (BOF) related to access to federal lands and
land use. He also noted he is familiar with hearing and
considering public comment and testimony before making decisions
and adopting regulations. Mr. Burnett described the role of BOG
within the framework of the Alaska State Constitution and
expressed his belief in his qualifications as a board member.
1:29:18 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR said Mr. Burnett was appointed to a three-year
term, and read the following statement [original punctuation
provided]:
The board consists of seven members appointed by the
Governor; appointed on the basis of interest in public
affairs, good judgement, knowledge, and ability in the
field of action of the board, and with a view to
providing diversity of interest and points of view in
the membership. Members shall be residents of the
state, appointed without regard to political
affiliation or geographical location of residence;
commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game is not
a member, but serves as ex-officio secretary.
MR. BURNETT clarified he was appointed [2/22/19] to a vacant
position and his term will expire 6/30/21.
CO-CHAIR TARR listed the current BOG roster.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked for Mr. Burnett's view of the
potential concession guide program that is intended to generate
additional revenue from the commercial guiding industry to the
state.
MR. BURNETT acknowledged guiding is an important business in
Alaska; the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture, issues guide concessions on national forest land as
do other federal agencies. Without an opportunity for further
review, he declined to comment. In further response to
Representative Hannan, he said there is always potential for
conflict between guided and unguided hunters on public land.
1:32:19 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR asked what viewpoints should be represented on
BOG: consumptive, non-consumptive, tourists, residents, or non-
residents.
MR. BURNETT opined all sitting board members are consumptive
users, and everyone is a non-consumptive user; for example, in
his experience as a tour operator, tourists who catch fish also
enjoy wildlife viewing. He said the board benefits from members
with a diversity of interests and backgrounds, not necessarily
just from members who are dedicated to any specific use.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked Mr. Burnett to predict "the top two or
three conflicts" that would come before the board.
MR. BURNETT said typically there are conflicts between local
residents and nonlocal residents related to hunting areas, and
conflicts related to allocations between residents and
nonresidents. Further, an upcoming issue before the board is a
proposal to allocate more Kodiak Island brown bear permits to
residents than to nonresidents. Also, there is controversy over
how the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) counts moose.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked:
With regards to the local nonlocal and resident and
nonresident, could you just describe your perspective
on, do you have a general ... position on that, or is
your point of view, does it vary from others on the
board already?
MR. BURNETT stated he was unsure of the other board members'
opinions; generally, regarding animals used for meat, his stance
favors local consumptive use, also considering other interests
such as commercial interests, and the interests of private
property owners.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked about the role of guide concessions in
[conflicts related to allocations between local residents and
nonresidents].
1:37:11 PM
MR. BURNETT said each situation differs in that game is
sometimes less important as a food source than as a commercial
activity, due to access and economics.
CO-CHAIR TARR directed attention to ADFG's budget and questioned
the role of BOG to ensure ADFG has the resources to fulfil its
mission.
MR. BURNETT advised most of the budget for wildlife management
is sourced from license fees and federal matching funds; in
fact, in his experience, there has been legislation - supported
by user organizations - for increased hunting and fishing
license fees to ensure adequate funding. The board must
advocate for the department in all cases.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked Mr. Burnett about his knowledge of
[the Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) virus affecting] domestic
sheep, wild sheep, Dall sheep, and goats.
MR. BURNETT explained diseases brought in from Outside or
transferred from domestic sheep or goats to wild populations is
a matter for ADFG and the Office of the State Veterinarian,
Department of Environmental Conservation. Although unsure of
specifics or best management processes, he said he is aware of
the concern. In fact, an issue coming before BOG is related to
mule deer and white-tailed deer coming into the state and there
is an upcoming proposal to ensure carcasses are tracked by ADFG.
CO-CHAIR TARR recalled a working group addressed the
aforementioned issue and found that the transmission [of the
virus] was not from domestic sheep and goats, but that the virus
was endemic to the Alaska population.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked about BOG's meeting schedule.
1:42:43 PM
MR. BURNETT provided BOG's meeting schedule.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN observed BOG has two more upcoming
vacancies.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO opined the [regional advisory committees
established by the Joint Board of Fisheries and Game] process is
very important to the Interior and asked whether Mr. Burnett
agreed.
MR. BURNETT said yes. He then pointed out there are 84 advisory
committees that review every proposal before BOG, thus the
committees are part of the essential public process.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked for Mr. Burnett's view of predator, or
other species, population control.
MR. BURNETT advised currently, Alaska has an intensive
management law to guide BOG and ADFG in predator control; in a
conflict over the allocation for game species, for which the
primary use is food for human consumption, he favors human use.
Therefore, predator control is required "at some time in some
areas, otherwise you're going to lose your prey population";
although the issue can be politically-charged, [predator
control] is necessary in some cases.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN related in the Northwest Arctic there has been
an increase in bear and wolf populations that impact caribou and
moose. In fact, an increase in the beaver population has
impacted fish spawning habitat in Selawik. He suggested the
issue of population control is not limited to predator control.
1:47:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK reported biologists believe the best time
for aerial wolf hunting is in spring; however, ADFG contractors
prefer to hunt wolves in fall.
MR. BURNETT said understanding the issue reflects the purpose
and cost of the action: [wolf] coats are more valuable to
harvesters in fall, but spring is a more efficient time to hunt.
He deferred to ADFG in this matter. In further response to
Representative Tuck, he clarified BOG would have an influence
[on predator control decisions], but more important are
"commercial interests and what can work with the department and
what they need to do."
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK surmised certain decisions are dependent
upon commercial interests versus what biologists recommend,
which is if wolves are taken in fall there is a chance the
population will recover and thus the resulting program would be
more costly.
MR. BURNETT made clear he did not intend to say the only
consideration is for commercial interests; however, there may
need to be a balance in terms of cost and efficiency. Without
specifics, he declined further comment.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK returned to the question of allocation and
asked for an example of [hunting] that may be too costly for
local residents.
MR. BURNETT posited if an [air taxi] flight is required to
access a food source, that is not necessarily a practical or
economical way to harvest meat for the table. Therefore,
[hunting in a certain area] may be allocated instead to a trophy
hunt.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK remarked:
So, wouldn't the market determine that? ... I would
think that there're Alaska residents that enjoy the
meat, as well as do it for fun and adventure, and
wouldn't mind going out to some of those places, even
though it might cost a little bit more than to buy
steak off the shelf.
MR. BURNETT agreed.
1:51:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN asked why Mr. Burnett wishes to serve
on BOG.
MR. BURNETT responded he has a longtime interest in BOG issues
and after retiring from state government in 2017, he would like
to continue his public service to Alaska.
1:52:31 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on the confirmation
hearing of Jerry Burnett.
1:53:24 PM
SAM ROHRER, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association,
expressed his organization's support of the appointment of Jerry
Burnett. He said Mr. Burnett has a long history of involvement
with fish and wildlife issues in the state at the local advisory
committee level, and is a lifelong hunter and fisherman
committed to ensuring Alaskans have access to fish and game
resources. Also, Mr. Burnett's wide professional experience
would be a positive influence on his service on BOG.
CO-CHAIR TARR returned attention to the upcoming issue before
BOG related to brown bear permits, that are limited to local or
nonlocal residents, and asked about Mr. Burnett's role.
MR. ROHRER acknowledged there are several proposals that he
believes will have a negative effect on the economic activities
in his community and on his personal livelihood; however, APHA
does not support an appointee on the basis of one specific issue
but supports those who are openminded and fair.
1:56:36 PM
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director, Resident Hunters of Alaska
(RHAK), informed the committee RHAK represents 2,000 Alaskans
who support a resident hunting priority. Mr. Richards referred
to written testimony provided in the committee packet [dated
3/13/19], in support of the appointment of Jerry Burnett, and
stated he and the board of directors of RHAK are very impressed
with Mr. Burnett's qualifications. Further, Mr. Burnett's
testimony today has shown he is well-prepared for upcoming BOG
meetings. Regarding the guide concession program, Mr. Richards
reported $2.1 million in federal receipt authority designated to
establish the proposed guide concession program is not
available; therefore, RHAK recommends the Big Game Commercial
Services Board and BOG undertake "those issues that are under
their authority."
1:58:53 PM
RON SOMERVILLE, Spokesperson, Territorial Sportsmen, informed
the committee Territorial Sportsmen is a local sportsmen's group
that has sponsored $1.7 million in local high school
scholarships. He noted Mr. Burnett has participated in events
that have helped local communities, and Territorial Sportsmen
supports his appointment. Mr. Somerville pointed out Mr.
Burnett has experience in legislative matters as staff, and as a
member of the administration, which he said would be helpful to
other members of the board when determining legislative intent.
Further, Mr. Burnett is an advocate for state's rights who would
be a fair arbiter of differing viewpoints, and he urged the
committee to support Mr. Burnett's appointment.
2:01:35 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
2:01:53 PM
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN paraphrased from the following statement:
The House Resources Standing Committee has reviewed
the qualifications of the governor's appointee, Jerry
Burnett, to the Board of Game and recommends his name
be forwarded to a joint session for consideration.
This does not reflect intent by any of the members to
vote for or against this individual during any further
sessions for the purpose of confirmation.
2:02:29 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
^Big Game Commercial Services Board
Big Game Commercial Services Board
2:05:43 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced the next order of business would be
confirmation hearings for Jason Bunch and [Alfred Thomas
Harris], appointees to the Big Game Commercial Services Board.
She paraphrased from the following written statement [original
punctuation provided]:
The terms for the Big Game Commercial Services Board
are four years; the board consists of nine members,
eight are appointed by the governor; two members who
are licensed registered guide-outfitters; two members
who are licensed transporters; one member of the Board
of Game chosen by the Board of Game and who does not
hold a guide or transport license; two members who
represent private landholders affected by guided
hunting or transportation activities and services and
do not hold a license under this board, and two public
members. The function: The board licenses and
regulates the activities of providers of commercial
services to big game hunters in the interest of the
state's wildlife resources. Meetings are at least
twice annually.
2:07:03 PM
JASON BUNCH, Appointee, Big Game Commercial Services Board
(BGCSB), Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional
Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development, informed the committee he is a retired helicopter
rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard and a 21-year resident
of Kodiak where he lives with his family. Last year he was
appointed to fill a vacant registered guide seat on BGCSB, and
he reviewed some of the board's successes during the last year:
working with licensees, eliminated a $1 million deficit;
completed a rewrite of the registered guide outfitter licensing
exam; worked with land managers, Alaska State Troopers, and
licensees to draft, adopt, and clarify position statements;
reviewed statutes and regulations that may need to be adjusted;
continue to review regulations for clarity and efficiencies;
review violations that require board action. Mr. Bunch said in
his experience in USCG, he was part of a professional group
serving a maritime environment, and he would like to continue to
serve Alaska, promoting the guide industry as a respected and
professional occupation.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recognized Mr. Bunch for his USCG service in
Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed her understanding the state
could improve its economic return by establishing a concession
program for commercial guides that would increase revenue.
MR. BUNCH stated his support for a concession program for big
game guiding in Alaska. He said he is a [U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, national wildlife] refuge
permit holder, as well as a Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) permit holder, and thus understands the differences
between the two licenses. Further, his experience with the U.S.
Forest Service (USFS), Department of Agriculture, on concession
policies, and his personal knowledge of land use permits, leads
him to support a concession program within DNR. Mr. Bunch
offered to submit written testimony explaining the "pros and
cons" of a DNR concession program.
CO-CHAIR TARR indicated Mr. Bunch's written testimony would be
distributed to the committee.
[Although not stated on the record, the committee treated public
testimony on the appointment of Jason Bunch to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board open.]
2:12:17 PM
SAM ROHRER, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association
(APHA), stated APHA's strong recommendation to reconfirm Jason
Bunch to BGCSB. Mr. Rohrer said subsequent to Mr. Bunch's
appointment to a vacant seat on the board last year, he quickly
familiarized himself with all board functions and processes and
worked tirelessly on behalf of the board. Further, in addition
to his extensive knowledge of the guiding industry, Mr. Bunch
seeks information from others when necessary. Mr. Rohrer
remarked, "You will not find a harder worker than Mr. Bunch, bar
none ...."
2:14:03 PM
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director, Resident Hunters of Alaska
(RHAK), informed the committee RHAK represents 2,000 Alaskans
who support a resident hunting priority. Mr. Richards expressed
RHAK's strong support of Jason Bunch's reappointment to BGCSB.
He acknowledged that although RHAK and Mr. Bunch may disagree,
Mr. Bunch maintains professionalism and is a great asset to the
board.
CO-CHAIR TARR ascertained no one further wished to testify on
the appointment of Jason Bunch.
2:15:48 PM
ALFRED THOMAS HARRIS, Appointee, BGCSB, Division of
Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, DCCED, said
he is [an appointee to the BGCSB seat representing private
landowners]. Mr. Harris informed the committee he is Alaska
Native from the community of Saxman, and descends from the
Tongass Tribe and Richard Harris, co-founder of Juneau. Mr.
Harris serves as CEO of Knikatnu, Inc., the village corporation
for the Knik/Wasilla area, and serves as a director for the Cape
Fox Corporation, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
village corporation for Saxman. He gave a brief history of his
previous service on boards and his experience as president of
Alaska Village Initiatives (AVI), a federally created Community
Enterprise Development Corporation of ANCSA corporations and
Tribes, that seeks to pursue the economic development goals of
achieving food and energy security from corporation and Tribal
land in rural communities. Mr. Harris reported wildlife
resources in Alaska have diminished; in 2001 [according to a
document provided in the committee packet entitled, "Grazing
Wildlife Production by State], more wildlife was harvested
within 50 miles of Washington, DC, than was harvested in Alaska.
Alaska Village Initiatives works to reverse this trend by using
federal funds, as other states have done. He said rural
communities and the commercial guiding industry have suffered
from depleted resources, even though federal funds are available
to restore resources and habitat. Further, AVI seeks to partner
with the guiding industry and local communities in this effort
as a completing, not a competing interest. He directed
attention to additional documents and written testimony provided
in the committee packet.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked for more information as to how the
relationship between private landowners, the state, and the big
game guiding industry affects the loss of wildlife.
MR. HARRIS advised Alaska may be the only state that does not
have a formal recognition of the private landowner as a critical
partner in the restoration of wildlife resources. He pointed
out the national budget for the purpose of habitat protection
and renewal exceeds $5 billion, of which through 2008, Alaska's
landowners received less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the
national average. During the Hammond Administration [1974-1982]
the wildlife harvest for the Kenai Peninsula ranged from 700 to
2,400 moose; in 2012, said harvest dropped to 66 moose. Alaska
Village Initiatives seeks to reverse this trend through a
process called Tribal Conservation Districts (TCDs), a federally
recognized and acknowledged relationship to provide federal
funding for the restoration of resources.
2:20:35 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR asked Mr. Harris to connect his testimony related
to his work at the Native corporations with his appointment to
BGCSB; she pointed out the board would not seek federal funding.
MR. HARRIS further explained TCDs have existed throughout the
Lower 48 for 40 years and currently there are 23 TCDs in Alaska.
Ideally, TCDs operate in partnership with states as completing -
not competing - interests; in other states, TCDs work with
departments of fish and game and wildlife habitat to identify
areas of concern, on and off, private land. He described
restoration procedures occurring in Washington, Oregon,
California, and Idaho that are critical to the restoration of
salmon species in rivers.
CO-CHAIR TARR restated her question.
MR. HARRIS said [the state] must create more wildlife habitat;
currently, Alaska is suffering from a depleted resource which
means it must manage its habitat on public and private land to
abundance for the benefit of the commercial guiding industry; in
fact, in the Lower 48 "private landowners are in net export of
wildlife to public lands because of the abundance that they
produce."
CO-CHAIR TARR recalled at the Annual Invasive Species Workshop,
Tyonek reported establishing a TCD; she surmised Mr. Harris'
interest [in serving on BGCSB] is in support of a guiding
industry that accommodates residents and nonresidents, and an
understanding of the connection between habitat on private and
public land.
2:24:21 PM
MR. HARRIS stated he assisted in the creation of the TCD in
Tyonek, which was the first in Alaska. His previous experience
in Texas and New Mexico revealed those states support their
wildlife industries and welcome opportunities for concessions;
AVI does not regard TCDs as private ownership of wildlife by the
private landowner, but of the ownership of wildlife habitat that
benefits wildlife production. Tyonek restored its moose
population through a brief [bear predator control] program
facilitated by ADFG.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN observed most deer hunting in
Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia occurs on private land; she
questioned whether a private landowner who receives federal
money for private habitat enhancement could restrict who hunts
on their land - unlike in most of Alaska - which may be the
reason Alaska has not pursued habitat enhancement funding.
MR. HARRIS advised the harvest rate per acre in Pennsylvania is
100 times over that of Alaska. He credited Pennsylvania's
increased harvest to a partnership with private landowners who
were encouraged to create green zones and habitat management;
although the state controls wildlife management, it rewards
private landowners in order to benefit the landowners, the
guides, and the visiting hunters. Currently, Alaska has a
budget shortfall of $1.4 billion-$1.6 billion; [his proposal]
presents an opportunity to grow a wildlife resource to benefit
residents by restoring resources to traditional levels in Tyonek
and other areas.
2:29:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether Tyonek [Native] Corporation
allows non-shareholders to hunt on their land and, if so, at
what cost.
MR. HARRIS recalled AVI and ADFG facilitated a program that
brought wounded warriors to the TCD in Tyonek, who helped create
a green zone around the village to protect the village from
aggressive bears. The program was fully guided and compliant
with state regulations. He said, "We have much to learn from
the rest of the nation on how to set this up, our goal is to
share this information so we, in a safe manner, not make it a
Native or non-Native issue, a landowner or nonlandowner issue,
but a way to establish these as concessions as you would in a
state or national park ...."
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed her understanding, from the
example of Tyonek, that wounded warriors were allowed a guided
hunt on Tyonek land but, generally, nonguided hunters did not
have access.
MR. HARRIS said private landowners do not want a "free-for-all
on their property" and thus need the state to establish a
program of guided hunting as occurs in other states. He
restated the mechanism and benefits of his proposal.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER sought further contact with Mr. Harris.
MR. HARRIS asked Co-Chair Tarr to share his contact information
with all.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ referred to the reports of declining
harvest rates in Alaska [provided in the committee packet] and
stated her support for Mr. Harris' new approach to increase the
number of game available for Alaskans to hunt.
2:35:09 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on the appointment of
Alfred Thomas Harris to the Big Game Commercial Services Board.
2:35:19 PM
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director, Resident Hunters of Alaska
(RHAK), informed the committee RHAK represents 2,000 Alaskans
who support a resident hunting priority. Mr. Richards expressed
RHAK's support of Alfred Thomas Harris' appointment to the
landowner seat on BGCSB due to Mr. Harris' knowledge of wildlife
management and food security issues. He opined the Tribal
Conservation Districts of which Mr. Harris spoke seek agreements
with ADFG related to predator control programs on their land,
such as occurred in Tyonek, which would benefit not just the
TCD, but hunters who are hunting outside [private] land as moose
or caribou populations increase. Mr. Richards said one issue
RHAK would stress is that when hunters are allowed to access
Tribal land, residents are also granted access along with guided
nonresident hunters.
2:36:55 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to
testify on the appointments, closed public testimony.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN paraphrased from the following statement:
The House Resources Standing Committee has reviewed
the qualifications for the governor's appointees,
Jason Bunch and Alfred Thomas Harris, to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board and recommends that the
names be forwarded to a joint session for
consideration. This does not reflect intent by any
member present to vote for or against these
individuals during any further sessions for the
purpose of confirmation.
2:40:06 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Burnett_Resume_Board of Game.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Board of Game |
| Jason Bunch_Resume_Big Game Commercial Services Board.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Big Game Commercial Services Board |
| Alfred Thomas Harris_Resume_Big Game Commercial Services Board.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Big Game Commercial Services Board |
| Jerry Burnett_testimony_Board of Game.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Board of Game |
| Jason Bunch Letter Big Game Commercial.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Jason Bunch Letter Big Game Commercial |
| Board of Game Fact Sheet and Roster.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Board of Game |
| Big Game Commercial Services Board Fact Sheet and Roster.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Big Game Commercial Services Board |
| Tom Harris_Big Game Commercial Services Board House Resource Committee_Redacted.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Big Game Commercial Services Board |
| RHAK Letter of Support Jerry Burnett for Board of Game.pdf |
HRES 3/11/2019 1:20:00 PM |
Board of Game |