Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/22/1999 01:05 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 22, 1999
1:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Halcro, Vice Chair
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative John Cowdery
Representative Jerry Sanders
Representative Allen Kemplen
Representative Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Beverly Masek, Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 102
"An Act designating the State Trooper Bruce A. Heck Memorial
Corridor."
- SB 102 MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5
Relating to extension of the James Dalton Highway to the Arctic
Ocean.
- CS HCR 5 (TRA) AS AMENDED MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SB 102
SHORT TITLE: TROOPER HECK MEMORIAL CORRIDOR
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) LINCOLN, Mackie, Leman, Taylor, Miller,
Wilken, Parnell, Kelly Pete, Adams, Ward, Elton, Kelly Tim,
Ellis, Green, Donley, REPRESENTATIVE(S) Harris, Cowdery
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
3/13/99 510 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
3/13/99 510 (S) STA
4/01/99 Text (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
4/08/99 Text (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
4/08/99 Text (S) MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
4/09/99 Text (S) RLS AT 12:15 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
4/09/99 Text (S) MINUTE(RLS)
4/09/99 844 (S) STA RPT 5DP
4/09/99 844 (S) DP: WARD, ELTON, GREEN, WILKEN,
PHILLIPS
4/09/99 844 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DOT)
4/13/99 900 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/13/99
4/13/99 901 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
4/13/99 901 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN
CONSENT
4/13/99 901 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 102
4/13/99 901 (S) COSPONSOR(S): MACKIE, LEMAN, TAYLOR,
4/13/99 901 (S) MILLER, WILKEN, PARNELL, PETE KELLY,
4/13/99 901 (S) ADAMS, WARD, ELTON, TIM KELLY, ELLIS,
4/13/99 901 (S) GREEN, DONLEY
4/13/99 902 (S) PASSED Y20 N-
4/13/99 905 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
4/14/99 807 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
4/14/99 807 (H) TRA
4/19/99 870 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): HARRIS
4/22/99 Text (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HCR 5
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND DALTON HWY TO ARCTIC OCEAN
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVES(S) JAMES, Whitaker
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
3/13/99 Text (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
3/24/99 553 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
3/24/99 554 (H) TRA, FIN
4/13/99 Text (H) TRA AT 2:00 PM CAPITOL 17
4/13/99 Text (H) HEARD AND HELD
4/13/99 Text (H) MINUTE(TRA)
4/15/99 833 (H) COSPONSOR(S): WHITAKER
4/22/99 Text (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 11
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-3732
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of SB 102.
LAURIE HECK
12700 Foster Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Telephone: (907) 345-9971
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as widow of Bruce Heck in support of
SB 102.
REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 102
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-3743
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HCR 5.
DON LOWELL, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
2301 Peger Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-5316
Telephone: (907) 451-5320
POSITION STATEMENT: Stated he was available to answer questions.
TIM BECK
3470 Plack Road
North Pole, Alaska 99705
Telephone: (907) 488-3320
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 5.
TERENCE REESE
2297 Outside Boulevard
North Pole, Alaska 99705
Telephone: (907) 488-3721
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 5.
DAVID LAMBERT
P.O. Box 71243
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
Telephone: (907) 488-1934
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 5.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-18, SIDE A
Number 0001
VICE-CHAIR ANDREW HALCRO called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Halcro, Cowdery, Sanders, and
Kookesh. Representatives Hudson and Kemplen arrived at 1:12 p.m.
and 1:19 p.m., respectively. Chair Masek was excused from today's
meeting.
SB 102-TROOPER HECK MEMORIAL CORRIDOR
VICE-CHAIR HALCRO announced the first order of business was Senate
Bill No. 102, "An Act designating the State Trooper Bruce A. Heck
Memorial Corridor."
Number 0050
SENATOR LINCOLN, sponsor, said that SB 102 is brought to the
committee with great sadness, and also with gladness that something
is being done in recognition of troopers who put their lives on the
line everyday. Trooper Bruce Heck was a 15-year veteran officer
who died January 10, 1997 in the line of duty. He died from
asphyxiation after a struggle with a man he was pursuing on the
Glenn Highway. He was 42 years old. He had two sons, one daughter
and a wife, Laurie. Senator Lincoln indicated SB 102 is a
concurrent designation which will add approximately two signs on
the highway route between milepost 188 and 189. The sign will be
added to the existing sign. There is no fiscal impact associated
with this bill, and she noted that the bill passed unanimously in
the Senate with 14 Senators signed on as co-sponsors.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked to be added as a co-sponsor on SB 102.
Number 0285
LAURIE HECK thanked the committee for the opportunity to testify on
SB 102. She expressed that this bill is near and dear to her
heart, and she feels strongly about the memorial corridor because
her husband, Bruce Heck, patrolled hundreds of hours on the Glenn
Highway and gave his life on this highway. The highway is a major
roadway into the Glennallen community where Bruce served for over
six years; a community that was devastated by a senseless murder.
This bill is a way for the Glennallen community, as well as the
entire state of Alaska, to pay tribute to Bruce and to show the
thousands of people who travel the highway each year that Trooper
Bruce Heck is gone, but will never be forgotten. Ms. Heck asked
the committee to pass SB 102 as soon as possible so she could take
a copy with her to Washington D.C. in mid-May for Law Enforcement
Memorial Day.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move SB 102 from the
committee with a zero fiscal note. He asked unanimous consent.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
HCR 5-EXTEND DALTON HWY TO ARCTIC OCEAN
Number 0468
VICE-CHAIR HALCRO called an at-ease at 1:11 p.m. He called the
meeting back to order at 1:12 p.m. He announced the next order of
business was House Concurrent Resolution No. 5, Relating to
extension of the James Dalton Highway to the Arctic Ocean.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to adopt the committee
substitute for HCR 5. There being no objection, CS HCR 5 (TRA) was
adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES, sponsor, Alaska State Legislature, came
forward to point out the changes made in the committee substitute.
She stated that on page 2, line 21 of CS HCR 5 (TRA) the language
was changed to indicate the only public access to the Arctic Ocean
is through a $20 payment to an "oil-company sanctioned tour
operator." She referred to discussion from the previous meeting in
which it was said East Dock "could be the place". On page 2, line
28, of the committee substitute it is stated, "The East Dock,
which is mostly vacant, provides a reasonable and suitable site for
a visitor wayside." She commented this is not making any
statement, only an assumption. Representative James noted a change
from "can resolve concerns" to "can work to resolve concerns"
reflected on page 3, lines 8 and 9, of CS HCR 5 (TRA). She
believes this is a "softer statement." She indicated there is
another change yet to be made on page 3, line 7, to include the
Department of Natural Resources. This change was not reflected in
the drafted committee substitute. There is a change on page 3,
line 12, from "unrestricted public access" to "increased public
access." She stated the final "FURTHER RESOLVED" now reads as
follows:
Further Resolved that the Alaska State Legislature
respectfully requests Governor Tony Knowles to direct the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and
the Department of Natural Resources to work with North
Slope operators, the tourism industry, the North Slope
Borough, and the public to resolve issues associated with
providing improved and increased public access to the
Arctic Ocean and to move expeditiously to provide public
access to one of America's most incomparable
destinations, the shores of the Arctic Ocean, for the
1999 tourist season.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO noted that Don Lowell was available on-line
from Fairbanks. He asked Mr. Lowell if he wanted to provide
testimony or if he was available to answer questions.
DON LOWELL, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, stated he was
available to answer any questions. He said three people from
Fairbanks would like to testify.
Number 0782
TIM BECK testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in support of
HCR 5. He feels the issue of accessing a public body of water is
of the utmost importance. It is a small issue with respect to the
rights of the people to utilize their resources. He believes the
East Dock is probably the most appropriate place to access the
Arctic Ocean because it was the initial staging area for the
development of the Prudhoe Bay fields, and it has historical
significance within the state of Alaska's economic development. It
is his intent to introduce a resolution to be endorsed by the
Fairbanks Northstar Borough. Mr. Beck feels economic development
is important in Alaska.
TERENCE REESE testified next via teleconference from Fairbanks in
support of HCR 5.
DAVID LAMBERT testified next via teleconference from Fairbanks in
support of HCR 5. He stated he has spent extensive time working
along the Dalton Highway. He indicated that there were many people
he encountered during his time along the highway who expressed
disappointment about not being able to reach the Arctic Ocean.
Number 0938
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON commented that the committee needed to make
a motion to officially adopt the amendment on page 3, line 7, to
include the Department of Natural Resources. He made the motion to
adopt the amendment. There being no objection, the amendment was
adopted. Representative Hudson wanted to state for the record, "On
page 3, line 17, my read of asking for DOT/PF and the Governor to
direct DOT/PF to resolve issues, certainly involves the protection
and security of the pipeline and all the resources, in the process
of resolving those issues. I'm sure that they'll do that."
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH stated he had some concerns during the last
meeting regarding the East Dock being directed for use as access to
the Arctic Ocean. He is comfortable with the language which says
it may be considered as access. He feels that, as long as the
companies are still using the East Dock for business, it would
obviously prohibit use for Arctic Ocean access. He appreciates the
change in the BE IT RESOLVED section on page 3, line 12, from
"unrestricted access" to "increased access". He is more
comfortable with this change. He also appreciates the inclusion of
the North Slope Borough to be able to have some input on this
issue. Representative Kookesh stated he is willing to support HCR
5 based on the changes made.
Number 1170
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move CS HCR 5(TRA) as
amended from the committee with a zero fiscal note and individual
recommendation. He asked unanimous consent. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1193
VICE-CHAIR HALCRO adjourned the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 1:24 p.m.
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