Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/01/2022 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ SB 72 SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
-- Invited Testimony --
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
+ SB 62 GAS LEASES; RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND TELECONFERENCED
-- Invited Testimony --
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 1, 2022                                                                                           
                         1:06 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:06:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop called the  Senate Finance Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 1:06 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                           
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Bill Wielechowski                                                                                                       
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Gary  Stevens, Sponsor;  Tim Lamkin,  Staff, Senator                                                                    
Gary Stevens;  Michael Johnson, Commissioner,  Department of                                                                    
Education  and Early  Development; Aaron  O'Quinn, Petroleum                                                                    
Land Manager, Division of Oil and Gas, Juneau.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Amber  Vaska, Executive  Director of  Tribal Government  and                                                                    
Client Services,  Tanana Chiefs Conference,  Alaska Regional                                                                    
Coalition,   Fairbanks;   Haley  Paine,   Deputy   Director,                                                                    
Division   of  Oil   and  Gas,   Anchorage;  Dan   Seamount,                                                                    
Commissioner,  Alaska Oil  and Gas  Conservation Commission,                                                                    
Anchorage;  Haley Paine,  Deputy Director,  Division of  Oil                                                                    
and  Gas,  Anchorage;  Sean   Clifton,  Policy  and  Program                                                                    
Specialist,  Department of  Natural  Resources, Division  of                                                                    
Oil and Gas, Anchorage.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 62     GAS LEASES; RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB 62 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 72     SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
          SB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 72                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to civics education, civics                                                                               
     examinations,    and   secondary    school   graduation                                                                    
    requirements; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:08:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY  STEVENS, SPONSOR, introduced  the legislation.                                                                    
He stressed the importance  of civics education. He remarked                                                                    
that there was a  misunderstanding about the public process.                                                                    
He felt  that children needed  to be educated  to understand                                                                    
what it  meant to be  a citizen  of the country.  He pointed                                                                    
out  that there  was a  recent history  of apathy  about the                                                                    
civics  process  and  involvement. He  remarked  that  other                                                                    
states  had taken  efforts to  improve civics  education. He                                                                    
stated that there was a  test for citizenship, that students                                                                    
should have as a requirement.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman wondered whether  Senator Stevens had passed                                                                    
that test.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens replied in the affirmative.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman wondered whether  everyone who ran for state                                                                    
office should take the test.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens replied that it was beyond his purview.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman looked  at line 12, page 2 of  the bill. He                                                                    
wondered why the percentage requirement is 60 and not 70.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:13:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIM LAMKIN,  STAFF, SENATOR GARY  STEVENS, replied  that the                                                                    
number was chosen by the  prior committees and noted that it                                                                    
was a bare  minimum passing grade, but stated  that it could                                                                    
have an amendment.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman felt that a  70 percent score would be more                                                                    
reasonable.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens deferred the subject  to the commissioner of                                                                    
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson recalled  that the exit exam was  voted out of                                                                    
the legislature  a few years  prior. He noted that  he voted                                                                    
it out,  because there was  an issue with how  the questions                                                                    
might  be   asked  or   framed  without   understanding  the                                                                    
different correct answers for  the separate locations of the                                                                    
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens  replied that the  exam was not  intended as                                                                    
an exit exam, so the intention was to learn in the exam.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson pointed  out that there would not  be a second                                                                    
exam  issued  unless  the student  had  received  a  passing                                                                    
score.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens agreed, and stressed  that it was not a one-                                                                    
shot test.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:18:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Lamkin discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on file):                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sec. 1: AS 14.03.076, relating to public schools, adds                                                                     
     a new section                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          a.  directing the  State  Board  of Education  and                                                                    
          Early  Development  (SBOE) to  develop  curriculum                                                                    
          and  a  related  assessment based  on  the  civics                                                                    
          portion   of    the   naturalization   examination                                                                    
          administered  by the  U.S. Department  of Homeland                                                                    
          Security for immigrants  seeking U.S. citizenship.                                                                    
          The  curriculum and  assessment must  also include                                                                    
          systems of Alaska Tribal government;                                                                                  
          b.  requiring  students  to  pass  the  assessment                                                                    
          established  in (a)  above in  order to  receive a                                                                    
          high school diploma,  with exceptions for students                                                                    
          with a  disability and who  receive a  waiver from                                                                    
          their local school board;                                                                                             
          c. schools are to  document on student transcripts                                                                    
          when  a student  has passed  the assessment,  with                                                                    
          the  option   for  the   student  to   retake  the                                                                    
          assessment;                                                                                                           
          d. districts  are required  to report  annually on                                                                    
          their  respective  civics   course  offerings  and                                                                    
          overall average  student score on  the assessment;                                                                    
          and                                                                                                                   
          e.  a  passing  score   is  defined  as  correctly                                                                    
          answering  60  percent  or   more  on  the  civics                                                                    
          assessment.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section   2:  AS   14.07.168,  relating   to  reporting                                                                    
     requirements of  the SBOE, to  include in  their annual                                                                    
     report  to  the  legislature a  description  of  civics                                                                    
     education  curriculum in  the state,  of civics-related                                                                    
     course  offerings  in   respective  districts,  and  of                                                                    
     student  performance  on  the assessment  described  in                                                                    
     section 1, by district.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3:  Provides for an  effective date of  July 1,                                                                    
     2022.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  queried the  efforts of  the short  period of                                                                    
time until the effective date.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens deferred to DEED.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop queried  a plan  to  interface with  tribal                                                                    
governments.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Lamkin replied  that there  was a  support from  Alaska                                                                    
Native organizations, and were ready to have participation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:23:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL JOHNSON,  COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF  EDUCATION AND                                                                    
EARLY DEVELOPMENT,  spoke in support of  the legislation. He                                                                    
pointed out the lack of  knowledge of U.S. civics, and noted                                                                    
that people  45 years old  or older scored much  higher than                                                                    
those under  the age  of 45. He  stressed the  importance of                                                                    
tribal government  and affairs education, so  there could be                                                                    
Alaska-specific  education.  He  felt  that it  was  a  much                                                                    
needed effort to repair the system,  but would not be a  fix                                                                    
all.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman recalled  that he knew someone  who became a                                                                    
U.S. citizen in their nineties with a score of 100 percent.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:30:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop asked  about  the  involvement with  tribal                                                                    
organizations  to  build  the curriculum  in  time  for  the                                                                    
effective date.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner  Johnson  stated  that a  curriculum  had  been                                                                    
introduced  by  First  Alaskans   Institute  that  could  be                                                                    
incorporated into the exam.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman wondered  how  many schools  in the  state                                                                    
taught Alaska history.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner Johnson agreed to provide that information.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:33:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMBER  VASKA, EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR OF  TRIBAL GOVERNMENT  AND                                                                    
CLIENT SERVICES,  TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE,  ALASKA REGIONAL                                                                    
COALITION, FAIRBANKS (via  teleconference), spoke in support                                                                    
of the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   wondered  whether  the  test   would  be                                                                    
multiple choice.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens replied in the affirmative.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Wielechowski  wondered   whether  districts   that                                                                    
already  a  civics curriculum  had  would  need to  redesign                                                                    
their curriculum.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Stevens   replied  that  there  would   not  be  an                                                                    
expectation of  districts to rewrite curriculum,  but rather                                                                    
it would be universal across the state.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:40:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  asked how and  when the exam  would be                                                                    
taken.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens replied  that the test would not  be an exit                                                                    
exam,  but  rather  an attempt  to  ensure  civics  exposure                                                                    
education.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Lamkin stated  that every  district had  social studies                                                                    
requirements,   but   perhaps    not   specifically   civics                                                                    
education.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:41:57 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:07 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:42:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  announced that the deadline  for amendments                                                                    
would be Friday, February 4 at 4pm.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SB  72  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:43:07 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:45:36 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 62                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to surface  use restrictions  for oil                                                                    
     and  gas leases;  relating to  gas  leases in  Kachemak                                                                    
     Bay; relating  to the renewable energy  grant fund; and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:45:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AARON O'QUINN,  PETROLEUM LAND MANAGER, DIVISION  OF OIL AND                                                                    
GAS, JUNEAU, discussed the presentation,  "SB 62 Gas Leases,                                                                    
Renewable  Energy  Grant  Fund;  Senate  Finance  Committee"                                                                    
(copy on file). He discussed slide 2, "Main Purpose":                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     ? Allow the Division of Oil and Gas (DOG) to lease and                                                                     
     capture revenue from State-owned resources underlying                                                                      
     lands restricted to surface use.                                                                                           
          ? Would  only allow  for drilling  and development                                                                    
          from nearby unrestricted land.                                                                                        
          ? Would not grant any  right to use the restricted                                                                    
          surface of the leased land.                                                                                           
     ?   Increased    revenue:   Lands    with   surface-use                                                                    
     restrictions can  still provide revenue in  the form of                                                                    
     lease sale bids, annual  rental payments, and royalties                                                                    
    if made available for subsurface-only development.                                                                          
          ? Modern  drilling technology enables oil  and gas                                                                    
          to  be  developed  from  adjacent  lands  with  no                                                                    
          impact  to  the  surface  of  subject  land,  even                                                                    
          offshore.                                                                                                             
          ?  The  State will  benefit  from  the ability  to                                                                    
          capture  revenue  through   development  of  State                                                                    
          resources  with  no  impact   to  the  surface  of                                                                    
          protected   lands  using   established  regulatory                                                                    
          methods.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn pointed to slide 3, "What Happens if we can't                                                                       
Lease":                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     ? Leasing is the  standard mechanism for establishing a                                                                    
     contractual  relationship  between the  resource  owner                                                                    
     (the State) and the developer.                                                                                             
    ? Main concern: Mechanism for collecting royalties                                                                          
     ? If  unleased land is  drained from wells  on adjacent                                                                    
     leases, royalties may not be  paid to the State or that                                                                    
     revenue could be diminished.                                                                                               
     ?  May require  seeking remedy  through the  Alaska Oil                                                                    
     and  Gas Conservation  Commission  (AOGCC), a  separate                                                                    
     state agency.                                                                                                              
     ? The  Division of Oil  and Gas can't exercise  all its                                                                    
     regulatory authority over unleased acreage.                                                                                
     ?  The lease  is  the primary  mechanism for  requiring                                                                    
     compliance   with  mitigation   measures,  sharing   of                                                                    
     drilling and reservoir data, etc.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:50:19 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:53 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:51:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski queried the estimated revenues in                                                                          
Kachemak Bay.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn  replied that there  was not a  current estimate                                                                    
because the  land was unexplored,  so therefore  the revenue                                                                    
expectation was unknown.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  wondered  whether any  companies  had                                                                    
adjacent leases who could stand to benefit from the policy.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn replied  that companies had leases  in the area,                                                                    
and stated  that the land  would go through an  annual lease                                                                    
sale process.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Wielechowski   wondered  about   instances   where                                                                    
adjacent leaseholders  on nonstate land were  extracting oil                                                                    
and gas from the area.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn  replied with slide  5, "The Subject  Area." The                                                                    
slide outlined the exact details of the land.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked for a detail  of why the land had not                                                                    
been  leased  in  the  past,   and  also  information  about                                                                    
directional drilling.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn replied with reasons  that the area had not been                                                                    
leased in the past, which were mostly related to statute.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:59:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn pointed to slide 4, "Correlative Rights":                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     ? Rule of  Capture Doctrine   extract oil  and gas from                                                                    
     a parcel without regard for adjacent parcels.                                                                              
     ? Correlative Rights Doctrine    a limit on the rule of                                                                    
     capture    each owner of a  common oil and gas  pool is                                                                    
     allowed their fair share.                                                                                                  
     ? DOG can protect its share in two ways:                                                                                   
          ? Unit/Participating Area through DOG Unit                                                                            
          Process (unavailable to UNLEASED land)                                                                                
          ? Establish Unit via AOGCC  requires public                                                                           
          hearing, AOGCC may compel the pooling of                                                                              
          interests (AS 31.05.100).                                                                                             
     ? Compulsory Unit  via AOGCC is not  common and results                                                                    
     in  a costly  administrative process  to pool  Kachemak                                                                    
     Bay acreage.                                                                                                               
     ?  AOGCC  further  implements  the  correlative  rights                                                                    
     doctrine  through the  statutes/regs  that govern  well                                                                    
     spacings, production rates, injection rates, and other                                                                     
     technical aspects of the drilling process                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  about the  potential offset  in the                                                                    
royalty collection.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  O'Quinn stated  that the  statutes  stated that  leases                                                                    
could be offered in multiple ways.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:06:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HALEY  PAINE,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  OIL AND  GAS,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference), offered  more  information                                                                    
about Cook  Inlet and  Kachemak Bay.  She shared  that there                                                                    
were studies about market potential in the area.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:08:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAN SEAMOUNT, COMMISSIONER, ALASKA  OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION                                                                    
COMMISSION,  ANCHORAGE (via  teleconference),  gave a  brief                                                                    
history  of  oil  and  gas  exploration  in  the  state.  He                                                                    
remarked  that there  had not  been a  report of  freshwater                                                                    
contamination  from  oil  and gas  exploration  in  over  60                                                                    
years.  He explained  the  details of  the  well within  the                                                                    
Kachemak Bay.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  whether enhancement  of directional                                                                    
drilling was a reach in the industry and whether the                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Seamount  said that  they would  drill three  miles back                                                                    
from shore to  the proposed resource area.  The drilling was                                                                    
so accurate, like amazingly accurate.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski surmised  that the  likelihood of  oil                                                                    
and gas getting into Kachemak Bay was zero.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dan  Seamount agreed and  stated that he would   bet his                                                                    
career on it.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:16:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn  spoke to  Slide 5,  which showed  a map  of the                                                                    
subject area. He said that  the area was being developed for                                                                    
discreet locations without surface impact.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  understood that if the  bill passed it                                                                    
would not allow for seismic activity or exploration.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Me. O'Quinn replied  in the affirmative - the  status quo of                                                                    
the restrictions that were already in place would stand.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:21:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  questioned  the  extreme  depths.  He                                                                    
asked about a depth provision.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn deferred to the experts on the matter.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:22:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HALEY  PAINE,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  OIL AND  GAS,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  thought that  Commissioner                                                                    
Seamount would be best to speak to the depth limits.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner Seamount spoke of  2200 feet constraints due to                                                                    
the mechanics of  the drilling well. He  believed that there                                                                    
were constraints in place simply  through well mechanics. He                                                                    
thought that there was a                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  hoped  to hear  from  the  Department  of                                                                    
Revenue on  offsets or surprises  in the structure.  He also                                                                    
hoped for  an update  on the basin  itself. He  thought that                                                                    
Cook Inlet might have been overstimulated in the past.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:26:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  agreed   with  Co-Chair  Stedman.  He                                                                    
wanted an  update on  the basin.  He asked  whether fracking                                                                    
would be allowed under the bill.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn deferred to AOGCC.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner Seamount believed that  the dangers of fracking                                                                    
were overblown, and  he had never seen  issue with fracking.                                                                    
He  stressed   that  the  issue  was   about  not  injecting                                                                    
correctly.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  how   long  fracking  had  been  a                                                                    
practice in Alaska.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner  Seamount  asserted   that  fracking  had  been                                                                    
around for decades and had never  been a problem with the 25                                                                    
percent of the production wells that used fracking.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn pointed to slide 6, "Section 1":                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     ? Amends AS 38.05 to add a new section, AS 38.05.176.                                                                      
     ? Specifies that a statute  restricting the surface use                                                                    
     of an oil and gas or  gas only lease area does not also                                                                    
     restrict leasing  and development of the  subsurface of                                                                    
     that area from unrestricted land.                                                                                          
     ?  The   purpose  is  to  address   future  surface-use                                                                    
     restrictions  that  may  be   imposed  on  the  State's                                                                    
     natural resources.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  queried the  other areas  with surface                                                                    
use restrictions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn deferred to Mr. Clifton                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:31:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SEAN CLIFTON,  POLICY AND PROGRAM SPECIALIST,  DEPARTMENT OF                                                                    
NATURAL RESOURCES,  DIVISION OF OIL AND  GAS, ANCHORAGE (via                                                                    
teleconference),  stated  that  there  were  no  statutorily                                                                    
designated  areas  with the  types  of  restrictions in  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop surmised that the  bill would not be a total                                                                    
fix to  the statute,  but stressed that  it was  specific to                                                                    
Kachemak Bay.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Clifton replied  that the purpose of the  section was to                                                                    
be an outline of future similar locations.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski felt  that the  section was  extremely                                                                    
broad.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Clifton  disagreed,  because  there  needed  to  be  an                                                                    
authorized area through multiple regulations.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:35:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn discussed slide 7, "Sections 2 and 3":                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     ? Amends AS 38.04.184 by adding a new subsection (h)                                                                       
     ? Authorized  DNR to offer  gas-only leases in  an area                                                                    
     adjacent to Kachemak Bay within                                                                                            
     Township  5  South,  Range 15  West,  Seward  Meridian,                                                                    
     Alaska (see map).                                                                                                          
     ? No right to use the surface of the land would be                                                                         
     authorized, honoring the spirit of the earlier law                                                                         
     prohibiting leasing in Kachemak Bay.                                                                                       
     ? Amends AS 38.03.184(b)                                                                                                   
     ? Acknowledges the exemption created by the new                                                                            
     subsection (h) of this bill.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop queried  the number  of public  hearings in                                                                    
the process.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  O'Quinn  replied  that there  was  a  preliminary  best                                                                    
interest finding which accounted  for scientific records and                                                                    
research  released  to  the public,  and  solicited  written                                                                    
feedback. There  would then be  an informational  meeting on                                                                    
the best interest findings. He  stressed that there would be                                                                    
a robust public process.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop wondered  whether  a  public hearing  would                                                                    
occur if needed.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn assumed so.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop felt  that public  hearings may  drive more                                                                    
mitigation measures for the operator.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. OQuinn agreed.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:41:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson wondered  whether Native corporation interests                                                                    
had contributed to the bill.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn replied  that Cook Inlet Region  Inc. (CIRI) was                                                                    
the subsurface shareholder, and  had worked closely with the                                                                    
department. He  did not know  the details of  their specific                                                                    
input on the bill.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  wondered whether  the mariculture  groups had                                                                    
weighed in the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn was  not aware of whether the  industry had been                                                                    
involved in the process.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Clifton  stated   that  the  answer  was   no  to  both                                                                    
questions. He  stated that CIRI  had no  subsurface interest                                                                    
in the subject area off the  coast. He stated that since the                                                                    
bill explicitly prohibited surface  activities, so there was                                                                    
no impact on mariculture activities.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  noted that there  was a recent major  leak in                                                                    
the area.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Clifton stated that the issue  was related to a very old                                                                    
pipeline, which was not permitted by the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:45:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  stressed  that  oil or  gas  must  be                                                                    
transported to land.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Clifton replied  that the gas would  be produced through                                                                    
a  wellbore,  and the  wells  were  strictly engineered  and                                                                    
regulated for safety.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn asked that Mr.  Seamount describe the production                                                                    
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Seamount stated that the description was accurate.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson stressed  that it  was  a seismically  active                                                                    
region  of the  state,  so  there could  be  a major  impact                                                                    
potentially. He asked about safeguards.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Clifton deferred to AOGCC.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Seamount replied that it  was a very remote possibility.                                                                    
He recalled  that the earthquake  in 1964 earthquake  had no                                                                    
effect on production in Cook Inlet.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:51:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Bishop  wondered   whether  the   production  pad                                                                    
required a permit.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  surmised  that  the pad  could  reach  the                                                                    
subject area from the pad horizontally.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn agreed.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn pointed to slide 8, "Sections 4 through 6":                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     ? Amends  AS 42.45.045(b)  to allow the  legislature to                                                                    
     appropriate revenue from these  leases to the Renewable                                                                    
     Energy Grant Fund.                                                                                                         
     ?  Revenue  would come  from  the  State's rentals  and                                                                    
     royalties made possible by this bill.                                                                                      
     ? Such  appropriations would  occur after  the required                                                                    
     deposit  of any  such revenue  to the  Alaska Permanent                                                                    
     Fund  required under  art. IX,  sec. 15  of the  Alaska                                                                    
     Constitution.                                                                                                              
     ?  Housekeeping:  moves  language about  Department  of                                                                    
     Revenue being  manager of the  fund that  was displaced                                                                    
     by Section 4.                                                                                                              
     ? Provides for the bill to be effective immediately.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked for more detail about bullet three.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Quinn stated that oil  and gas royalties were required                                                                    
to be deposited at  various percentages into various places.                                                                    
He  stated  that 50  percent  was  deposited to  the  Alaska                                                                    
Permanent Fund  for investment, and  another 0.5  percent to                                                                    
the Alaska Education  Fund. He stated that  the 45.5 percent                                                                    
remaining   revenue   would    be   used   for   legislative                                                                    
appropriation.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop discussed the following day's agenda.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB  62  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
2:56:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB072_Civics_Research_128-Test-Questions.pdf SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB072_Civics_Research_Forbes_NeglectingCivics_21Feb2020.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB072_Civics_Research_Links-to-Resources.pdf SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB072_Civics_Research_RAND_Focus-on-Civic-Ed_08Dec2020.pdf SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB072_Civics_Research_WSJ_02March2021.pdf SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 72 Sponsor Statement Feb 2021.pdf SCRA 3/30/2021 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 72 Summary of Changes Version A to I.pdf SCRA 3/30/2021 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 72 Civics_Summary-of-Changes_Version i to N.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 62 Sponsor Statement 1.28.2021.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SFIN 3/18/2022 9:00:00 AM
SRES 3/10/2021 3:30:00 PM
SB 62
SB 62 SFIN DNR Gas Leases; Renewable Energy Grant 2.1.22.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SFIN 3/18/2022 9:00:00 AM
SB 62
SB 72 Civics_Sectional_version N.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 72 2.1.2022 (S) FIN Hearing DEED Follow-Up.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SFIN 2/8/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 72
SB 62 DNR 2022-02-17_SB62_SFIN Response to Questions.pdf SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM
SB 62