Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/20/1993 03:37 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
January 20, 1993
3:37 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Miller, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman
Senator Steve Frank
Senator Drue Pearce
Senator Al Adams
Senator Fred Zharoff
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Dave Donley
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 43
"An Act establishing a grant program relating to
transplantation of elk."
SENATE BILL NO. 30
"An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska
Minerals Commission."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 30 - No previous action to record.
SB 43 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Bert Sharp
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 30.
Senator Robin Taylor
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 43.
Ron Sommerville, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Fish and Game
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, Alaska 99802-5526
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 43.
W. Bruce Dinneford, Management Coordinator
Southeast Alaska
Department of Fish and Game
P.O. Box 240020
Douglas, Alaska 99824-0020
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 43.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93 - 1, SIDE A
Number 001
SENATOR MILLER called the Resources Committee meeting to
order at 3:37 p.m. and announced SB 30 EXTEND ALASKA
MINERALS COMMISSION to be up for consideration.
SENATOR BERT SHARP, Sponsor of SB 30, gave a brief overview
of the Minerals Commission which advocates mineral
development and multi-use of state lands. The Alaska
Minerals Commission was created to make recommendations to
the Governor and Legislature on ways to mitigate the
government constraints on development of minerals, including
coal.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if the Commission was normally on a five
year sunset cycle. SENATOR SHARP answered that he thought
it was.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass SB 30 from Committee with
individual recommendations. SENATOR ADAMS objected to say
that a Budget and Audit Committee recommendation was to
increase the sunset cycle to 10 years. He then removed his
objection. There were no further objections and SB 30
passed from Committee with no further objections.
Number 104
SENATOR MILLER announced SB 43 GRANTS TO TRANSPLANT ELK to
be up for consideration.
SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR, Prime Sponsor, said a total of 50
animals from Oregon were planted on Etolin Island. He
explained the legislation would put $100,000 to act as a
matching grant fund so people in Southeast Alaska who wish
to transplant elk have the opportunity to do so.
SENATOR ZHAROFF said he was concerned with the loss of elk
during the counting period. He was concerned that the
fiscal note was $0, but that the position paper indicates
there is $1 million needed over a five year period. He was
also concerned that the Department was given the latitude to
adopt regulations to implement this section which would mean
no legislative review. He asked why there was no effective
date.
Number 290
SENATOR ADAMS asked how he planned on getting the funding
for this program. SENATOR TAYLOR answered that it would
come from the general fund.
Number 292
SENATOR ADAMS asked if he had a specific island in mind for
transplanting elk? SENATOR TAYLOR said he didn't have a
particular island in mind.
Number 313
RON SOMMERVILLE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Fish and
Game, said the bill gives the Commissioner a lot of
discretion for funding. He said the Administration's
position had not been finalized, yet. If this bill passed
it would encourage the possible introduction of elk into
Southeast Alaska.
Bringing in "exotics" might create some problems with the
Forest Service. There would also be problems of competition
with species that are already here. Protecting the
viability of natural species is a mandate of the department.
The legislature chose to exempt elk from the Department's
jurisdiction relative to farming. Some Bovine TB infected
elk were imported which had to be eradicated.
MR. SOMMERVILLE said the bill presented no direct cost to
the Department unless something was implemented by the
legislature. He offered to alter the fiscal note to reflect
Senator Adams concern. He could not see any alternative ,
but to have an environmental assessment before anything can
be brought in.
Number 398
SENATOR PEARCE asked if elk had ever been in Southeast
Alaska? MR. SOMMERVILLE answered they had been limited to
parts of the lower 48.
Number 410
SENATOR PEARCE asked what the length of quarantine time
would be. MR. SOMMERVILLE said it depends on the type of
disease. Bovine TB takes up to six years to develop, for
instance.
Number 420
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked what the transportation season would
be.
BRUCE DINNEFORD, Management Coordinator for Southeast
Alaska, explained there had been a two phase transplant in
January and March of 1987. He couldn't say for sure if that
was the best time of the year.
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked what was an exotic animal. MR.
SOMMERVILLE said in this case it would be an animal whose
range doesn't normally include that area.
Number 445
SENATOR TAYLOR asked if there had been any biological
studies done on which to base his statements? MR. DINNEFORD
said they didn't have any studies going on, per se. They
have been monitoring the population of the elk and deer. He
said that changes might not be apparent in the short term, 5
- 10 years.
SENATOR FRANK asked why elk wouldn't migrate naturally to
Alaska from their habitat in the lower 48? MR. SOMMERVILLE
answered they are better suited to an interior rather than a
maritime climate.
Number 525
SENATOR ZHAROFF reiterated his concerns about ADF&G
generating the regulations. He asked Mr. Sommerville to
comment on the fiscal note.
MR. SOMMERVILLE said they could change the fiscal note, and
explained they didn't know if the legislature would
appropriate any money for a program. If they did, there
would be the need for some technical support from within the
Department.
Number 575
SENATOR ADAMS asked if he wanted regulations to come from
the Department of Fish and Game saying the non-profit had to
come up with the %50? SENATOR TAYLOR said that was right,
because he wanted the local community to have a significant
investment in the project itself. SENATOR ADAMS asked if he
was planning to put into the budget a grant to the Ketchikan
Sportsmen's Association. SENATOR TAYLOR said he was going
to.
TAPE 92-1, SIDE B
Number 580
SENATOR LEMAN asked if there was a problem with getting the
"exotic species" from other states. MR. SOMMERVILLE said
there wasn't a problem getting elk. Because of expansion,
most states are trying to give them away.
Number 555
SENATOR ADAMS asked if the Department proposed any
amendments or further comments on the fiscal note. MR.
SOMMERVILLE said they could have a maritime climate and
delete the rest of it, but they would still have to go
through the process of site selection and assessment.
Number 542
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if he wanted this to include private
land as well as public. MR. SOMMERVILLE answered yes.
SENATOR MILLER said they would hold the bill until Monday so
the sponsor could get together with the Department of Fish
and Game and bring back some changes.
SENATOR MILLER adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m.
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