Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205

01/25/2019 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

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Audio Topic
03:30:09 PM Start
03:31:17 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
05:43:59 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
Commissioner, Dept. of Environmental
Conservation, Jason Brune
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
              SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                        January 25, 2019                                                                                        
                           3:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Chris Birch, Chair                                                                                                      
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
Senator Lora Reinbold                                                                                                           
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Scott Kawasaki                                                                                                          
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation                                                                          
Jason Brune - Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JASON BRUNE, Commissioner Designee                                                                                              
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the position of                                                                 
commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental                                                                          
Conservation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PETER NAOROZ, representing self                                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION   STATEMENT:  Testified   in  support   of  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JIM CLARK, representing self                                                                                                    
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION   STATEMENT:  Testified   in  support   of  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ABIGAIL LEATHERMAN, representing self                                                                                           
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VIKKI JO, representing self                                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CATIE BURSCH, representing self                                                                                                 
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SHERYL BAECHLER, representing self                                                                                              
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PETER RODDY, representing self                                                                                                  
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ERIC JORDAN, representing self                                                                                                  
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HEATHER BAUSCHER, representing self                                                                                             
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ANDREW THOMS, Executive Director                                                                                                
Sitka Conservation Society                                                                                                      
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
IDA NELSON, representing self                                                                                                   
Igiugig, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JORDAN STOVER, representing self                                                                                                
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MARK NIVER, representing self                                                                                                   
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GRANT FAIRBANKS, representing self                                                                                              
Bethel, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GEORGE PIERCE, representing self                                                                                                
Kasilof, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TOM HARRIS, representing self                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:  Testified   in  support   of  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MICHELE MARTIN, representing self                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
STEVE SCHOONMAKER, representing self                                                                                            
Kasilof, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MAUREEN KNUTSEN, representing self                                                                                              
Naknek, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CATHRYN COAGS, representing self                                                                                                
Ketchikan, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINA EDWIN, advocate                                                                                                       
Defend the Sacred Alaska                                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PENELOPE HAAS, representing self                                                                                                
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MIKE FRICCERO, representing self                                                                                                
Kodiak, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SUE CHRISTIANSEN, representing self                                                                                             
Kenai, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MOLLY MILLER, representing self                                                                                                 
Kodiak, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SARAH EVANS, representing self                                                                                                  
Dillingham, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VIVIAN MENDENHALL, representing self                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SHANNON MCBRIDE-MION, owner                                                                                                     
Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge                                                                                                   
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TOM ROLLMAN, representing self                                                                                                  
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SUE MAUGER, representing self                                                                                                   
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GEORGIANNA HEAVERLEY, representing self                                                                                         
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BONNIE LILLEY, representing self                                                                                                
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JESSICA GIRARD, advocate                                                                                                        
Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition                                                                                              
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
NICOLE AREVALO, representing self                                                                                               
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DOUG MORGAN, representing self                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MICHELE VASQUEZ, representing self                                                                                              
Soldotna, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MELANIE BROWN, representing self                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                             
Designee Brune's appointment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:30:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CHRIS BIRCH called the  Senate Resources Standing Committee                                                             
meeting to order  at 3:30 p.m. Present at the  call to order were                                                               
Senators  Coghill, Reinbold,  Kiehl,  Giessel, Kawasaki,  Bishop,                                                               
and Chair Birch.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BIRCH recognized Representative Josephson.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                 
     Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:31:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BIRCH announced  that the  purpose  of the  meeting is  to                                                               
discuss  the  governor's  appointment   of  Jason  Brune  as  the                                                               
commissioner  of  the  Department of  Environmental  Conservation                                                               
(DEC).                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:32:10 PM                                                                                                                    
JASON   BRUNE,  Commissioner   Designee,  Alaska   Department  of                                                               
Environmental   Conservation,  Juneau,   Alaska,  presented   his                                                               
curriculum vitae to committee members as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Mr. Chair,  Members of the  Committee. For  the record,                                                                    
     my  name is  Jason Brune.  It is  an honor  to be  here                                                                    
     before you  today as Governor  Dunleavy's Commissioner-                                                                    
     designee   for   the    Department   of   Environmental                                                                    
     Conservation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     I'd  like  to  provide  you with  a  little  background                                                                    
     outlining my  qualifications for this role.  I received                                                                    
     my  undergraduate  degree   in  biology  from  Carleton                                                                    
     College.  While  I  was at  Carleton,  I  completed  an                                                                    
     internship  with the  US Fish  and Wildlife  Service in                                                                    
     Anchorage working  on oiled sea  otters from  the Exxon                                                                    
     Valdez oil  spill. That experience  helped shape  who I                                                                    
     am  today.  While  our   economy  depends  on  resource                                                                    
     extraction, we must ensure it  is done responsibly, and                                                                    
     ethically, and  I for one  will do  all in my  power to                                                                    
     ensure  something  like  the  Valdez  oil  spill  never                                                                    
     happens again in Alaska.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     After  graduating   from  Carleton,   I  moved   up  to                                                                    
     Anchorage for the Master's  in Science in Environmental                                                                    
     Science  program   at  Alaska  Pacific   University.  I                                                                    
     completed my course work and  comprehensive exam in the                                                                    
     program but  never ultimately  completed my  thesis, so                                                                    
     I'm what  they call  an ABT,  "All but  Thesis." During                                                                    
     graduate  school,  I  worked  for  the  U.S.  Fish  and                                                                    
     Wildlife  Service,  was  transferred  to  the  National                                                                    
     Biological  Survey  which  soon thereafter  became  the                                                                    
     Biological  Resources Division  of the  U.S. Geological                                                                    
     Survey.   Eventually,   I   started  working   at   the                                                                    
     University   of  Alaska   Anchorage,  helping   develop                                                                    
     undergraduate  and  graduate   curriculum  as  well  as                                                                    
     serving as an adjunct professor.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     In 2000,  I started working as  the project coordinator                                                                    
     for  the  Resource  Development  Council  (RDC).  RDC's                                                                    
     mission is growing  Alaska through responsible resource                                                                    
     development,   a  motto   I've  incorporated   into  my                                                                    
     personal   environmental   ethic,  which   is,   "Think                                                                    
     globally, develop  locally."   As Alaskans, we  need to                                                                    
     hold   companies  to   the  highest   of  environmental                                                                    
     standards. DEC's  mission to  protect human  health and                                                                    
     the environment in one I take very seriously.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     At  RDC, I  worked on  diverse projects  throughout the                                                                    
     state, including  in the oil and  gas, mining, fishing,                                                                    
     timber,  and   tourism  sectors.  I   developed  strong                                                                    
     relationships  with ANCSA  corporations, labor  unions,                                                                    
     local communities, and the support  sector. In my early                                                                    
     days at  RDC, I  also served  as executive  director of                                                                    
     the Alaska  Mineral and Energy Resource  Education Fund                                                                    
     known  formerly  as  (AMEREF),   but  today  as  Alaska                                                                    
     Resource Education (ARE).                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:35:01 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE continued as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     ARE  is a  partnership with  the State  of Alaska  that                                                                    
     teaches K-12  students and  teachers about  our state's                                                                    
     natural  resources   incorporating  science   and  math                                                                    
     standards and  presenting career opportunities.  At the                                                                    
     end of  my tenure, I  was honored with  the distinction                                                                    
     of executive director emeritus.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     In 2006,  I became the  Executive Director of  RDC. One                                                                    
     of the things  I am most proud of in  my time there was                                                                    
     working with  the Alaska  Conservation Alliance  on the                                                                    
     formation of  the Tileston  Award, a  distinction given                                                                    
     to projects that are good  for both the economy and the                                                                    
     environment. As  you will often  hear me  say, economic                                                                    
     development and  protection of the environment  are not                                                                    
     mutually exclusive. We  recognized fishing, mining, and                                                                    
     timber  projects that  were doing  it right  in Alaska.                                                                    
     While  at  RDC, I  continued  my  involvement with  the                                                                    
     Exxon Valdez Oil Spill  Trustee Council Public Advisory                                                                    
     committee for  nearly a decade helping  oversee cleanup                                                                    
     and   ongoing  scientific   studies.   I  started   and                                                                    
     sponsored the  Stewardship and Sustainability  award in                                                                    
     conjunction  with  my  position  on the  Board  of  the                                                                    
     Alaska  Sealife Center,  recognizing entities  that are                                                                    
     doing things right in our oceans.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     I  led  RDC until  2011,  when  I  left to  become  the                                                                    
     Government  and   Public  Affairs  manager   for  Anglo                                                                    
     American,  a partner  in the  Pebble project.  I worked                                                                    
     for  Anglo  for  approximately three  years  while  the                                                                    
     company   invested  over   $700   million  in   Alaska.                                                                    
     Ultimately, Anglo  American pulled  out of  the project                                                                    
     and took  my job with  them. That position taught  me a                                                                    
     lot about  the mining industry  and gave me a  deep and                                                                    
     profound understanding about what  it takes to permit a                                                                    
     mine in Alaska. It also taught  me a lot about the need                                                                    
     to have  a predictable  permitting regime  that doesn't                                                                    
     scare  off investment.  Currently, Alaska  ranks behind                                                                    
     the Congo  on predictability  of our  permitting regime                                                                    
     by the Fraser  Institute. That is not a  place where we                                                                    
     want  to be.   We  can have  the highest  environmental                                                                    
     standards in  the world, "and  should," but  the ground                                                                    
     rules  must not  be constantly  changing. We  must work                                                                    
     collaboratively with those  seeking to make investments                                                                    
     in  Alaska   to  provide  timely,   science-based,  and                                                                    
     legally   defensible   permits    that   ensure   their                                                                    
     operations will  co-exist with  the environment  we all                                                                    
     love as Alaskans.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:37:51 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE continued as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Following my tenure  at Anglo, I went to  work for CIRI                                                                    
     as their  senior director of land  and resources. While                                                                    
     working to  provide value and opportunities  for CIRI's                                                                    
     shareholders,  I  fostered  strong  relationships  with                                                                    
     CIRI's village corporations,  tribes, and shareholders.                                                                    
     Among the  many projects I  worked on, I'm  proudest of                                                                    
     the  development of  CIRI's universal-gravel  agreement                                                                    
     with its  villages which set  the highest  of standards                                                                    
     for   gravel   mining    on   CIRI   subsurface/village                                                                    
     corporation   surface  with   an   emphasis  on   post-                                                                    
     development  use. I  also worked  to develop  a carbon-                                                                    
     offset  program  as  well   as  oversaw  the  plugging,                                                                    
     abandoning,  and surface  reclamation  of  oil and  gas                                                                    
     wells developed by a now bankrupt company.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     I  have extensive  relationships  throughout Alaska.  I                                                                    
     have  served  on  the  boards   of  the  Tyonek  Tribal                                                                    
     Conservation  District,  Alaska Sealife  Center,  State                                                                    
     Chamber,  and  as past  president  of  both the  Alaska                                                                    
     Miners   Association  and   Consumer  Energy   Alliance                                                                    
     Alaska.  I  served  on  the  Cook  Inlet  Beluga  Whale                                                                    
     Recovery Team and  I was an honorary  commander for the                                                                    
     Civil Engineering Squadron on Elmendorf.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Since I  started at DEC, I  made it a priority  to meet                                                                    
     with and hear from  folks of different perspectives; in                                                                    
     fact, my first  meeting here in Juneau  was with SEACC,                                                                    
     the Southeast  Alaska Conservation Council. I  have met                                                                    
     with    industry,    tribal   and    ANCSA    entities,                                                                    
     environmental  organizations, and  many others.  I will                                                                    
     continue to do  so. I have also had  the opportunity to                                                                    
     meet many of the amazing  staff who are the backbone of                                                                    
     DEC.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:39:53 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE continued as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     On a  personal front,  I have been  married to  my wife                                                                    
     Robyn for 20  years. She was born  in Fairbanks, raised                                                                    
     in Peters  Creek, but whose  family is  from Southeast.                                                                    
     Robyn's  family is  Tlingit,  and  the Tlingit  culture                                                                    
     places an  emphasis on taking  care of the  earth while                                                                    
     still being  able to use  the resources it  provides. I                                                                    
     was given the name "Naasha,"  by Josephine Paul of Kake                                                                    
     and  I strive  to  live  by this  value,  not just  for                                                                    
     today, but  also for the  future world in which  my son                                                                    
     and daughter will live.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Congress and the Alaska  Legislature establish the laws                                                                    
     which DEC is responsible  for implementing. To create a                                                                    
     positive and  predictable business climate, we  must do                                                                    
     no more, and  no less, than what we  have the authority                                                                    
     to do. I  believe the experiences that  I have outlined                                                                    
     uniquely prepare  me for this position.  Those who know                                                                    
     me will  speak to  my integrity  and commitment  to the                                                                    
     environment.  I am  proud to  work to  promote Governor                                                                    
     Dunleavy's  agenda  of  showing   Alaska  is  open  for                                                                    
     business.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:41:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR    KIEHL   addressed    polyfluoroalkyl   (PFAS)    water                                                               
contamination  with Commissioner  Designee Brune  and asked  what                                                               
direction the  department is taking  for protection of  health in                                                               
drinking water.  He noted that PFAS  is a chemical used  to fight                                                               
fires.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE BRUNE  replied  that PFAS  is an  emerging                                                               
significant issue that is going  to impact Alaska for generations                                                               
to come.  He said  that DEC  has been testing  the water  in many                                                               
communities. He noted that  the [Federal Aviation Administration]                                                               
(FAA) requires  [Aqueous Film-Forming  Foam] (AFFF), or  PFAS, to                                                               
be at all  airports because PFAS is effective  in fighting fires;                                                               
however,  when  PFAS was  used  the  FAA  was  not aware  of  the                                                               
potential impact on  human health. He said the  places where PFAS                                                               
was used to fight fires  has had significant impacts because PFAS                                                               
does not  break down. He noted  that many of the  areas that used                                                               
PFAS  are located  where local  community  drinking supplies  are                                                               
located.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He  said DEC  has  made PFAS  testing a  priority.  He said  that                                                               
working  with   the  Department  of  Transportation   and  Public                                                               
Facilities  (DOTPF),  drinking  water  testing  has  occurred  in                                                               
communities  such   as  Gustavus,  Fairbanks,   Dillingham,  King                                                               
Salmon; there has been PFAS  found in the drinking water supplies                                                               
in all those communities.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
He set  forth that DEC has  a responsibility to ensure  the water                                                               
that people are drinking is safe.  He advised that DEC has worked                                                               
with DOTPF  to ensure  that bottled water  is provided.  He noted                                                               
that DEC is looking at  Fairbanks to ensure infrastructure is put                                                               
in place so that water can  be piped to homes rather than relying                                                               
wells.  The  regulation package  that  was  mentioned was  issued                                                               
during  the  prior administration.  There  was  a public  comment                                                               
period and DEC is reviewing  the comments. He reiterated that DEC                                                               
has the  responsibility to ensure  that PFAS does not  become the                                                               
next Flint-Michigan issue in Alaska.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:44:32 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR REINBOLD stated  that she had reviewed the  DEC budget in                                                               
previous  years  and   noted  that  she  was   surprised  by  the                                                               
department's  inefficiencies and  duplicative  effort with  state                                                               
and federal  agencies. She contended  that suggestions  were made                                                               
but the  department was resistant  to change and  innovation. She                                                               
asked  if  he  will  look at  streamlining  and  modernizing  the                                                               
department while  still protecting the environment.  She reminded                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune that  the state's financial resources                                                               
are resources too.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE emphasized  that DEC will continue to                                                               
look the state's budgets to  ensure Alaska's money is being spent                                                               
wisely. He said  he has asked his staff to  take an in-depth look                                                               
at what  is done  and what  specific statutory  authority governs                                                               
the department.  He noted in  his opening statement that  he said                                                               
the following:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     We are to do no more and  no less than what we are told                                                                    
     to  do  by  the  Legislature and  by  Congress  through                                                                    
     programs that we  have been granted primacy  on and the                                                                    
     Legislature has voted  to give primacy to  the State of                                                                    
     Alaska.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
He  emphasized that  DEC  will look  at  everything to  determine                                                               
whether the  department can afford programs  and whether programs                                                               
are  statutorily required  as part  of  the department's  primacy                                                               
from  the federal  government. He  said he  is committed  to find                                                               
every efficiency that he can during his tenure at DEC.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI asked  Commissioner Designee  Brune to  explain                                                               
what  "environmental conservation"  means to  him and  whether he                                                               
believed  environmental  conservation  and  support  for  natural                                                               
resources are mutually exclusive.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:47:15 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER   DESIGNEE   BRUNE   answered   that   environmental                                                               
conservation and  support for natural resources  are not mutually                                                               
exclusive.  He reiterated  that  growing the  state's economy  as                                                               
well as  protecting the environment are  incredibly important. He                                                               
said   the   definition   of  "environmental   conservation"   is                                                               
understanding  the department's  mission  for  the commitment  to                                                               
protecting human  health and the environment.  He emphasized that                                                               
Alaska takes the  utmost care for the  environment and referenced                                                               
the Clean  Air Act  and the  Clean Water Act.  He said  the state                                                               
makes it a  priority to "do it right" for  Alaskans who enjoy the                                                               
environment   and  to   make  sure   that   companies  are   held                                                               
accountable. He shared that his  personal environmental ethic is,                                                               
"Think  globally,  develop  locally."   He  emphasized  that  the                                                               
companies   that  invest   in  the   state  uphold   the  highest                                                               
environmental  standards. He  opined that  the state  should work                                                               
with companies  that invest in  Alaska to allow  their investment                                                               
in natural  resource development to  occur for the  employment of                                                               
Alaskans and to make a brighter future for the state's citizens.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI  noted that Commissioner Designee  Brune will be                                                               
working  closely with  the  Alaska Department  of  Fish and  Game                                                               
(ADFG) and  the Department of  Natural Resources (DNR).  He asked                                                               
how his mission will be guided  when dealing with ADFG and DNR on                                                               
whether a  project should be  developed or done,  especially when                                                               
there is a disagreement regarding habitat.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:49:41 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE BRUNE  conceded that  there will  be times                                                               
when  DEC   conflicts  with  other  departments.   He  said  when                                                               
conflicts occur  the departments will  have to work  very closely                                                               
to find win-win.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI pointed  out that  Commissioner Designee  Brune                                                               
worked  for Angelo  American, a  company that  wanted to  develop                                                               
Pebble   Mine.  He   noted  that   Commissioner  Designee   Brune                                                               
personally supported  development of  the Pebble Mine.  He opined                                                               
that there are questions  regarding whether Commissioner Designee                                                               
Brune will be  able to fulfill his duties as  DEC commissioner as                                                               
a regulator  without a perceived  conflict of interest.  He asked                                                               
if he can provide comfort that  as DEC commissioner, he will live                                                               
up to the mission of DEC.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE  BRUNE stated  that  he  has no  financial                                                               
interest in  the company that is  trying to invest and  build the                                                               
Pebble project. He has sold all  his stocks for any mining or oil                                                               
and  gas  companies  that  are   doing  business  in  Alaska.  He                                                               
emphasized  that  there is  no  hidden  agenda  that he  will  be                                                               
compensated by something that crosses  his desk. Currently, there                                                               
is nothing  for the Pebble project  that is sitting on  his desk.                                                               
He said if-and-when  a permit proposal comes across  his desk, he                                                               
will  evaluate that  project  as he  will  evaluate all  projects                                                               
according  to how.  He  pointed  out that  having  worked in  the                                                               
mining  industry  he  has  a  detailed  knowledge  of  how  mines                                                               
operate.  He emphasized  that he  understands what  can go  wrong                                                               
with mines  as well as  seeing how things  can be done  well with                                                               
mines. He said  he will ensure that any project  that gets built,                                                               
be  it mining,  oil and  gas,  or fishing,  will be  held to  the                                                               
highest standards.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:53:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL said he has a  question of approach. He pointed out                                                               
that  Commissioner  Designee  Brune  in   the  past  has  been  a                                                               
passionate advocate.  He recalled  that years  ago he  might have                                                               
referred to Rivers  Without Borders as "rivers  without jobs." He                                                               
noted that  he represents a  district with over  1,000 households                                                               
with commercial  fishing income as  well as more than  800 mining                                                               
jobs.  He asked  what  Alaskans  should expect  in  terms of  his                                                               
approach in his current role as opposed to his past role.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE  BRUNE  replied   that  he  has  developed                                                               
significant  relationships across  multiple industries,  not just                                                               
mining. He emphasized that his approach  will be to engage in the                                                               
public  process and  listen to  and  understand perspectives.  He                                                               
said he  is committed to meeting  with folks on every  side of an                                                               
issue.  He emphasized  that DEC  is a  science-based organization                                                               
with a permitting process that is rooted in science.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:56:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL thanked  Commissioner Designee  Brune for  being                                                               
willing to take  the job. He pointed out that  Alaska is probably                                                               
the biggest real estate company with  a lot of water, and he will                                                               
be the manager/go-to  person for a lot of that  water quality. He                                                               
stressed that Alaska has some of  the best water in the world and                                                               
the state wants to keep it that way.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
He read the following from  the Alaska Constitution to illustrate                                                               
the built-in tensions:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The   Legislature   will   provide  for   number   one,                                                                    
     utilization;  number   two,  development;   and  three,                                                                    
     conservation  of all  natural resources,  including our                                                                    
     waters and our land for  the maximum use for beneficial                                                                    
     uses.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He pointed  out that  both the  commissioner and  the Legislature                                                               
are part  of that  tension and  it's clear  that the  tension has                                                               
already risen.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COGHILL called  attention to  the ongoing  struggle with                                                               
air  quality in  the Interior  and asked  him to  comment on  the                                                               
issue.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:58:29 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE  BRUNE responded that  he is honored  to be                                                               
considered  for  the   commissioner's  position  and  appreciates                                                               
Senator  Coghill  bringing  up  the state  constitution  and  the                                                               
inherent conflict. That  is the role that DEC plays  to make sure                                                               
the  state's resources  are being  conserved as  well as  working                                                               
with the companies that are trying to invest and create jobs.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He  said with  respect to  the Interior  air quality  issue, also                                                               
known as PM2.5  [particulate matter less than  2.5 micrometers in                                                               
diameter], he  said he has  taken a fresh  look at it.  He shared                                                               
that  he  is inherently  a  "federalist"  who believes  in  local                                                               
solutions to  local problems. He  pointed out that the  people of                                                               
Fairbanks  have come  together to  try  to address  the issue  of                                                               
their air  quality largely due  to home heating. He  described it                                                               
as an  economic issue  also because  Fairbanks residents  want to                                                               
heat their  homes economically  and burning  wood is  an economic                                                               
means to  do that. However,  burning wood has  caused significant                                                               
impacts  to  human  health  in  Fairbanks  due  to  cold-weather-                                                               
inversion  days. On  those  cold-weather-inversion  days the  air                                                               
quality in Fairbanks is the worst in the nation.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Fortunately, local  solutions are having a  positive impact. Five                                                               
or six years ago Fairbanks made  changes made to wood burning and                                                               
the  PM2.5  levels have  been  reduced.  He urged  continuing  to                                                               
implement  local  stakeholder   recommendations  to  protect  the                                                               
environment and human health.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:01:35 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL  responded that  his comments  are good  news. He                                                               
said the Legislature  will continue to try to get  natural gas to                                                               
Fairbanks, but it will be awhile  before gas is both economic and                                                               
effective. He  agreed that  the local  campaign in  Fairbanks has                                                               
been something that the community has  worked hard on, and it has                                                               
been contentious.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He noted that  the PFAS issue impacts both  Fairbanks and Eielson                                                               
Air Force Base.  He asked him to talk about  the national view on                                                               
PFAS that  will help the state  with the science. He  opined that                                                               
PFAS should not  be just Alaska's problem, but a  problem for the                                                               
United States.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE described  PFAS as an emerging issue.                                                               
He noted that  the EPA has not finalized its  total standards and                                                               
the agency continues  to determine what the impacts  will be from                                                               
PFAS and  the best  methodology to dispose  of the  chemicals. He                                                               
said DEC  needs to work  with the EPA to  make sure the  issue is                                                               
not forgotten.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:04:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL remarked  that  people should  be encouraged  to                                                               
test their  well water because  PFAS will become a  bigger issue.                                                               
He noted that he was  unsuccessful when he looked for information                                                               
on  DEC's website  on well-water  testing. He  asked how  someone                                                               
would find information on testing.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE committed  to making sure the website                                                               
is easier to navigate. He  noted that after the recent earthquake                                                               
in Anchorage,  DEC received a  lot of calls about  water testing.                                                               
He  said DEC's  team  had conversations  that addressed  concerns                                                               
about increased  arsenic, turbidity and other  things in drinking                                                               
water. He  related that DEC  has funding and staffing  issues due                                                               
the department's 30-percent budget cut  over the past 4 years. He                                                               
said for  DEC to address  the emerging PFAS issue  the department                                                               
needs  to  make  sure  it  is   on  top  of  what  the  financial                                                               
ramifications and  impacts will  be. He  committed that  DEC will                                                               
work closely with DOTPF on  recommendations that may come forward                                                               
as part of the governor's budget.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:06:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL  opined  that  he  finds  Commissioner  Designee                                                               
Brune's work  history in  industry helpful  versus a  person that                                                               
gets hunkered down in government  bureaucracy where the answer is                                                               
"no" rather  than "how we can  do it." He thanked  him for coming                                                               
forward because the state needs someone  that has not come from a                                                               
bureaucratic world and is able to  see both sides. He pointed out                                                               
that mining is  all about water quality and  water management. He                                                               
asked how  he would grade  Alaska for water  management, resource                                                               
management,   present   failure    points,   concerns   for   the                                                               
Legislature, and DEC water and mine management.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:08:27 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE  BRUNE  replied  that he  has  found  that                                                               
certain industries are often held  to higher standards than local                                                               
communities or other  industries. He said he  has always believed                                                               
that if the  state is going to have high  standards then everyone                                                               
needs to  meet those standards,  not just  the mining or  oil and                                                               
gas industries. He  said there are places  where water management                                                               
if working  well, but there  are also communities,  especially in                                                               
rural Alaska, where water management is not going well.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  stated that she  appreciates his  comments about                                                               
local control. She noted that he  has worked for CIRI [Cook Inlet                                                               
Region, Incorporated] as well as  village and tribal groups. That                                                               
indicates that he has not looked  at just urban Alaska, but rural                                                               
Alaska too. That  is important to her as a  "territorial kid" who                                                               
was born and raised in Alaska.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
She said  she also  appreciates the  new eyes  that he  brings to                                                               
DEC,  noting that  his predecessor  had held  the position  for a                                                               
very long time. She opined that  new eyes will bring a fresh look                                                               
to DEC.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
She  noted  that DEC  has  recently  identified protecting  human                                                               
health  as its  core mission,  followed by  environmental health.                                                               
She  said as  a healthcare  person she  appreciates the  focus on                                                               
clean  water for  humans, fish,  and flora  and fauna.  She asked                                                               
what he  sees as  the key  challenges and  threats to  that water                                                               
quality that he'll need to address.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:11:58 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE BRUNE  opined that  the threats  center on                                                               
the lack of  economic opportunity in the state.  In rural Alaska,                                                               
drinking water  and septic systems  are often degraded but  is no                                                               
ability  to build  new infrastructure  because local  governments                                                               
can't pay for  it. He emphasized the need to  build more economic                                                               
opportunities in  rural Alaska. He  added that the  department is                                                               
looking at  its budget  with a sharp  pencil. They  have reviewed                                                               
their  projects  to determine  what  is  statutorily required  by                                                               
federal and  state governments.  He identified  unfunded mandates                                                               
by the Legislature  as another threat. He opined that  there is a                                                               
responsibility to eliminate programs that are no longer funded.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  agreed  that   drinking  water  and  wastewater                                                               
management  are challenges  in rural  Alaska.  She remarked  that                                                               
there are innovations in wastewater  treatment and asked that DEC                                                               
look at opportunities for solutions.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:15:11 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE  BRUNE replied  that DEC has  programs that                                                               
help provide  wastewater and drinking  water to rural  Alaska. He                                                               
added that the federal government  has provided money as well. He                                                               
agreed that water and wastewater  management in rural Alaska must                                                               
be modernized for human health.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BISHOP  remarked that landfills  are an integral  part of                                                               
human  health and  the environment.  He said  the state  needs to                                                               
make sure landfills  in rural Alaska are properly  put in because                                                               
of  the ground  water runoff  that could  get into  drinking well                                                               
water.  He said  that as  a former  commissioner, he  understands                                                               
primacy related to running a  department. He stated that he would                                                               
rather have Alaskans  running the department and  have control of                                                               
primacy than  a federal employee.  He noted that the  state would                                                               
have been impacted by the  recent federal shutdown if the federal                                                               
government was  in charge.  He asked him  for assurance  that the                                                               
department would  adhere to  the letter  of the  law so  that the                                                               
state's primacy is not jeopardized.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:17:50 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE  BRUNE asserted  that  he  will adhere  to                                                               
assuring  that  the  state  maintains  primacy.  He  agreed  that                                                               
companies  and communities  that require  permits much  prefer to                                                               
work with Alaskans than someone from Seattle or Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He addressed  Senator Bishop's  question regarding  landfills and                                                               
noted that he was amazed by  the things that have been allowed to                                                               
go  into landfills  and  the potential  spill  impacts which  DEC                                                               
oversees. He  asserted that DEC needs  to make sure that  what is                                                               
being  put  into  landfills,  what is  being  permitted  and  the                                                               
potential  impact on  drinking water  is  done appropriately.  He                                                               
said companies overseeing landfills  will be held accountable for                                                               
cleanup  if  things  were  deposited  in  landfills  that  impact                                                               
drinking water.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BISHOP noted that his  office had done research on carbon                                                               
credits and he welcomed Commissioner  Designee Brune to meet with                                                               
him  to  address the  potential  for  state forests  to  leverage                                                               
carbon credits for revenue.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He thanked  Commissioner Designee  Brune for addressing  PFAS and                                                               
PM2.5.  He noted  that he  had  a discussion  with a  constituent                                                               
regarding  PM2.5 and  commended Commissioner  Designee Brune  for                                                               
spending two hours  on the phone with his  constituent to address                                                               
his concerns.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:20:22 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  DESIGNEE  BRUNE  replied  that  communicating  with                                                               
constituents and  people with ideas  goes to his ethic.  He noted                                                               
that  Senator Bishop's  constituent has  some fantastic  ideas as                                                               
well  as being  passionate about  assuring that  human health  is                                                               
protected.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He agreed with Senator Bishop  about leveraging carbon credits to                                                               
bring money  into the state. He  said there is an  opportunity to                                                               
leverage state forests that are  not economic to develop with the                                                               
California Air Resource  Board. He noted that he  was involved in                                                               
bringing carbon credits for Alaska  regional corporations such as                                                               
Sealaska,  Ahtna,  and CIRI.  He  committed  to meet  to  discuss                                                               
carbon credits.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI addressed  Commissioner Designee  Brune's reply                                                               
to   Senator   Giessel's   questions   regarding   human   health                                                               
prioritization, the  budget process, and not  having enough money                                                               
to do the job. He asked  him to clarify his statement on unfunded                                                               
mandates  and his  paraphrased interpretation  that, "If  you are                                                               
not doing it well, it should be off the books."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE conceded that  he has been two months                                                               
into his  job, and he was  told that there were  programs DEC has                                                               
the statutory requirement  to do but does not have  the funds. He                                                               
clarified  that  his statement  was  that  either DEC  should  be                                                               
funded  to  do the  statutory  jobs,  or  the program  should  be                                                               
eliminated.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:22:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAWASAKI  conceded that there  are things that  the state                                                               
does  not  do  as  well  as it  should;  for  example,  food  and                                                               
sanitation  inspections.  He  noted  that Fairbanks  used  to  do                                                               
inspections, but  the state now  does the inspections  within the                                                               
borough. He  pointed out that DEC  is not about to  inspect every                                                               
restaurant on  a timely  basis. He said  the Legislature  has not                                                               
funded  food and  sanitation inspections  well enough  where they                                                               
are not  performing up  to task.  He asked  Commissioner Designee                                                               
Brune if  his thought  was that  food and  sanitation inspections                                                               
should not be funded and should be removed from the books.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE  BRUNE clarified  that food  and sanitation                                                               
inspections  should  be  funded.  He  reiterated  his  federalist                                                               
approach, "Local  solutions for local problems."  He advised that                                                               
DEC  trains  the   Municipality  of  Anchorage  to   do  its  own                                                               
inspections and  suggested that the Fairbanks  North Star Borough                                                               
may  be interested  in doing  the same  with training  assistance                                                               
from  DEC. He  maintained that  DEC is  doing its  best with  the                                                               
budget   that  the   department   has   to  maintain   restaurant                                                               
inspections.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI  asked him to  address the idea of,  "The causer                                                               
should  be the  cost payer."  He pointed  out that  his testimony                                                               
touched on plugging abandoned wells.  He noted that AOGCC [Alaska                                                               
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission]  recently addressed with the                                                               
Legislature  the concept  in which  "company A"  sells off  their                                                               
assets  to a  smaller company  that doesn't  have the  ability or                                                               
wherewithal and  goes under.  He asked who  one collects  from in                                                               
the circumstances he just described.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:25:01 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE  BRUNE disclosed that he  was involved with                                                               
that exact issue when  he was at CIRI and an  oil and gas company                                                               
went  bankrupt.   He  explained  that  he   was  responsible  for                                                               
overseeing the  plugging, abandoning  and surface  reclamation of                                                               
10  wells. He  noted that  the previously  mentioned oil  and gas                                                               
company had placed  $200,000 bonds with AOGCC and  DNR, an amount                                                               
that  could not  mobilize  a team.  He pointed  out  that in  the                                                               
mining industry,  Red Dog Mine has  a $500 million bond  on their                                                               
projects. He said  the industry has told him on  an ongoing basis                                                               
that,  "You have  different entities  within the  state that  are                                                               
bonding, and  they are  not talking to  each other."  He conceded                                                               
that DEC,  DNR and  AOGCC have bonding  authority but,  "The left                                                               
hand  is not  talking  to the  right hand."  He  said to  achieve                                                               
Governor Dunleavy's  goal of showing  that the state is  open for                                                               
business, regulatory agencies  need to work together  to create a                                                               
bonding   mechanism  that   is  clear,   open,  transparent   and                                                               
predictable  for  the companies  that  are  investing in  Alaska;                                                               
however, as  a regulatory  agency the state  must ensure  that an                                                               
area is cleaned up if a  company goes bankrupt where the state or                                                               
private landowners is  not stuck with the cost,  a situation that                                                               
occurred in CIRI's case.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI  pointed out that 17  of the last 18  years were                                                               
the hottest on  record and Alaska has seen the  changes going on.                                                               
He   asked  if   he  believed   that  human   activity  including                                                               
agriculture,  industrial, burning  of fossil  fuels is  a primary                                                               
cause of climate change.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:27:32 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE replied as follows:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     I think  that what  I believe first  and foremost  is I                                                                    
     have a  responsibility to follow  the law  and Governor                                                                    
     Dunleavy  has entrusted  me with  the  position. So,  I                                                                    
     believe  that  question is  one  that  would be  better                                                                    
     asked to  Governor Dunleavy;  that said,  regardless if                                                                    
     it is anthropogenic causes or  natural causes, the fact                                                                    
     is  Alaska   is  being   impacted.  Alaska   is  seeing                                                                    
     increased coastal erosion. We  are seeing the northward                                                                    
     migration  of the  spruce bark  beetle.  We are  seeing                                                                    
     increased  fire risk.  We are  seeing communities  that                                                                    
     are  being  completely  displaced. There  are  absolute                                                                    
     impacts that we are  experiencing firsthand and we need                                                                    
     to  do  something  about  it.   We  owe  it  to  future                                                                    
     generations to ensure that we  do something about it. I                                                                    
     think that  the best solution  is to not put  our head-                                                                    
     in-the-sand but to do what  we can to ensure mitigating                                                                    
     the impacts from these changes.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI responded that  he appreciates the response, but                                                               
he did not  answer the question. He emphasized  that his question                                                               
requires a yes or no response.  He said he appreciates the second                                                               
part of  his response because  the response addressed  DEC's role                                                               
in climate adaptation or climate mitigation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE BRUNE replied as follows:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     I think that there  definitely are impacts from natural                                                                    
     causes as  well as  from human impacts.  The population                                                                    
     of  our planet  is continuing  to go  up so  absolutely                                                                    
     there will be  impacts from them. Again,  this is Jason                                                                    
     Brune's  personal   philosophy  is  not   what's,  that                                                                    
     question obviously  is the administration and  I commit                                                                    
     to  obviously working  with Governor  Dunleavy on  this                                                                    
     issue  to ensure  that we  are  mitigating the  impacts                                                                    
     from climate change.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BIRCH thanked  Commissioner Designee  Brune for  his well-                                                               
considered testimony.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:31:08 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:32:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BIRCH called the committee back to order.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:32:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BIRCH [opened public testimony].                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:32:56 PM                                                                                                                    
PETER  NAOROZ, representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of  Commissioner Designee Brune's appointment.  He opined                                                               
that   Commissioner  Designee   Brune  will   bring  a   balanced                                                               
approached to business development and the environment.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:36:27 PM                                                                                                                    
JIM  CLARK,  representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support of Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said he                                                               
interacted  with Commissioner  Designee Brune  when he  worked as                                                               
land manager  at CIRI  and he  was very  tough in  protecting the                                                               
environment in CIRI's land base.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:37:55 PM                                                                                                                    
ABIGAIL LEATHERMAN, representing  self, Juneau, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's  appointment. She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune  cannot impartially consider the                                                               
science and  will of Alaskans  due to his prior  involvement with                                                               
Anglo American and the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:39:30 PM                                                                                                                    
VIKKI  JO,  representing  self,   Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:41:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CATIE  BURSCH, representing  self,  Homer,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner  Designee Brune  will not follow  DEC's website                                                               
mission   statement,   "Conserving,  improving   and   protecting                                                               
Alaska's  natural  resources  and  environment,  to  enhance  the                                                               
health,  safety,  economic  and  social  wellbeing  of  Alaskans"                                                               
because Commissioner  Designee Brune promotes moneymaking  in the                                                               
private sector.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:43:26 PM                                                                                                                    
SHERYL BAECHLER,  representing self, Homer, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:44:33 PM                                                                                                                    
PETER  RODDY,  representing  self, Sitka,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner  Designee  Brune should  not  be  considered due  to                                                               
"regulatory capture."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:45:51 PM                                                                                                                    
ERIC  JORDAN,  representing  self, Sitka,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune is unqualified to be commissioner.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:46:20 PM                                                                                                                    
HEATHER BAUSCHER, representing self,  Sitka, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said  Commissioner Designee  Brune was  selected due  to politics                                                               
and places utilization and development before conservation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:48:06 PM                                                                                                                    
ANDREW  THOMS, Executive  Director,  Sitka Conservation  Society,                                                               
Sitka, Alaska,  testified in opposition to  Commissioner Designee                                                               
Brune's appointment.  He said Commissioner Designee  Brune should                                                               
not be  considered due to  his prior involvement with  the Pebble                                                               
Mine project.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:49:26 PM                                                                                                                    
IDA  NELSON, representing  self,  Igiugig,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:50:56 PM                                                                                                                    
JORDAN  STOVER, representing  self, Homer,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:51:49 PM                                                                                                                    
MARK  NIVER, representing  self,  Wasilla,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:54:39 PM                                                                                                                    
GRANT FAIRBANKS, representing self,  Bethel, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:56:38 PM                                                                                                                    
GEORGE PIERCE,  representing self, Kasilof, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:59:23 PM                                                                                                                    
TOM HARRIS,  representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment. He  said                                                               
Commissioner Designee  Brune's entire field of  experience should                                                               
be taken  into consideration which  includes the  conservation of                                                               
natural resources.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:01:58 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHELE MARTIN,  representing self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's  appointment. She                                                               
contended  that   Commissioner  Designee  Brune's  focus   is  on                                                               
development rather than conservation.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:03:49 PM                                                                                                                    
STEVE SCHOONMAKER, representing  self, Kasilof, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment. He                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:04:48 PM                                                                                                                    
MAUREEN KNUTSEN, representing self,  Naknek, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:06:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CATHRYN  COAGS, representing  self, Ketchikan,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's  appointment. She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:07:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISTINA EDWIN,  advocate, Defend the Sacred  Alaska, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's                                                               
appointment. She  contended that Commissioner Designee  Brune has                                                               
not recognized  indigenous sovereignty  in their  relationship to                                                               
the land and is biased for permitting due to his work history.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:10:28 PM                                                                                                                    
PENELOPE  HAAS, representing  self, Homer,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:12:06 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE FRICCERO,  representing self,  Kodiak, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:14:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SUE CHRISTIANSEN, representing self,  Kenai, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:17:24 PM                                                                                                                    
MOLLY  MILLER, representing  self, Kodiak,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:19:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SARAH EVANS, representing self,  Dillingham, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:21:26 PM                                                                                                                    
VIVIAN   MENDENHALL,   representing  self,   Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified   in  opposition   to  Commissioner   Designee  Brune's                                                               
appointment. She  said Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be                                                               
considered because he  does not have a  scientific background and                                                               
had prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:24:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SHANNON  MCBRIDE-MION,  owner,  Kachemak  Bay  Wilderness  Lodge,                                                               
Homer, Alaska,  testified in opposition to  Commissioner Designee                                                               
Brune's appointment. She said  Commissioner Designee Brune should                                                               
not be  considered due to  his prior involvement with  the Pebble                                                               
Mine project.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:26:10 PM                                                                                                                    
TOM ROLLMAN,  representing self,  Eagle River,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment. He                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:28:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SUE  MAUGER,  representing  self,  Homer,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
remarked  that   Commissioner  Designee   Brune  should   not  be                                                               
appointed because he  is not a believer in climate  change and is                                                               
not able to process scientific information.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:31:12 PM                                                                                                                    
GEORGIANNA  HEAVERLEY,  representing   self,  Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
testified   in  opposition   to  Commissioner   Designee  Brune's                                                               
appointment. She  said Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be                                                               
considered  due to  his prior  involvement with  the Pebble  Mine                                                               
project.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:32:48 PM                                                                                                                    
BONNIE  LILLEY, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's  appointment. She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:34:38 PM                                                                                                                    
JESSICA  GIRARD, advocate,  Fairbanks  Climate Action  Coalition,                                                               
Fairbanks,  Alaska,  testified   in  opposition  to  Commissioner                                                               
Designee  Brune's  appointment.  She said  Commissioner  Designee                                                               
Brune should not be considered  due to his prior involvement with                                                               
the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:35:45 PM                                                                                                                    
NICOLE AREVALO,  representing self,  Homer, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:37:14 PM                                                                                                                    
DOUG MORGAN,  representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to Commissioner Designee  Brune's appointment. He said                                                               
Commissioner Designee Brune  should not be considered  due to his                                                               
prior involvement with the Pebble Mine project.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:37:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHELE VASQUEZ,  representing self, Soldotna,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to Commissioner Designee Brune's  appointment. She                                                               
said Commissioner Designee Brune should  not be considered due to                                                               
his prior  involvement with  the Pebble Mine  project as  well as                                                               
not acknowledging that man causes climate change.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:39:01 PM                                                                                                                    
MELANIE BROWN,  representing self,  Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition  to  Commissioner  Designee Brune's  appointment.  She                                                               
said  the State  of Alaska  should  not act  in partnership  with                                                               
multi-national  corporations  and   contended  that  Commissioner                                                               
Designee Brune said he would.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:40:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BIRCH closed public testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:41:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BIRCH stated  that in  accordance with  AS 39.05.080,  the                                                               
Senate Resources Committee reviewed  the following and recommends                                                               
the   appointments  be   forwarded   to  a   joint  session   for                                                               
consideration:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner, [Department of Environmental Conservation]                                                                        
Jason Brune - Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He   reminded  members   that  signing   the  reports   regarding                                                               
appointments  to  boards  and  commissions  in  no  way  reflects                                                               
individual members'  approval or  disapproval of  the appointees;                                                               
the nominations are merely forwarded  to the full legislature for                                                               
confirmation or rejection.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:41:36 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:43:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BIRCH called  the committee  back to  order. He  clarified                                                               
that  Commissioner  Designee  Brune's  appointment  was  for  the                                                               
Department of Environmental Conservation.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:43:59 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Birch adjourned  the Senate  Resources Standing  Committee                                                               
meeting at 5:43 p.m.                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
DEC Commissioner-Designee Jason Brune - Resume.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Ben Mohr 1-23-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Brian Kraft 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Rika Mouw 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Mike O'Meara 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Derek Poinsette 1-23-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Peter Cartwright 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Bob Leoffler 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Paul Glavinovich 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Alaska Miners Association 1-24-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Council of Alaska Producers 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter James Fueg 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Mike Satre 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Ann Coray 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Marina Lindsey 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Ed Fogels 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Julia Bevins 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Nanci Lyon 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Alaska Independent Power Producers 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Lauren Attanas 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Hal Spence 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Dan Michels 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Pat Vermillion 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Jan Trigg 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Katie Riley 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Catheriene Bursch 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter David Wright 1-26-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Icicle Seafoods 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Mike Heatwole 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Tom Harris 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Peter Naoroz 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
Brune Confirmation-Letter Save Bristol Bay Coalition 1-25-19.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM
DEC Commissioner-Designee Jason Brune - Opening Statement.pdf SRES 1/25/2019 3:30:00 PM