Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
02/09/2022 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 9, 2022
3:40 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Joshua Revak, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Clay Nordlum - Kotzebue
-CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Game
James Cooney Eagle River
-CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
CLAY NORDLUM, Appointee
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Kotzebue, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the governor's appointee to the
Big Game Commercial Services Board.
JAMES COONEY, Appointee
Board of Game
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the governor's appointee to the
Board of Game.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:40:13 PM
CHAIR JOSHUA REVAK called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Kiehl, von Imhof, Micciche,
Kawasaki, and Chair Revak. Senator Bishop arrived shortly
thereafter.
^Confirmation Hearings
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Big Game Commercial Services Board
3:40:55 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of the governor's
appointee to the Big Game Commercial Services Board. He called
on appointee Clay Nordlum to provide his testimony.
3:41:52 PM
CLAY NORDLUM, Appointee, Big Game Commercial Services Board,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
Kotzebue, Alaska, stated he is a NANA shareholder, Air Force
veteran, and private pilot. He grew up in Kotzebue gold mining,
hunting, and fishing. He resided in Anchorage for ten years and
while there, he did a lot of hunting and fishing. He moved back
to Kotzebue ten years ago, is raising a family, and is getting
more involved in the community and state. He would like to serve
on the Big Game Commercial Services Board for these reasons.
3:42:49 PM
SENATOR VON IMHOF asked whether he likes to camp with the
family, sightsee, hunt, or do other flying activities with his
plane.
MR. Nordlum answered all of the above. He would fly to hunt,
fish, enjoy family outings and explore the Northwest Arctic
area. He bought a house a few years ago and for financial
reasons, he sold his plane and has not flown for a few years.
SENATOR VON IMHOF emphasized that a pilot's license/plane is an
excellent asset, especially in remote locations. It is a good
way to see and experience the state.
3:44:15 PM
CHAIR REVAK thanked Mr. Nordlum for his service in the Air Force
and inquired about his military history.
MR. Nordlum responded that he joined the Air Force as a security
forces member shortly after high school. Duties of security
forces include base defense and policing. He trained in San
Antonio, was stationed in California for a year, served a three-
month tour in Saudi Arabia, was stationed in Korea, and finished
his four-year career at Elmendorf Air Force Base.
CHAIR REVAK asked Mr. Nordlum what he hopes to add to the board
and what aspects of serving he finds particularly interesting.
MR. Nordlum answered that he brings a levelheaded approach. He
loves getting outdoors and using the land, whether in a national
park or on private land. He expressed his hope that as a NANA
shareholder, he would bring the voice of rural Alaskans and
their challenges, especially issues related to land.
3:46:13 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked what issues he would like to delve into and
what challenges might be encountered with commercial service
providers.
MR. Nordlum responded that in unit 23 specifically, there has
been a decline in the caribou population. It is always an issue.
He has experience all over the state and wants to be the voice
for people that sometimes do not feel heard.
3:47:06 PM
SENATOR BISHOP joined the committee.
Board of Game
3:47:45 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of the governor's
appointee James Cooney to the Board of Game.
3:48:10 PM
JAMES COONEY, Appointee, Eagle River, Alaska, testified as the
governor's appointee to the Board of Game, Alaska Department of
Fish and Game. He moved to Alaska in 2004 after graduating with
a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga
University and being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the
United States Army. He started serving as an active-duty armor
officer with the 172nd Stryker Brigade combat team at Fort
Wainwright. His first choice of duty station was Alaska. It was
a childhood dream to hunt in Alaska, so after serving a 16-month
tour in Iraq, he returned to Alaska, bought a home in Eagle
River, and pursued his dream. He was honorably discharged from
the Army after 4.5 years of service and currently serves as an
Army civilian at the U.S. Army Alaska Headquarters. He has about
17.5 years of combined military and civilian service. He hunts
whenever possible and has been living out his childhood dream
here in Alaska for the past 17.5 years. Hunting has been a
conduit to see places, meet people, and establish relationships
that otherwise might never have occurred. A passion for hunting
and a service-oriented attitude led to volunteering and raising
funds for wildlife conservation with Safari Club International -
Alaska Chapter and the Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation. He served
as the Safari Club International Alaska Chapter board director
from 2015 to 2017. He served as director of the Alaska Wild
Sheep Foundation board from 2017 to the present. He expressed
pride in his volunteer work and for raising fund that the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game will use for wildlife conservation.
3:50:36 PM
CHAIR REVAK commented that he and Mr. Cooney served on the board
together. He said that the appointee had an impressive resume,
and he expressed his surprise to discover that Mr. Cooney was an
Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He thanked Mr.
Cooney for his service to the nation and the state.
3:51:09 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI noticed that Mr. Cooney disclosed, on the
Public Official Financial (POF) disclosure form, a phone number
with a 509 area code. He asked Mr. Cooney if he currently lives
in Alaska.
MR. COONEY responded that he bought a house in Eagle River in
2007. He has lived there since 2007, except for one year spent
as a volunteer army civilian in Afghanistan alongside soldiers
in the U.S. Forces Afghanistan Headquarters building.
SENATOR KAWASAKI noticed a blank "homeownership interest field
on the POF disclosure form. He asked Mr. Cooney whether the
ownership interest was 100 percent.
MR. COONEY answered the only property he owns is in Eagle River,
so it was an oversight if the field was blank.
SENATOR KAWASAKI joked about whether the Zags [Gonzaga Bulldogs]
were going all the way in March Madness.
MR. COONEY answered hopefully, fingers-crossed the Zags will
compete for another national championship.
3:53:08 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked Mr. Cooney to clarify when he worked as an
assistant hunting guide, which units, and species.
MR. COONEY expressed his belief that he has held an assistant
guide license since 2011. He has about 1.5 years of guiding
experience, guiding approximately six hunters between spring
2014 and fall 2015. He guided in unit GMU9 for brown bears in
spring 2014. He guided on the Mulchatna River for grizzly bears
and in unit GMU19C for sheep in fall 2014. He guided two clients
for sheep in unit GMU19 in 2015.
3:54:45 PM
SENATOR KIEHL expressed jealousy that Mr. Cooney drew a musk ox
permit and asked whether the permit was used.
MR. COONEY replied that his father drew the permit; they share
the same name. Due to COVID-19, they were unable to travel to
Nunivak Island to use the musk ox permit. One of the more
special activities in his life has been hunting with his father,
so it was a great disappointment to miss that hunt. His father
inspired him to do hunting and wildlife conservation volunteer
work. When he started, he had no idea that wildlife conservation
would become the passion that it has.
SENATOR KIEHL stated that with that answer, he was sympathetic
to Mr. Cooney and his father instead of bitter.
3:56:09 PM
CHAIR REVAK commented that Mr. Cooney was an active Safari Club
International board member who put in considerable personal
time. He asked Mr. Cooney to describe the experience he gained
from serving, how those experiences might translate as a board
member, and whether he had goals for the Board of Game.
3:56:39 PM
MR. COONEY said the most important experience has been building
relationships with local Alaskans and other like-minded
individuals interested in conserving wildlife. He served on the
live auction committee, soliciting donors throughout Alaska, the
Lower 48, and overseas to sponsor the Safari Club's live auction
banquet. The organization raised money for wildlife
conservation, and he created connections with people interested
in ensuring regenerative capacity. He picked up listening skills
by listening to the public, advisory committees (ACs), and other
testimony. He also gained a good understanding of proposals to
sustain Alaska's future wildlife resource.
3:58:40 PM
SENATOR BISHOP commended Mr. Cooney for stepping up to serve. He
inquired about his philosophy on antlerless moose hunts.
MR. COONEY answered that antlerless moose hunts are a useful
tool to control moose populations in specifically approved
units. The department recently approved a couple of antlerless
moose hunts to control cow numbers. Antlerless hunt permits
address overgrazing, disease, and starvation die-off conditions
to increase the overall strength of the herd. He expressed
support for tools the board and department recommend that
sustain good, healthy GMU populations.
SENATOR BISHOP asked whether he always takes department
recommendations at face value or is inclined to ask questions,
dig deeper, and explore data before making decisions.
MR. COONEY replied that the department provides the board with
plenty of data; however, it is incumbent upon members to
objectively read information to make informed decisions on
proposals. He expressed his belief that the board functions well
because members have the intelligence to know they must review
all data objectively. The review includes considering
information from the public, the department, and the advisory
committees. Sometimes department data is not up to date, so the
board relies on advisory committees to supply information about
what is happening on the ground. Advisory committees see what is
occurring in the field as they are out in the units every year.
They provide valuable information. Sometimes members have to
make difficult decisions, such as whether or not there will be a
biological impact on a resource if a specific proposal is
adopted.
4:01:46 PM
CHAIR REVAK thanked Mr. Cooney for willingly serving the state
on the Board of Game and his service with all other charitable
work.
4:02:06 PM
At ease.
4:02:50 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting.
4:02:54 PM
CHAIR REVAK opened public testimony for both Clay Nordlum, Big
Game Commercial Services Board, and James Cooney, Board of Game;
finding none, he closed public testimony.
CHAIR REVAK solicited a motion.
4:03:32 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to forward the following named appointees
to a joint session of the legislature for consideration:
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Clay Nordlum - Kotzebue
Board of Game
James Cooney - Eagle River
4:03:42 PM
CHAIR REVAK stated that without objection, the motion passes. In
accordance with AS 39.05.080, a signature on the report does not
reflect an intent by any of the members to vote for or against
the confirmation of the individuals during any further sessions.
4:04:28 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Revak adjourned the Senate Resources Standing Committee
meeting at 4:04 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Clay Nordlum Application_Redacted 2.9.2022.pdf |
SRES 2/9/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SCI AK Letter of Support James Cooney 2.8.22.pdf |
SRES 2/9/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| James Cooney_BOG Resume_Redacted 2.9.2022.pdf |
SRES 2/9/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| James Cooney Application_Redacted 2.9.2022.pdf |
SRES 2/9/2022 3:30:00 PM |