Legislature(2011 - 2012)BARNES 124
02/08/2011 02:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 8, 2011
2:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Albert Kookesh, Chair
Senator Joe Thomas, Vice Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator Linda Menard
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6
Urging the United States Army and United States Air Force to
extend the public comment period for the Joint Pacific Alaska
Range Complex Modernization and Enhancement Environmental Impact
Statement that ends February 18, 2011, for a minimum of 90 days
to allow for effective communication and full state and user
involvement during the comment period.
- MOVED CSSJR 6(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 6
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY OPERATIONS AREAS EXPANSION
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) OLSON
02/04/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/11 (S) TRA
02/08/11 (S) TRA AT 2:30 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVID SCOTT, Staff to Senator Donny Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SJR on behalf of the sponsor.
SENATOR DONALD OLSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SJR 6.
MIKE MORGAN, Director of Operations
Warbelow's Air
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 6.
LIEF WILSON, Director of Operations
40-Mile Air
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 6.
JERRY ROCK, President
Alaska Carriers Association (ACA)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 6.
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:35:03 PM
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 2:35 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Thomas, Huggins, and Kookesh.
SJR 6-MILITARY OPERATIONS AREAS EXPANSION
2:38:28 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SJR 6 and stated
his intention to pass it from committee that day.
2:39:16 PM
DAVID SCOTT, staff to Senator Donny Olson, said SJR 6 urges a
90-day extension to the public comment period for the Joint
Pacific Alaska Range Complex Modernization and Enhancement
Environmental Impact Statement. This relates to the proposed
expansion of military airspace for training. The resolution
recognizes the importance of aviation in Alaska, its
contribution to Alaska's economy, and the dependence that some
Alaska communities have on aviation. This industry contributes
$3.5 billion and 47,000 jobs to the Alaska economy, roughly 10
percent of the jobs in the state. Businesses that could be
affected include commercial airlines, air taxis, fixed-base
operators, and fuel distributors.
2:41:45 PM
SENATOR DONALD OLSON, sponsor of SJR 6, explained that in an
area south of Fairbanks a military operations area (MOA) is in
place for jet traffic and training above 5,000 feet. The
military now wants to extend this area down to the 500 foot
level. He said that while he recognizes the importance of
aviation in Alaska, he also recognizes the importance of hearing
from local pilots, aircraft companies, and end-users about the
difficulties they will face if the MOA is dropped to 500 feet.
Training aircraft traveling several hundred miles per hour at
500 feet is a great concern when the weather closes in. Those
pilots already have their hands full and the tendency is not to
look for small aircraft. His concern is to have safeguards in
place so that general aviation users aren't unduly inhibited by
the proposed operations.
2:46:21 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked if the 90-day extension would extend the
comment period to just over six months.
MR. SCOTT said that's correct. The comment period opened
December 10, 2010, it ends February 18, 2011, and the resolution
asks for a 90-day extension.
At ease from 2:47 p.m. to 2:48 p.m.
SENATOR THOMAS noted that the military members visiting the
capitol just today said they weren't inclined to extend the
comment period. He asked if the sponsor would consider a
compromise to amend the resolution to ask for a 30-day extension
rather than 90 days. He pointed out that if he became aware of
this today he probably wouldn't need 90 days to state his
objections and concerns and he would encourage any of his
constituents who have a concern to respond right away. He
observed that some people were waiting to testify and perhaps
they'd be willing to comment on their ability to do this.
SENATOR OLSON said this area isn't in his district and he only
became aware because he's long been involved in aviation. He
added that he brought the resolution forward at the request of
the Aviation Advisory Board who suggested 90 days. Some of the
affected communities don't have ready computer and Internet
access so response time takes longer.
SENATOR THOMAS said he appreciates that.
CHAIR KOOKESH stated that the military did not inform him that
they weren't willing to consider this resolution and he believes
that it's incumbent to move forward.
SENATOR OLSON said he has spoken to the four senators who
represent the constituency in this area and they are certainly
in favor of the extension.
2:52:18 PM
MIKE MORGAN, Director of Operations, Warbelow's Air, said that
as a board member of the Alaska Air Carriers Association he is
on the committee with JPARC, and he completely supports the need
for the military to have the airspace in which to do training.
He explained that his primary concern with lowering the MOA to
500 feet relates to safety. Over the years he has spent a lot of
time with the Medallion Foundation to improve aviation safety
within Alaska so he is particularly concerned with the JPARC
proposal number five. This proposal is to fly unmanned aerial
vehicles that are not identifiable on air traffic control radar
in three corridors between Fort Wainwright and Big Delta. The
problem is that the main jet airway as well as civil airways for
aircraft coming from Seattle descends through this area on IFR
flight plans, and there will be no way of knowing and no warning
of unmanned vehicles traveling in this same civil airspace.
During a JFARC meeting he asked how the military could determine
that one of their unmanned vehicles wouldn't collide with his
airplane during flight or on descent and he was told that they
would rely on spotters. He finds that unacceptable. Instead he
suggests trucking these vehicles down to the army airfield so
they can be operated within the existing MOA airspace. This
would present no threat to aviation safety.
MR. MORGAN said the second issue is that the villages of
Chalkyitsik, Circle, Central, and Eagle lie within the MOA
airspace. When a military operations area is active, instrument
flight rule (IFR) traffic isn't permitted so he can't get
clearance to fly to any of those villages during that time. He
proposed two alternatives. Adjust the MOAs somewhat so that
these communities could be safely served on IFR or provide an
IFR corridor to serve these communities. Also, the unmanned
vehicles could be accommodated in this airspace if they could be
identified on radar.
MR. MORGAN said he wants to work with the Air Force but more
time is needed. He opined that a 30-day extension would be
adequate.
CHAIR KOOKESH asked the testifiers to confine their comments to
the resolution, whether to extend the comment period 90 days.
2:59:44 PM
LIEF WILSON, Director of Operations, 40-Mile Air, stated that it
is critical for the people who operate in this area have time to
find out about the proposed expansion and submit their comments.
He noted that for the last 15 years he has operated within very
large MOAs and he has had three very close calls with military
aircraft. One of the areas the military wants to expand into
covers nearly the entire Delta controlled use area, a trophy
management area for sheep. Consideration should be given to the
folks that want to comment, he concluded.
SENATOR THOMAS asked if a 30-day extension to the comment period
would be sufficient.
MR. WILSON said yes; his comments are about ready to submit but
he's trying to inform others.
3:02:21 PM
JERRY ROCK, President, Alaska Carriers Association (ACA), stated
that the public comment period opened December 10, 2010, but the
military didn't hold its meeting until January 6, 2011. Only six
people were allowed to comment at that time and nobody knew the
full impact of the expansion until after the meeting. In the
last week the ACA office has fielded numerous calls on the issue
and everyone involved wants time to tell the government how this
will affect them.
SENATOR OLSON reiterated that this is an important issue that
needs more time.
CHAIR KOOKESH asked if he had a comment on the proposal to ask
for a 30-day extension rather than 90.
SENATOR OLSON said he prefers 90 days because of the numbers of
people who will be directly affected, but he could accept 30
days.
CHAIR KOOKESH closed public testimony and asked the will of the
committee.
3:05:35 PM
SENATOR THOMAS suggested the committee amend the resolution to
30 days, which would effectively be 40 days from today.
SENATOR OLSON reiterated his preference for 90 days but he would
defer to the will of committee. He added that he was unaware of
this and he considers himself an aviation community insider so
he can imagine how disenfranchised many of these people feel.
3:07:04 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH restated his commitment to move the resolution
today.
SENATOR THOMAS moved to amend the resolution on page 1, line 4,
and page 3, line 3; strike 90 days and insert 30 days.
CHAIR KOOKESH announced that without objection the amendment
passes.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report the amended SJR 6 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, CSSJR 6(TRA) moved from the Senate
Transportation Standing Committee.
3:08:45 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kookesh adjourned the meeting at 3:08 p.m.
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