HOUSE BILL NO. 176 An Act creating the Fort Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park. CLIFF STONE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, testified that HB 176 would create the Fort Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park. He pointed out that the fiscal note is small in the amount of $16 thousand dollars. HB 176 establishes the park with the corresponding language for the management and uses within its boundaries. · Section 1 - Legislative findings · Section 2 - Clarifies the purpose & management responsibilities Mr. Stone added that the creation of the park is consistent with the establishment of parks, as it promotes growth and development and provides opportunities for citizens and visitors alike. 1:59:01 PM Vice Chair Stoltze noted that the Legislature has taken a philosophical position of not adding new parks. He inquired how long it has been since a State park was created. Mr. Stone remembered that the Afognak State Park was the last and established in 1990. Vice Chair Stoltze worried about adding more State parks, and hoped to see more single-use lands, opened up for multiple uses & development. He acknowledged that HB 176 was fairly benign. REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, SPONSOR, noted her appreciation for scheduling a hearing on the bill. 2:01:38 PM Co-Chair Meyer shared concerns voiced by Vice Chair Stoltze, locking up lands, making them unavailable for development & private ownership. He realized that the land requested has historical advantage. Mr. Stone stated that the Army Corp of Engineers, with the onset of World War II, connected about seven islands, placing tons of material, making a causeway connecting them. There are now several concrete buildings with gun emplacements still standing. The plan is to offer the park as a destination to tourists. He believed that with controlled management, it would be more adaptable to tourist trade. 2:04:50 PM Representative Wilson spoke about the actual property, noting that it had been a defense sight for Alaska and Sitka during that war. Representative Thomas commented on the inadequate road maintenance in several of the State parks in his district. He emphasized for the record that he was "jealous" of providing funding for a park in Sitka. 2:07:01 PM DEBORAH LYONS, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SITKA TRAIL WORKS, SITKA, testified in favor of HB 176, an Act creating the Fort Rousseau Causeway Historical State Park. Sitka Trail Works has over 300 member- households and is in a partnership Memorandum of Agreement with the City and Borough of Sitka. Ms. Lyons pointed out that Sitka Trail Works is taking the initiative to find funds to help restore the historic Fort Rousseau for the public benefit. It is important that the capital investment being made into historic Fort Rousseau is protected and conserved through permanent management of the area, which having a State park status provides. The idea of the project would be to renovate the 8,000 foot causeway road as a hiking trail to view the historic World War II structures. Visitors to the park would learn about Alaska's role in World War II, while enjoying a spectacular scenic setting. She summarized the financial plan.   For the record, Ms. Lyons reiterated the goals and objectives, which are included in the Fort Rousseau Development plan. The plan lays out the development objectives and goes on to estimate the approximate revenues that could be earned from tours on the site. Revenues would pay for future maintenance and hopefully generate enough revenue to support other State Parks in the system. Ms. Lyons outlined the project development goals: · Restore local recreational opportunities · Preserve and interpret State and national history · Provide a quality visitor experience, compatible with community values · Honor and accommodate Sitka Tribe of Alaska concerns   Ms. Lyons continued highlighting the objectives: · Make the area clean, safe and accessible so that it can be enjoyed in its present state. · Perform the necessary environmental, cultural and historic surveys and site mapping to document current conditions. · Produce a site plan and an interpretation plan to guide the capital investment and development of the area. · Secure the capital investments needed to install the dock & interpretative signage, complete historic building restoration, construct visitor center/administration building, and repair portions of the causeway road. Ms. Lyons noted that Senator Stevens specifically named the World War II Causeway project as eligible to apply for federal funding. In 2005, the area was awarded a grant of $140.7 thousand dollars to begin work renovating the causeway. She pointed out that $60 thousand dollars of that grant had been given to the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources and the State Historic Preservation office, to pay for the necessary site mapping and cultural resources survey and inventory. Another $14 thousand dollars was used for Phase I, an environmental assessment to determine current levels of hazardous materials. The remainder of the Alaska Trail Initiative grant funds was used to pay for clean up of the causeway. Ms. Lyons urged passage of the bill. Vice Chair Stoltze pointed out that Haines does not receive cruise ship traffic like Sitka. He proposed that some of the proceeds from the park help support Fort Seward in Haines. Ms. Lyons understood that any collected revenues from the State park, would go into the General Fund, to be used for all statewide parks. She hoped that the park would be successful and be able to raise revenue to sustain itself. 2:14:11 PM BRIAN HANSEN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SITKA TRAIL WORKS, SITKA, testified in support for establishing the State park in Sitka. He encouraged that the area be saved as a historical & cultural park. 2:17:01 PM MARLENE CAMPBELL, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), GOVERNMENT RELATION DIRECTOR, CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA, noted the Advisory Board and the citizens of Sitka have been working on getting the causeway into some kind of protective status. To date, it has been passively managed by the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and has fallen into disrepair. Local citizens have attempted to develop it as a part of the City; however, the only vehicle to protect the treasure, would be through the State park system. She emphasized that it is not controversial in Sitka. Ms. Campbell commented that the park is unique as a historic site and consists of 58 acres of connected little islands with trails between the areas. The future of the causeway will be bright if State Parks does assume it. She urged passage of the project through the bill. 2:20:02 PM HARVEY BRANDT, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), RETIRED HISTORY TEACHER, SITKA, urged passage of the bill. He commented that action would acknowledge the importance of the greatest naval battle in the history of America. He worried about the deterioration of the facility. He guaranteed that it would be used only as a park. PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED 2:22:35 PM Co-Chair Meyer asked if additional funding would be required. Mr. Stone explained that funds had been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation appropriation for $200 thousand dollars this fiscal year. Co-Chair Meyer questioned if there would be capital costs to the State. Mr. Stone did not know of any capital requests. Vice Chair Stoltze asked about prohibiting incompatible land and water uses. MELANIE LESH, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, explained that the existing uses for the park would be allowed, as opposed to a public use area, which offers greater allowances for multiple uses. State parks do restrict uses. Vice Chair Stoltze noted that he preferred multi-use designations for parks; however, thought that the concept could work well for Sitka since they cannot log or mine in that area. Mr. Stone provided an example of an incompatible use, discharging firearms. Vice Chair Stoltze inquired about access without a permit. 2:27:52 PM Representative Thomas asked if the park could be created before the land was transferred from the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to the Department of Natural Resources. Ms. Lesh explained that it could be with the legal description contained in the proposed legislation. The bill authorizes the transfer. There are questions regarding the ownership of the causeway portion of lands. She pointed out that the Department is in an inner-agency land transfer arrangement, which can take a long time. MICHAEL EBERHARDT, SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHWAST, DIVISION OF PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, explained that currently, the land is State owned and is classified. If it were not State land, the action of the Legislature could automatically revert it to the Department of Natural Resources. The Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and the Department of Natural Resources transfer would be strictly internal. 2:30:55 PM Representative Kelly asked if there was a list of the current uses for that land. Mr. Eberhardt explained that there have been many public meetings in Sitka discussing public uses; however, there is no list. He hoped to create a management plan. The Sitka Trail Works has come up with some non-consumptive uses. Creating a prohibitive use list is not taken lightly. Issues that could change would be commercial use. Permitting use for commercial gain would be administered through the Department. Representative Kelly asked about less restrictive categories like recreational use. Mr. Eberhardt did not know. Representative Kelly worried about the people using the areas in other ways that could become restricted through passage of the bill. 2:34:00 PM Representative Wilson explained that because the area is so close to the airport, no hunting has ever been allowed. She did not anticipate a lot happening that previously had not happened before because of the airport location. To date, there has been no commercial use. The intent is to make it a tour spot location. The anticipated income should be more than the requested funding. Mr. Stone acknowledged that a State park versus recreational area was a valid point. Ms. Campbell commented that the State Park Advisory Board looked at all the options and determined that a recreational area would not be appropriate for the historical site. The area contains tremendous assets and it needs to be maintained. There are many buildings on the eight islands. She commented on the deterioration on the structures on the islands. The City did not pursue the recreational site, as the management would not enable the City to take care of the historical structures. She stressed that the area is small and specialized as a historical site. 2:39:39 PM Vice Chair Stoltze noted that he did have concerns with the "restrictive use" of the land but that he would not hold the bill up. He wanted to know that people understand what they are getting into with State park management. Representative Thomas echoed concerns mentioned by Vice Chair Stoltze. He referenced troubles in his area with traditional use prohibitions. Representative Foster noted that he had no State parks in his area; however, the federal park rangers in his area do not work well with the locals because they carry weapons. He asked if a State park ranger always carries a weapon. Mr. Eberhardt replied that when they are on duty, they do at all times. They are required to by the State Troopers in order to assist in law enforcement activities. Representative Foster worried about guns being carried. Representative Crawford applauded the intent of the legislation and the preservation of the historical sight. Representative Kelly echoed sentiments of Representative Foster about gun carrying officers. 2:48:22 PM Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT CS HB 176 (RES) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 176 (RES) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with fiscal note #1 by the Department of Natural Resources.