HB 307-KNIK RIVER PUBLIC USE AREA CO-CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 307, "An Act creating the Knik River Public Use Area." REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved Amendment 1 as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 1, line 14 Following "vehicle" Insert "and non-motorized recreation" Renumber accordingly. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS objected for purposes of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said Amendment 1 adds non-motorized recreational opportunities to show that the legislation promotes existing and all types of recreational uses. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS withdrew his objection. Hearing no further objections, Amendment 1 passed. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved Amendment 2, as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 2, lines 18 Following "(d)" Delete "With the assistance of the United States Army Corps of Engineers," Renumber accordingly. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS objected for purposes of discussion. 1:23:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said Amendment 2 deletes the phrase "Army Corps of Engineers" because it might bring forward GIS maps that may interfere with the actual usage of the area. He noted that a GIS mapping system in Homer, Alaska classified everything as a wetland. The amendment does not prevent a wetland from being identified, "it just gets us out of the process of having this map control all our history." REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE noted that the commissioner will still have the ability to designate wetlands for habitat. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated that the intent is to allow the commissioner to use any resources desired, but the state won't get a GIS map imposed on it that delineates everything as a wetland, which would then make the state prove that each parcel is not wetlands. REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE said Amendment 2 maintains the spirit of the bill. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS withdrew his objection. Hearing no further objections, Amendment 2 passed. 1:26:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON offered Amendment 3 as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 3, line 6 Following "activities" Insert "as compatible with purposes specified in AS 41.23.180" Renumber accordingly. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS objected for purposes of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said Amendment 3 inserts language to make sure the commissioner is directed to allow uses consistent with the purposes of the act, which were to provide for both vehicular and non-motorized activities REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS removed his objection. Hearing no further objections, Amendment 3 passed. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for further clarification on the definition of trails. DICK MYLIUS, Director, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said trails are all different, so it would be difficult to define one. He said during the planning process DNR would meet with all the user groups and try to identify what they consider important trails. "A trail to a mountain biker is a lot different than a trail for somebody on an [off road vehicle]." 1:28:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if any track would need to be designated as a trail or if the planning process would look only at well-used trails. MR. MYLIUS said DNR would have the flexibility to identify the important trails for different groups, but it would not be required to designate any and every trail. The plan will have the flexibility to deal with that issue, he said. 1:30:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he wanted to make sure the management plan process had that kind of flexibility. REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE said he had a conceptual amendment for protecting cultural properties. He said he wants to refine the language and take it to the House Finance Committee, making sure it is covered in the legislation but is not overly broad. REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he supported that. 1:31:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 307 as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objections, CSHB 307(RES) passed out of the House Resources Standing Committee. 1:31:27 PM