HJR 25-ENSURE ACCESS INTO DENALI PARK  1:24:24 PM CO-CHAIR TARR announced the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Encouraging the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Governor of the state to assist the National Park Service in its efforts to ensure long- term access into Denali National Park and Preserve by way of the existing roadway. 1:24:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 25, informed the committee on the only road through Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali Park), at mile marker 45.4, known as Polychrome Pass, the road is moving and cracking. He paraphrased from the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet] which read [original punctuation provided]: Sponsor Statement for House Joint Resolution 25 Denali is Alaska's most well-known National Park. The park road is 92 miles long and parallels the Alaska Range, travelling through low valleys and high mountain passes. Along the route there are many opportunities to view wildlife roaming the unfenced land, view peaks of Denali when the sky permits and view incredible landscapes all along the way. Denali park road is also the only road into the park and services the Kantishna area on the back side of the park. Without this road there is no access to the park or the area. Keeping the access road into Denali National Park for the enjoyment of residents of the Kantishna area and visitors alike is a point of paramount significance to many of those who plan to travel throughout Alaska. A section of road at mile marker 45.4 has become increasingly unstable and needs immediate attention. I urge you to support HJR 25 to encourage action on this significant piece of infrastructure. Please call my staff at 907-465-4527 for any questions. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO pointed out the Park Road provides the only access to private businesses in Kantishna and to the large park campground at Wonder Lake, thus the access road is critical for residents and visitors. He noted Denali Park is visited by approximately 600,000 tourists per year and the Eielson Visitor Center, which is located beyond the problem with the road, is one of the park's most popular destinations. Speaking from his prior experience in the tourism industry, Representative Talerico stated Denali Park is a key component in the itineraries of visitors who travel to many other destinations in Alaska and cautioned about the impact to the travel industry by the closure of the Park Road. 1:29:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO noted the Park Road is also critical to the lottery which allows private vehicle road access in the fall; the lottery is very popular and is entered primarily by Alaska residents. In addition, active military personnel have an opportunity to drive the Park Road at no cost in the fall. The intent of HJR 25 is to demonstrate that the legislature recognizes the importance of the Park Road to the visitor industry, Alaska residents, and active military and to encourage a temporary repair and plans for long-term repair. He urged the committee to support HJR 25. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS expressed his support for HJR 25 and noted the Fairbanks North Star Borough has indicated its support. 1:34:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ expressed her support for HJR 25 and recalled her personal experience camping in Denali Park. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed her support and recalled her personal experience in Denali Park. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recalled his personal experience in Denali Park and expressed his support for HJR 25. 1:39:30 PM DON STRIKER, superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve and Acting Regional Director, National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior, expressed his support for HJR 25. He said NPS recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation to Alaska and Alaskans; in addition, tourism is a major economic driver in the state. For American tourists on their first cruise, a tour of Denali Park and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve are preferred destinations; in fact, Denali Park receives over 600,000 visits each year. Visitors to the park spend $600 million in direct spending, and the visitor industry supports over 8,150 jobs statewide, which together comprise nearly $1 billion in total economic output for the state. Mr. Striker said NPS seeks to ensure access to Denali Park to fulfil its responsibility as a good neighbor and to ensure that first- time visitors return to Alaska. Finally, he said HJR 25 underscores the importance of state/federal and public/private partnerships to sustaining access to Denali Park. 1:42:53 PM CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on HJR 25. 1:43:02 PM SARAH LEONARD, president/CEO, Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), informed the committee the 680 members of ATIA and businesses that depend on safe and efficient access into Denali Park support HJR 25. Alaska's national parks are experiencing a backlog of maintenance needs; in fact, one-half of Denali Park's deferred maintenance budget of $54 million is due to deteriorating conditions along the Park Road. A lack of safe and reliable access into the park would create economic impacts throughout Alaska's visitor industry. Tourism is important to the state's economy and national parks contribute to the success of Alaska's tourism; she referred to previous testimony and advised if the Park Road were to close for an extended period, hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and all facets of the tourism industry statewide would suffer severe economic impacts. MS. Leonard said ATIA supports the efforts of NPS and the legislature to ensure a timely opening of the Park Road this summer, and a long-term solution. 1:45:35 PM CLAY WALKER, mayor, Denali Borough, expressed support for HJR 25 and said the Denali Borough Assembly will consider a similar resolution because the importance of the Denali Park Road to the economies of the state, and the Denali Borough, cannot be overstated. Furthermore, road accessibility into the Denali Park wilderness is unique to the park. He spoke of his personal experience working in the park and said as mayor, he sought support from the Alaska congressional delegation. Mayor Walker said a closure at mile 43 would affect Toklat, Stony Hill, Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake, and Kantishna, all of which are premier destinations. He urged for cooperation and support from federal, state, and local governments. 1:48:27 PM JENNA HAMM, co-owner, Camp Denali and North Face Lodge, informed the committee her business is one of four lodges at the end of the Park Road that rely on road access. She expressed her support for HJR 25 and agreed support for the bill from legislators is critical to sustaining the tourism economy at both local and state levels. She asked the committee to consider adding two points: businesses are located at the end of the road in Kantishna; the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Section 1110(b), grants businesses a right to reasonable access for economic purposes, which has been provided by the Park Road. She urged the committee to seek a partnership between the state and NPS in order to extend resources. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked for clarification on the businesses in Kantishna. MS. HAMM said she and her husband operate two lodges, Camp Denali and North Face Lodge; Camp Denali has been in operation since 1952. There are three other lodges, Kantishna Roadhouse, Skyline Lodge, and Denali Backcountry Lodge. CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked for clarification of access guaranteed by ANILCA. MS. HAMM said ANILCA, [Section 1110(b)] relates to rights of reasonable access for economic and other purposes. 1:52:18 PM CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to testify, closed public testimony. The committee took a brief at-ease. 1:53:09 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN moved to report HJR 25 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HJR 25 was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee.