SB 123-ALASKA MINING DAY  3:32:34 PM CO-CHAIR WAGONER announced consideration of SB 123 [version 27- LS0792\M was before the committee]. CO-CHAIR PASKVAN moved to report SB 123, version \M, from committee to the next committee of referral with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CO-CHAIR WAGONER objected for public testimony. He asked Senator Giessel if she had anything to add. SENATOR GIESSEL, sponsor of SB 123, answered no. 3:34:17 PM MIKE SATRIE, Executive Director, Council of Alaska Producers (CAP), Juneau, AK, said he absolutely supported SB 123. He said CAP supports it not just because it recognizes the important role mining has in the economy, but also the long and varied history of the many individuals who have been involved in the mining industry and mining as a way to develop infrastructure and settlement throughout the state. He related that the first evidence of mining goes back to the jade and copper that was traded throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest through the original inhabitants. And the various gold rushes brought huge immigrations of western settlers to the state, but as people came, so did the infrastructure. This bill talks about the Alaska Railroad; and in Juneau, the lights in the committee room are partially powered by the hydroelectric facilities at Annex Creek and Salmon Creek that were built to service the AJ and other mines. The water in this building that people drink also comes from the Salmon Creek reservoir. The capitol building has the pick axe and shovel motif, the gold of the sourdoughs dreams is in the state song on legislative coffee cups and the seal of the State of Alaska has a smelter at the back. He concluded saying that today, mom and pop placer mines up to some of the larger mines that get featured on various TV specials are still working as well as the dredging operations in Nome. Modern-day mining operations produce the metals that are used in every-day life by people around the world, and so Alaska will continue to be a very strong piece of the economy. 3:36:55 PM CHRIS BIRCH, Anchorage Municipal Assembly, said he is also on the Board of Alaska Miners Association-Anchorage, and he supports SB 123. South Anchorage has one of the only operating mines at Crow Creek. It's a good program and a good opportunity for appropriate recognition. CO-CHAIR WAGONER closed the public hearing and removed his objection. Finding no further objections, he announced that SB 123 moved from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.