HOUSE BILL NO. 426                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to transfers of public land or grants                                                                          
or conveyances of interest in public land among the                                                                             
Alaska Railroad Corporation, the Department of                                                                                  
Transportation and Public Facilities, and the                                                                                   
Department of Natural Resources to relocate or widen                                                                            
the Seward Highway, to relocate railroad facilities,                                                                            
and to relocate adjacent utility facilities; and                                                                                
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
TAMAR DIFRANCO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, STATEWIDE DESIGN AND                                                                           
ENGINEERING SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND                                                                          
PUBLIC FACILITIES testified in support of the legislation.                                                                      
She observed that the Department of Natural Resources has                                                                       
management responsibility for Chugach State Park, but may                                                                       
not modify the boundaries of the park without legislative                                                                       
approval. This has been interpreted to mean that the                                                                            
department may not relocate easements without legislative                                                                       
approval. The purpose of HB 426 is to provide the Department                                                                    
of Natural Resources the ability to work with the Department                                                                    
of Transportation and Public Facilities, Alaska Railroad                                                                        
corporation and utilities with easements within the Park in                                                                     
order to modify, improve, upgrade, and enhance pubic                                                                            
facilities within the Park.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. DiFranco observed that the Department of Transportation                                                                     
and Public Facilities has four projects proposed for                                                                            
construction along the Seward Highway within the Park, in                                                                       
the next three years. The legislation would allow the                                                                           
Department of Natural Resources to modify and/or relocate                                                                       
highway rights-of-ways for these projects.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips questioned if Representative                                                                            
Murkowski would have problems with combining HB 426 with HB                                                                     
362. Representative Murkowski did not see any problems with                                                                     
combining the bills.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lindskoog observed that the legislation seeks pre-                                                                          
approval for any work that the railroad or the highway needs                                                                    
to make the improvements. The railroad supports the bill.                                                                       
The legislation has been driven by concerns of the                                                                              
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HB 426 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                              
consideration.