HOUSE BILL NO. 244 "An Act extending the termination date of the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska; and providing for an effective date." 1:37:26 PM Co-Chair Stoltze noted the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln. REPRESENTATIVE WES KELLER introduced the bill with a brief description. He stated that the Constitution advised the use, conservation and the development of natural resources. He informed the committee that Alaskans had rights related to their natural resources. The rights were defined and laid out in both federal and state levels. He experienced an erosion of the rights in Alaska, with 66 percent owned by the federal government. He stated that the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas' (CACFA) was involved in multiple issues, including the right to access Alaska's resources, water rights, personal use, substance, mineral development, access to rural cabins, management of fish and game and transportation planning. He noted that CACFA retained a good working relationship with federal agencies operating in Alaska. He noted that the annual report laid out the efforts of CACFA. He mentioned a CACFA conference about federal overreach including invited testimony. All testifiers were required to present a solution. The testimony was captured on record and available by transcript online. 1:44:13 PM Representative Keller described the commission. Regulations that eroded rights were carefully tracked. He noted that Stan Leaphart worked hard to track the various agencies. He detailed the recent critical habitat label of the Cook Inlet that resulted from the Endangered Species Act. He explained that the furlough prevented response from the federal agencies regarding the summit's findings. 1:46:45 PM Representative Keller noted the names of the Citizen's Advisory Commission on Federal Areas. The members worked on a volunteer basis in Anchorage. He listed the members as Rod Arno, Senator John Coghill, Mark Fish, Teresa Hanson, Charlie Lean, Kathleen Liska, Mike Meekin, Warren Olsen, Ron Somerville, Susan Smith, Frank Woods, and himself. He spoke to the commitment of his fellow members. Representative Keller stated that the bill moved the commission's sunset date to 2021. Co-Chair Stoltze added that the budget would continue to support the commission if a decision was made to extend it. 1:48:31 PM STAN LEAPHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON FEDERAL AREAS (via teleconference) testified on behalf of the legislation. He had 8 of the 12 commission members with him working on a follow-up for the August summit. The group refined the recommendations seen in the annual report. He pointed out that the commission had invited federal agency representatives to gather in October, but the national government's furlough prevented the meeting. He met with regional directors of the United States National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service and the Secretary of the Interior Special Assistant. Mr. Leaphart informed the committee that the commission shared the transcript from the summit with a request for feedback. The commission did receive feedback from the United States National Park Service. He pointed out that work with federal issues was increasing daily. He noted four major management plans that were underway. The plans would dictate the uses of the lands by the stakeholders. He noted interest in the stakeholder's concerns. 1:51:20 PM Representative Gara asked about the number of personnel working in Mr. Leaphart's office. Mr. Leaphart replied that two people worked in his office. He stated that the office served the general public by answering pertinent questions. Employees also reviewed proposed management plans. The work load involved reviewing the National Park Service Compendium. Attendance for meetings involving federal agencies and the public comprised another piece of the workload. The office monitored the activities of the four major federal land management agencies. Co-Chair Stoltze noted one full-time and one part-time position listed in the fiscal note. Mr. Leaphart replied that the part-time position worked full time for nine months. Representative Gara asked how the $285 thousand was spent. Co-Chair Stoltze referred to the fiscal note. 1:53:49 PM Representative Gara clarified that $230 thousand was spent on salary for one and one-half positions. Mr. Leaphart clarified that the $230 thousand covered one and three-quarters positions. Vice-Chair Neuman asked about the recommendations made to the legislature. He wondered which recommendations were acted on and implemented in the last couple of years. Mr. Leaphart replied that the commission made recommendations regarding a local hire program, which involved working with a congressional delegation to make changes in the program. The program employed several hundred Alaskans seasonally. Although the program did not involve action by the legislature, it involved action by the congressional delegation. He mentioned a new task force assembled by the Bureau of Land Management addressing placer mining policy. 1:56:08 PM Vice-Chair Neuman explained that he wanted to know about the commission's accomplishments. Co-Chair Stoltze considered it an accomplishment to stop a federal process. He wondered if the commission had halted a federal process. Representative Keller replied that he took testimony from around the state regarding federal overreach. Some successes involved interactions with federal agencies. Policy changes were made as a result. He noted that Mr. Leaphart worked with state agencies such as Department of Natural Resources. Representative Keller stated that recommendations were made by the commission regarding federal lawsuits. He acknowledged that the Department of Law did not always heed recommendations made by CACFA. 1:58:53 PM Representative Guttenberg asked about the address, 3700 Airport Road. Mr. Leaphart replied that the 3700 Airport Road was located at the corner of University Avenue and Airport Way. Representative Guttenberg applauded the commission's work on the wood bison. He found some federal recommendations inconsistent. He wondered if the issues were voted on by the members. Representative Keller replied that both the annual report and a report on the summit were included in the committee back up. The report did not include commission endorsements. Representative Guttenberg stated that reports generally included majority votes. 2:01:21 PM Representative Gara noted mention of recommending litigation and fighting federal overreach. He understood that the governor also supported the movement. He asked what the commission was doing to enhance the governor's efforts. 2:02:38 PM Mr. Leaphart clarified that the commission worked closely with ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act). The program reviewed similar management plans and regulations and weighed them against the effect of the state's management prerogatives. He mentioned the commission's newsletter and website. The information was available to stakeholders and public groups in an effort to incorporate their views. He provided an example related to a bath house in the Tongass National Forest. 2:04:21 PM Co-Chair Stoltze viewed the commission in the same way that he viewed the Minerals or Forest Advisory Commissions. He suggested that the state would engage in fewer lawsuits and press releases about them with less federal overreach. He noted that the state was in a reactive mode. Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony 2:05:28 PM Representative Costello discussed FN 1 from the Department of Natural Resources for $285,300 from FY 15 through FY 20 for one full-time and one part-time position. Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to REPORT HB 244 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 244 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR). 2:06:46 PM