HB 12-ALASKA COUNCIL ON INVASIVE SPECIES 2:10:33 PM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 12, "An Act establishing the Alaska Council on Invasive Species in the Department of Fish and Game." 2:10:51 PM JEANNE OSTNES, Staff, Representative Craig Johnson, Alaska State Legislature, spoke on behalf of Representative Johnson, co-prime sponsor of HB 12. She related the 2007 story of invasive species arriving in Alaska in a plane full of Christmas trees. The plane's original destination was Hawaii, but when several species of non-native wasps and soil microbes were discovered in the cargo, Hawaii refused to let the plane be unloaded. The flight was then diverted to Anchorage where the trees were unloaded, warehoused, and then sold for $40 each. Within one week the Cooperative Extension Service was receiving calls from people reporting that wasps were in their homes. MS. OSTNES said this incident brought to light that Alaska does not have a policy. Subsequently, over 30 state and federal agencies, and private and non-government organizations, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group (AISWG). This group has been working for two years, but it cannot make policy, she pointed out. Under HB 12, the Alaska Council on Invasive Species would be established to provide a policy forum to keep Alaska from becoming like the rest of the U.S. Council membership would consist of five state commissioners [along with nine other representatives listed in Section 03.22.110]. 2:15:09 PM MS. OSTNES, on behalf of Michele Hebert, gave a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group. She first pointed out that slide 2 lists the MOU signatories, then she read slides 3 and 4 of the presentation: On a national level, invasive species are estimated to cause over 1 billion dollars a year in environmental and economic damages. Almost half of the states in the US have some sort of group addressing all-taxa of invasive species. These groups vary in their composition, level of state support, structure, and activity level. State based organizations can react more efficiently and effectively to areas of local concern. UAF-CES was initially funded by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to coordinate the development of an invasive species council. In 2007 it has also received funds form ADF&G, NMFS/NOAA, and USFWS/PWSRCAC. 2:16:39 PM Alaska experiences fewer invaders than many of the other states. The goal of the AISWG is to help preserve Alaska's natural environment and economic resources. Alaska is lucky to be at the beginning of what could become very expensive and deleterious effects from invasive species. Groups have already formed to address plant invaders, marine invasives, and other concerns. The Alaska Invasive Species Working Group aims to coordinate existing efforts, and to protect Alaska from invasives species of all taxonomic groups. MS. OSTNES pointed out that "all taxonomic groups" includes more than just plants - it includes invertebrates, birds, insects, microbes, and so forth. 2:17:38 PM MS. OSTNES read slide 5 of the presentation: The goal of the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group is to help preserve Alaska's natural environment and economic resources. AISWG's aim is to coordinate existing efforts, and to protect Alaska from all taxonomic groups. Increasing effort through coordination! MS. OSTNES noted that committee packets include a two-page briefing paper and the MOU, both of which were written for legislators as well as the general public. Also included in the committee packets are outlines of AISWG's goals and objectives. She explained that AISWG's monthly teleconference meetings address a variety of different subjects. Marine, green crab, and tunicate monitoring groups are in full swing, she reported. There is a listserv [aisc-l@lists.uaf.edu] that provides information to people as it happens and AISWG's website, www.alaskainvasives.org, provides information and links. 2:19:30 PM MS. OSTNES read slide 7 of the presentation: AISWG Marine Subcommittee. Monitoring coordination teleconferences have been held for Green Crab and Tunicates. Sampling efforts are on track for this summer in several locations (Valdez, Homer, Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Gustavus, etc.). Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has been working with both groups, and AK DOT has been very helpful in working toward getting tunicate monitoring at selected ferry terminals. The green crab poster has been printed, laminated, and is on its way out to coastal communities. MS. OSTNES listed the invasive marine species that are already in Alaska [slide 8]: Atlantic salmon, boring sponge, dead man's fingers, golden star, rockweed, and violet tunicate. Marine species that are not yet found in Alaska, but could be close, are: Atlantic cord grass, colonial tunicate, green crab, and New Zealand mud snail. MS. OSTNES noted that Arctic and red foxes are invasive mammals that were introduced to 400 islands by fur merchants during the Russian and territorial days [slide 9]. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began eradication on uninhabited islands in 1949 and now over 40 islands are fox free. Removal of fox allowed the Aleutian Cackling Goose to increase numbers on fox- free islands and be removed from the endangered species list. Norway rats, an invasive mammal that preys on bird eggs, were first introduced by ship wrecks and ports in 1780. 2:20:47 PM MS. OSTNES said handouts have been prepared and distributed to communities that show the difference between Alaska's crabs and the European green crab, an invader that has now reached as far as Vancouver Island [slide 10]. The green crab is transported via ballast water and hull fouling. It is a voracious hunter that could compete with Dungeness crab and other native species. She related that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game estimates that up to 3,000 Atlantic salmon are present in Alaska waters each year. This salmon species is farmed in British Columbia and escapees have spawned in at least one British Columbia river. Ms. Ostnes understood that the Atlantic salmon escapees have sea lice, a problem that could affect Alaska's native salmon. MS. OSTNES spoke about the birch leaf miner and the defoliation of trees by insects [slide 11]. She said the animal pathogen that causes chronic wasting disease has not yet been reported in Alaska but may be here soon [slide 12]. The plant pathogen that causes late blight disease has been reported in the Matanuska Valley. 2:22:38 PM MS. OSTNES read the opportunities listed on slide 13 for an Alaska Invasive Species Council: Coordinating the state resources to maximize opportunities to prevent and control invasives. Organize and streamline the interagency process for exclusion, early detection and control. To provide policy level direction and planning for managing invasive species and preventing the introduction of others. Foster coordination, streamline approaches that support initiative for management. Avoiding program duplication by building a strong collaborative approach. Form an advisory and subcommittee with top level support. MS. OSTNES concluded the presentation by reading slide 14: With the passage of HB 12 we will be able to continue the work of the AISWG and strengthen efforts already underway. 2:23:17 PM MICHELE HEBERT, Land Resources Agent, University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service; Member, Alaska Invasive Species Working Group, testified on behalf of the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group. Seventeen states are using invasive species councils, she reported. Resources are pooled when decision makers come together in these councils, so a lot more gets accomplished at less cost. That is the beauty of HB 12, she continued. This legislation would get Alaska's commissioners sitting together in a forum where suggestions can be made to them on policy changes and decisions can be made on how to share resources to make better use of money and make things happen more quickly in the state. MS. HEBERT said the working group has worked hard and accomplished a lot over the past three years. However, the working group has put establishment of this council as a top priority because the group is limited in what it can do without policy decisions. The councils in other states have allowed for quicker responses in preventing and managing invasive species. 2:25:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked what AISWG's intentions are in regard to non-native timothy and alfalfa planted by farmers for farm animals. MS. HEBERT replied that the real beauty is the work already done by the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group and the Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Management (CNIPM). From the beginning, everyone, including farmers, has been brought to the table so that everyone's concerns are heard. The group has met for the past seven or eight years to develop strategic planning for invasive plants. In addition, annual meetings have been held for six years. Therefore, concerns about certain crops or certain plants are heard. Farmers are at the table and being heard, and no one is threatening to take any crops away such as timothy, rye grass, or brome. The target is not exotic plants, the target is invasive species, such as purple loosestrife, that threaten to harm Alaska's wild lands, wetlands, and wildlife. MS. OSTNES interjected that Alaska is a right-to-farm state. MS. HEBERT further explained that Alaska's invasive species movement was started by farmers coming to her office to tell her that weeds from federal lands were blowing onto their farms and they were having to use extra herbicides to get the weeds out. The farmers wanted to know what she was going to do to help them tell the federal agencies to control those weeds. Ms. Hebert noted that although she is testifying as a representative of the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group, she has been the agriculture and horticulture agent for the Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service for 18 years. Thus, her main concern is with agriculture. 2:28:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON inquired whether the state has anyone at its ports to check for invasive species. MS. HEBERT responded, "We are not adequately staffed; but it also may be that we don't have the regulations to keep that particular insect out of the state of Alaska." 2:29:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she is appalled and thinks this should be an automatic part of government. She asked whether there is any way to take care of this by using private industry. MS. HEBERT said her suggestion is to bring all the players together because the accomplishments to date are from everyone coming together. This is the only way the state will be able to keep invasives out, she continued. There are so many different land managers and unless they come together to talk about the issues they cannot help each other out. If the people from agriculture talked to people from the U.S. Coast Guard the state would be more likely to catch these things; otherwise the Coast Guard may not know what it is looking at. Sitting down together and addressing the issues in a common voice would provide early detection, rapid response, and preventative measures. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN noted that the State of Alaska does have a plant materials center that looks at the different seeds coming into the state, as well as an inspector that checks logs to ensure they are clean for export. So, the state has the people there, the agencies just need to be funded adequately. 2:31:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked whether creating another council would dilute the message since there are already groups dealing with this. MS. HEBERT explained that the working group has been held back by policy and has been unable to impact having policy changed. This is the key, she said. Both CNIPM and AISWG are recommending that decision makers come together once a year with the ability to make recommendations to the legislature. The working group, CNIPM, and others will be the technical part of this process. Establishing this council will not take away what these groups are already doing, it will just put in place the step that is missing in the process. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN added that this will be discussed during the committee process. MS. HEBERT, in further response to Representative Kawasaki, said the proposed council would be for making policy change recommendations and the sharing of resources. The bill also has additional provisions for subcommittees and technical groups as needed to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. 2:34:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK noted that the Municipality of Anchorage is very strict in its rat prevention policy. He said he thinks Anchorage is the only port in the U.S. that is rat free. He inquired as to whether the council would coordinate with or take over other programs, or would the council establish policies that local government and communities would then implement. MS. HEBERT answered that the council would not be controlling any government entity or city. It would utilize AISWG and CNIPM for guidance. For example, the working group has been addressing rat control and as a result there have been multi- agency projects to control rats in the Aleutian Islands. Because everyone is coming together in meetings, identifying which agencies need to get involved and how resources can be shared, a much better job has been done in controlling rats. On the same hand, this group is not telling each agency what to do, it is just sharing ideas. The frustration is that the people in the group are regular people, not decision makers, so the council is being seen as an opportunity to share resources with the decision makers. 2:37:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG asked whether HB 12 creates any enforcement authority to actually do anything such as inspecting imported agricultural products or trees. MS. HEBERT replied, "I think the council is the powers to be, but the work horses who identify and send things up to the council would be the working group." For example, the birch leaf miner is a new invasive from Europe. It arrived in landscape materials delivered to the Fairbanks military base and now it is a problem in the Interior. She continued, "We have a lot of people who are work horses, like myself, who know there is a problem, but we are not decision makers, we are not higher level people, and our hands are totally tied." The working group would bring these issues to the council so the five commissioners - the decision makers - could act on it. "Unless we have the different departments talking to each other, we can't really work together," she said. 2:40:50 PM LORI ZAUMSEIL, Co-founder, Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North (CANWIN); Coordinator, Anchorage Cooperative Weed Management Area, testified on behalf of CANWIN. In regard to whether the council that would be established by HB 12 is really needed, she offered her view that the council would be a state supported, sanctioned, and recognized entity, whereas the other groups are citizens with no state recognition. Alaska really needs a formal program, she stressed. For example, when AISWG was formalized by House Bill 330, a huge window was opened to receive federal funding. In regard to non-natives like timothy and alfalfa, Ms. Zaumseil clarified that neither the invasive weeds group nor the invasive species group is talking about targeting non-natives; they are talking about invasive, noxious species - one is not necessarily the other. Being non- native does not make something invasive. MS. ZAUMSEIL paraphrased from her prepared statement [original punctuation provided]: Last year, the first vital steps were taken to protect Alaska's economy, ecology and environment from the devastation of noxious weeds. Troy and I had no experience with the political process, but were very gratified by the unanimous response to [House Bill] 330. When Representative Johnson proposed that legislation, we vowed to dedicate our time and effort to making people understand the importance of developing this statewide response and why it was the fiscally responsible thing for their senators and representatives to do. We have spoken to many local, state and national audiences about Alaska's fight with invasives and met experts fighting the same problems in other states that threaten Alaska. Without exception, we hear the same message--that Alaska is America's last chance to do it right and not suffer the tens of millions of dollars in expense and losses due to invasive species, but that is only possible if we act quickly and aggressively while the advantage is still ours to take. HB12 is the next important step in the process. This legislation needs your vote today and as it moves forward, but in addition, Alaska and her citizens need your continued support as the agencies and people on the ground work to prevent and control invasive species from impacting our Great Land. 2:45:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said his concern is whether this council will have enough muscle when a problem is identified to do what needs to be done. MS. ZAUMSEIL responded that the council would bring together all of the agency people who have the ability to make the regulations - those regulations would provide the muscle. Plus, all of these decision makers sitting at the table with all of the interest groups is muscle in itself, she added. The council would make recommendations and give power to agencies like the Division of Agriculture and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to explain why a certain regulation is needed so that when it goes out for public comment the public will understand and support the regulation. 2:47:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG presented an example of northern pike being collected in one place in Alaska and released in another location where it is an invasive. Will Alaska State Troopers or other agency have the authority to stop that action, he asked. MS. ZAUMSEIL said she is not really the person to answer this question. However, she understood that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game recently passed a regulation that makes this a fineable action. SENATOR OLSON offered his belief that this was addressed several years ago in legislation that gave the Alaska Department of Fish & Game enforcement power in matters like this. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON explained that the commissioners will write the regulations. He pointed out that when a regulation is needed that requires legislation, Alaska's commissioners have a history of not being bashful about coming to the legislature to ask for the needed legislation. It is much better to have things bubble up from the community than to have things bubble down from the legislature and this is what HB 12 addresses, he said. 2:49:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON, in regard to council membership [page 2, line 9, Section 03.22.110], asked whether there is a need to have federal land and water managers on the council, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. In addition, he suggested that it be researched as to whether a tribal council should be included on page 6, line 8. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN urged Representative Edgmon to work with the sponsor in regard to his suggestions. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON said he wanted to make these comments while everyone is on line. 2:50:51 PM DAN GILSON, Project Manager, Oil Spill Prevention & Response Operations, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, spoke from the following written statement [original punctuation provided]: The [Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory] Council is a non-profit whose mission is promoting the environmentally safe operation of the Alyeska terminal and associated tankers. The Council's 18 member organizations are communities in the Exxon Valdez oil spill impact region, as well as business, recreation, tourism, commercial fishing, Native and aquaculture groups. Because of our concerns regarding invasive species arriving in the ballast water attached to the hulls of tankers, we are here today to support HB 12, the bill to create an invasive species council. This legislation is vital in helping to help protect Alaska environments and economies from the threat of invasion by harmful non-indigenous organisms. We must act now in order to avoid a potential catastrophe. The purpose of the council would be to provide a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach for addressing the potential risks of harmful invasive organisms and agents throughout the state and to work toward preventing the future introduction of other new invasive organisms and agents to the state. The minor amount of money spent annually on a council could save us billions of dollars in lost economies, environments and industries in addition to costs associated with controlling invasions. Just look at the situation with the zebra mussels in the Great Lakes. The government estimates that economic losses and control efforts cost the United States about $5 billion each year. A more immediate threat to Alaska Coastlines is the European Green Crab. Green crabs eat clams, oysters, mussels, marine worms and small crustaceans that are important foods for native species. This invasive crab has marched its way up the west coast of the United States and has invaded Vancouver Island most recently. It is not a matter of "if" we get green crabs, but "where and when." To give you an idea of the economic devastation posed by the green crab, which is also invasive to the East Coast of the United States, the estimated total losses due to the green crab on the East Coast during 1975-2005 range from $719 to $806 million. Although economic impacts to the West Coast are negligible under current conditions, the West Coast impacts could increase to almost a million dollars per year if the green crab were to spread up to Alaska. And we do expect this spread to makes it way to Alaska. We know the crabs can survive and establish themselves in our waters. There are numerous threats to Alaska in terms of invasive species and just as many horror stories of these species taking over environments in other states. Another real threat to Alaska is Purple [Loosestrife] which has been found in the Westchester Lagoon area in Anchorage. This plant can produce up to 2.7 million seeds per plant yearly and spreads across approximately 1 million additional acres of wetlands each year, with an economic impact of millions of dollars. A coordinated local effort in Anchorage has been on top of that infestation, but one can easily see how a broader coordinated effort is needed to proactively deal with these issues. At this moment in time, Alaska is relatively free from invasive species. Contrary to a popular myth, Alaska is not isolated as it receives significant amounts of air, water, and land traffic. Also, climate change is making conditions in Alaska more favorable for harmful invasive species. Unless Alaska takes a proactive stance, Alaska will suffer the same fate as other states dealing with the management of harmful invasive species. Formation of a council to develop a strategic plan, coordinate efforts, and share information is essential to be able to take advantage of funding opportunities only available to such coordinated entities. The minor amount of money spent on a council annual will pay dividends in the significant amount of money not spent on managing weeds, pests and other critters. I urge you to support this bill. 2:54:51 PM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN interjected that Tom Lawson, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, is available to speak to the fiscal note. 2:55:11 PM SUE ELY, Legislative and Communications Manager, Alaska Conservation Alliance, said her group is a coalition of 40 Alaska conservation organizations. She testified from the following written statement [original punctuation provided]: I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of HB12, establishing the Alaska Council on Invasive Species in the Department of Fish and Game. Alaska is home to an amazing abundance of plant and animal life. Whether valued as charismatic Alaskan icons, or as the source of our continued economic and subsistence prosperity, Alaska's flora and fauna are vital to our economic well being [and Alaska's] way of life. However, these resources could be threatened by the spread of invasive species. Already Alaska has suffered the effects of invasive Atlantic Salmon, pike and Reed Canary grass, to name a few. Plants, animals, fish and crustaceans, introduced into an environment devoid of their natural predators and limitations can irreversibly destroy an ecosystem and that destruction can translate into direct monetary, cultural and lifestyle impacts. Invasive species have cost lower 48 economies billions of dollars in revenue. In order for Alaska to avoid a similar fate, it is prudent to address this issue now. I believe the 14-member Council will provide the broad stakeholder cooperation and oversight needed to prevent new invasive species from taking root in Alaska and to mitigate the damage of invasives already introduced. At risk are Alaska's biological treasures; its harvest resources and subsistence plants and animals; the beauty and diversity that make Alaska a world-class tourist destination. It is our understanding and our hope that the least amount of the least toxic management tools would be used to control marine invasive species and that pesticides be used only as a last resort. The Alaska Conservation Alliance would like to thank you for this opportunity to voice our support for HB 12 and encourage you to pass this bill out of the [House Resources Standing Committee]. 2:57:46 PM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN introduced several state and federal agency personnel in attendance, including Gino Graziano, Natural Resources Specialist II, Department of Natural Resources, who was hired last year as a result of House Bill 330 that created a state coordinator position for noxious weed, invasive plant, and agricultural pest management and education. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that the House Resources Standing Committee passed [House Bill 330] last year, which demonstrates that the committee shares the public's concern about invasive species. He therefore requested that people help the committee by keeping their comments to the context of HB 12 and the process of using the proposed council as written in the bill. 3:00:21 PM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN held HB 12. He urged people to talk to the director of the Division of Agriculture and the director of invasive species to learn what has already been done and how HB 12 would compliment the actions taken to date.