SJR 38 - ALASKA CANADA RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY CHAIRMAN HALCRO announced the next order of business as Senate Joint Resolution 38, Expressing support for a cooperative United States-Canada feasibility study on extending the North American rail system through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to Alaska. Number 0421 KARA MORIARTY, Staff to Senator Gary Wilken, Alaska State Legislature, came before the committee to present SJR 38 on behalf of the sponsor. The resolution is a companion of HJR 51 by Representative Jeannette James. She noted that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski recently introduced legislation in Congress [S. 2253] that would fund and authorize a commission made up of U.S. and Canadian officials to conduct a feasibility study that would determine the best route, identify markers, and estimate the cost for a project that would connect the North American rail system through Canada to Alaska. Senate Joint Resolution 38, therefore, would send a message of support of the feasibility study from the legislature. CHAIRMAN HALCRO pointed out that the booklet entitled, "Alaska-Canada Rail Link Conference Packet," found in the bill packet, was provided and put together by Representative Jeannette James' office. Number 0520 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY asked Ms. Moriarty whether the track width is the same in both the U.S. and Canada. MS. MORIARTY replied, according to her understanding, the tracks are compatible. She further noted that when U.S. and Canadian officials met at the Alaska-Canada Rail Link Conference they looked at issues like that. Number 0566 TERESA FREDRICKSON, Community Resource Coordinator, City of Delta Junction, testified via teleconference from Delta Junction. She announced the city's support of the resolution. Number 0594 AL KEECH testified via teleconference from Tok. He has been a resident of Tok for approximately 20 years. He is not keen on the idea that is being proposed. He doesn't doubt that there would be a positive economic effect on the area; at the same time, there would be a dramatic negative effect on the wildlife and the wilderness atmosphere. Progress, he said, changes a rural atmosphere in that more demands are placed on a limited amount of wildlife. That, he said, would have a detrimental effect on the wildlife population and its habitat. The worst possible impact would be a railroad that doesn't follow the highway corridor, as a map that he has seen indicates. He has seen a proposal for a track that runs to Tok then cutoffs through either the Ladue River valley or the Dennison [Fork] valley, which would take a "swap out of virgin land" in Game Management Unit 20E. A railroad would change the balance of nature for as long as it is present and probably afterwards. A railroad would also change the rural and subsistence lifestyle of those in the area. Furthermore, the majority of the people don't even know that the railroad is being proposed. He read somewhere that there is grassroots support for such a railroad, but he doubts that, given the local residents. It's probably more a function of those who are communicative in the chamber of commerce and local businesses who are perhaps more knowledgeable. He really doubts that a lot of the rural residents are aware of the proposal. In summary, even though he is testifying today on his own behalf, he is probably representing quite a few other residents of Interior Alaska that would be adamantly opposed to a railroad that would follow any other corridor except the highway corridor. Number 0844 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that he has been in Alaska for 50 years. When he first came to the state the highway was pretty rough, and when he got to Tok he started to like the state better. REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY further stated that development is like children, especially grandchildren, in that a person wishes they could stay at a certain age forever. But a person can't stop a child from growing; at the same time, a person can't stop progress. In that regard, he likes Alaska better now than when he first came, and there has been a lot of good development since that time. He noted that the railroad is another way to ensure the benefit of commerce, which does a lot for everyone. REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY further stated that he has been on a train in the back country of Australia and saw kangaroos beside the track. It's pretty nice, he said, to wake up and see the animals in the morning. He thinks that this could be done in an environmentally sound way. He supports the concept. Number 0977 MR. KEECH stated it's hard to argue against progress or economics because it would benefit the people of the area. But, as the country moved west and as progress moved west, what happened? The rural atmosphere was sacrificed. He doesn't think that his "one voice" in the wilderness would have an impact on stopping the railroad; he's asking, therefore, that it be done in a fashion that has the least impact as possible. The best way, he suggested, would be to stay on the highway corridor rather than to interrupt pristine country. Number 1062 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated, to Mr. Keech, that the resolution is simply a proposal for a comprehensive feasibility study that would look at the economical, environmental and societal consequences of such a rail link. Many of his concerns, therefore, would be addressed in that study. He thinks, therefore, that Mr. Keech should really support the resolution, for it would provide everybody with an understanding of the possible implications. Number 1113 REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK asked Ms. Moriarty whether the bilateral commission would cost the state any money or whether it would all be funded by the federal government. MS. MORIARTY replied the plan is for the bilateral commission to be funded by the federal government. Number 1184 CHAIRMAN HALCRO closed the meeting to public testimony. Number 1189 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move SJR 38, version 1-LS1475/A, out of committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note; he asked unanimous consent. There being no objection, SJR 38 so moved from the House Transportation Standing Committee.