SJR 6-JT. PACIFIC ALASKA RANGE COMPLEX CHANGES  1:07:28 PM CHAIR P. WILSON announced that the first order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6, Urging the United States Army and United States Air Force to extend the public comment period for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex Modernization and Enhancement Environmental Impact Statement that ends February 18, 2011, for a minimum of 90 days to allow for effective communication and full state and user involvement during the comment period. 1:07:49 PM DAVID SCOTT, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, Chair, Senate Transportation Committee, Alaska State Legislature, ,on behalf of the Senate Transportation Committee, sponsor, chaired by Senator Olson, related that this resolution urges the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to extend the comment period for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) modernization and enhancement environmental impact statement (EIS). He explained that JPARC reduces the standard flight "floor" of 5,000 to as low as 500 feet. Military training typically takes place above 5,000 feet but this training is for low flight training. The Air Carriers Association and the Alaska Aviation Advisory Board approached Senator Olson because of his long standing involvement in the aviation industry. Originally the resolution asked for a 90 day extension to the public comment period, but this resolution reduces that extension to 30 days. In response to Chair P. Wilson, he affirmed the two branches of service are the USAF and U.S. Army. 1:10:44 PM CHAIR P. WILSON related her understanding the military needs additional air space, that Alaska's airspace is less occupied, plus the military in interested in low flying flights for training purposes. MR. SCOTT related that the sponsor recognizes the military's needs, the training is vitally important, and the sponsor supports aviation. This resolution would allow citizens in the affected area to have an expanded comment period. The original comment period began on December 10, 2010 but the Air Carrier's Association representative indicated the first JPARC meeting was held on January 6, 2011, just prior to session. 1:12:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ asked whether any alternate sites are under consideration. MR. SCOTT answered several sites are under consideration, with most of the sites located south of Fairbanks and in the Matanuska-Susitna valley. He did not believe any training would occur in Southeast Alaska. 1:12:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked whether the military would be testifying. MR. SCOTT indicated the military did not respond during the Senate Transportation hearings. He offered that he spoke with General Atkins and his subordinates, but they made a decision hot to not testify. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if notified of this hearing. MR. SCOTT answered no. CHAIR P. WILSON related if the military is following the issue that staff would be aware of today's hearing. 1:13:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN recalled hearing testimony on this issue in another hearing. He related his understanding that the military would like to be able to train some pilots to fly at lower level altitudes which is not feasible in the Lower 48 since the population density is much higher in the Lower 48. Thus, Alaska is considered a good location for the low altitude flight training due to its low density population. 1:14:56 PM MIKE MORGAN, Board Member, Alaska Air Carriers Association, Director of Operations; Warbelows Air Ventures, stated that the main issue for the air carriers is a concern over access to several villages within the military operations area (MOA) and the effect of the proposed scoping changes on air transportation. Several significant safety issues have created conflicts with airline traffic. Therefore, the parties would like a 30-day extension to allow the Native community and others to comment on the planned scoping phase by the JPARC since the comment period ends on Friday, February 18, 2011. He stated that U.S. Senator Begich is meeting with the Alaska Air Carriers Association Board on this subject. He offered his belief it is possible to accommodate the military but that the parties simply need more time to discuss the issues. He attended the January 6, 2011 JPARC meeting at Eielson AFB, but he recalled the public was basically told, "This is the way it's going to be and comments are welcome but they're not going to change their mind." He reported he held conversations with the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and it seems that the air carriers and DOT&PF are "not on the same page." He stressed that the air carriers would like an additional 30 days in order to get the communities involved, including the hunters, and private pilots who fly in these areas. He expressed concern for their safety and economic impact as the pilots need to fly out of their way and use additional fuel to avoid the restricted area. He concluded by reiterating his belief that the military can be accommodated if the issue is discussed "with the right people in the room in the planning stages." 1:17:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked what kind of changes would be necessary on the north end of the Yukon MOA. MR. MORGAN responded that three villages: Chalkyitsik, Circle, and Central have restricted access for air transportation when the MOAs are active. Currently, the air carriers can fly to anytime using visual flight rules (VFR) but during inclement weather instrument flight rules (IFR) rules are used and the carriers cannot obtain clearance through MOA. Technology now allows for global positioning system (GPS) approaches and GPS enroute for point-to-point flights. Several villages would have safer and more reliable transportation services if the MOA borders were rearranged 15 to 20 miles. He pointed out that once MOAs are in place they tend to stay in place forever so this is an ideal time to work with the military to accommodate them and address the changing transportation infrastructure. He related his understanding that if the military needs to bring in pilots from the Lower 48, they will need additional training room. Currently, MOAs exist that encompass large areas of land suitable for low flights. He personally recalled that on one occasion about seven years ago an aircraft was in a flight pattern in Central when two jets came screaming in below the airliner at about 400 feet altitude. MR. MORGAN said he would like to address incidents like this one, and still keep corridors for civil transportation open. He offered his belief that if he could discuss matters with the USAF planning staff "we could make this work." He reiterated that once rules are in place they seem to stay forever. 1:20:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked whether the three villages currently have GPS approaches. MR. MORGAN answered that Chalkyitsik does have GPS approaches. He recalled that Chalkyitsik is located only two miles inside the MOA. He predicted that before long all villages with airports will have GPS approaches. REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE wondered what altitude is necessary to raise the floor to allow for IFR traffic to pass below it. MR. MORGAN answered in Chalkyitsik the ceiling could be lowered 3,000 to 4,000 feet, but that Circle and Central have mountains surrounding them so the minimum altitude would need to be about 8,000 to 9,000 feet. He also expressed concern for access to another village, the village of Eagle using IFR except by passing through the MOA. He proposed that an IFR corridor from 8,000 to 10,000 thousand feet be established, which would also solve Eagle's problem, he said. 1:21:43 PM MR. MORGAN, in response to Chair Wilson, answered that one problem is airline schedules are posted in advance, but the military needs the flexibility to adjust its practice sessions and may not want to commit to certain times. He said he thought this point could be negotiated. He advised that this MOA plan is an entirely new proposal. He remarked he was unaware of any place in the country where an IFR corridor is approved for a MOA. He also said that "we're kind of thinking outside of the box trying to solve both problems." 1:22:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG related that both testifiers have helped put the issue in perspective for him. He recalled the Council of State Governments (CSG) has considered a new law in Kansas to encourage the military to work with local government and to have a continuing open line of communication. He expressed concern that Alaska does not have something similar in place. He summarized his understand is that the military hasn't engaged in any real dialogue or expressed a willingness to do so. Additionally, the military has not participated in today's hearing. He suggested that the sponsor consider adding an additional whereas and an additional resolved clause to address the legislature's concern about a need for improved dialogue. He said he hopes that something could be done. CHAIR P. WILSON pointed out the time limit for public comment will close on Friday so the committee will not have time to address this issue in this body and also obtain concurrence. 1:24:53 PM REX GOOLSBY related that he works for the University of Alaska but is testifying today as a private pilot. He agreed that the extension is necessary to allow for more time to consider the MOAs. He also echoed earlier testimony that once the MOAs are in place little can be done to change or modify them. He wanted to round up other people interested in this issue to attend this hearing, but many of the people who also wanted to weigh in on this issue are out flying today. He stressed that this issue is very important. He recollected five or six instances of near misses in air traffic with the military training. He related a scenario in which last August during red flag exercises several incidents occurred with tourism flights. Although complaints were lodged in those instances nothing seemed to change. He offered his belief that the issues need to be aired and the matter needs extra time to allow for open discussions. He liked the suggestion of "opening the channel of dialogue" along with obtaining responses to concerns to resolve the matter. 1:27:33 PM CHAIR P. WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on SJR 6. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested a separate measure be considered to address ongoing communications with the military. REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report SJR 6 out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 6 was reported from the House Transportation Standing Committee.