SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS brought HB 259(title am) (LAND GRANT FOR LAKE & PENINSULA BOROUGH) before the committee as the next order of business, stating that testimony would be taken over the Legislative Teleconference Network. Number 100 JEFF PARKER, representing the Anchorage Fish & Game Advisory Committee, Alaska Sport Fishing Association and Trout Unlimited, said the question of what lands should be retained for the public is the first issue that should be decided. He directed attention to a petition containing over 430 signatures, an economic study by the Hotel-Motel Association, the Alaska Professional Sport Fishing Association and the Alaska Sport Fishing Association and various other pieces of data which he had forwarded to the committee. He said the borough has no data to support its argument that it is feasible, economic, or practicable to introduce expansion of large industry in this region, and all this data indicates otherwise. He urged the legislation not be moved out of committee. Number 195 MARK LACROSSE, a member of the Lake & Peninsula Borough Assembly and Planning Commission, said there is a perception that the land selection has not involved an intensive public process, when, in fact, borough land selection has been two years in the making and public notices have been issued and posted in all of the communities. In these land selections, it is their desire to ensure the economic viability of the borough as state dollars continue to shrink. He noted that they have added the Bristol Bay Coastal Management Plan in the makeup of their own coastal management plan. Number 226 WALT REEDE, Manager of the Lake & Peninsula Borough, echoed the previous speaker's comments. He said he knows there has been a fair amount of opposition to HB 253, but they are working with Fish & Game, DNR and some of the villages in trying to work out some of the problems that people perceive with the bill. He offered his assurance that the people in the borough are very sensitive to habitat values in the region and have no intention of doing anything that would jeopardize those resources. Number 252 ALICE RUBY, testifying on behalf of the Bristol Bay CSA Board, reiterated her previous testimony on HB 253 that people in the region had virtually no opportunity to find out about the bill and its implications. The legislation will have a major affect on their area, and they believe the Legislature needs to consider the bigger picture of what this legislation means, particularly its effect on the commercial fisheries, subsistence and recreational activities. Concluding her comments, she urged the committee delay its action until next session. Number 303 GINGER TORNES, a commercial fisherman in the Bristol Bay area, stated the grant of 187,000 acres is more than 16 times the amount of land the borough is entitled to under current state law, and she expressed her concern that it would set a dangerous precedent. She is concerned that much of land that has been identified is important wildlife and recreation land. She does not believe that the Lake & Peninsula Borough needs to increase their tax base. She urged defeat of HB 259. Number 335 MARK BELL, a resident of Soldotna, voiced his opposition to HB 259 and urged more input by the agencies involved and by the public. He said the area does not need more lodges and public access which would put additional pressure on their resources. Number 360 CHRIS GOLL, a twenty-eight year Alaska resident residing at Rainbow River Lodge located near Iliamna and a former two-term member of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, voiced his opposition to HB 259. The fisheries resources, as well as the wildlife resources that exist in the area are already totally utilized by the Alaska peninsula users, the subsistence users and the commercial businesses that exist there. Speaking to the priority subsistence issue, he said the federal government has indicated, through Judge Holland, that they are going to be taking over management of subsistence out there and will be utilizing the resident stocks, as well as the anadromous stocks, thereby further complicating the problem. Number 404 RAY PETERSON of Anchorage voiced his opposition to HB 259. He noted he has contacted many of the Alaskan operators of sport fishing operations that use these lands in question, and they are unanimously opposed to the land grant. He expressed his concern on whether the borough can be trusted to maintain the free and open access that the residents of the area now enjoy. He asserted the only people in favor of HB 259 are the ones who run the borough. Number 425 ANGIE GERKEN of Homer stated her support for Mr. Goll's and Mr. Peterson' comments. She said she does not want to see the state make a short-term decision that will be a detriment to all Alaskans and will have little benefit for the villages in that area. She urged the legislation be held in committee. Number 465 FRED NISHIMURA of Dillingham, informed the committee that he is the manager of three village corporations in the Nushagak Bay drainage that are also involved in a lawsuit with the Lake & Peninsula Borough and the Local Boundary Commission over the drawing of the northwest boundary. He said these villages are very concerned about HB 259, because it disregards the concerns that people have who live outside of the LPB boundary; concerns such as their lifestyles, their own lands, their use of the land and resources. They believe the bill exemplifies natural resource management at its worst and that it should not be passed. Number 506 LAMAR COTTEN, representing the Lake & Peninsula Borough, said the borough has held over 20 meetings on the land grant issue, and they have documentation showing that public notice was given for those meetings. In addition, all residents received at least three newsletters concerning this issue, along with a series of other reports that went to interested parties. He also said the Lake & Peninsula Borough has no interest in obtaining or proposing lands in the disputed area until that issue has been resolved by the court. The borough has worked with DNR and Fish and Game and explained that they have no problem with access. He pointed out these are proposed selections, and they still need to go through a series of public hearings and a public hearing process working with DNR. Number 533 TOM GREEN, Chairman of the Planning Commission for the Lake and Peninsula Borough, agreed with Mr. Cotten's comments on the meetings held by the borough. He said the bill only allows the borough an entitlement and does not allow them any lands they have specified. They have backed away from obtaining land in the areas of the Mulchatna, the Nushiak, and the northwest boundaries. Number 567 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS closed the public hearing on HB 259, stating that it would be back before the committee at its next meeting.