SB 132-MINTO FLATS GAME REFUGE & TOWNSITE  CHAIR BERT STEDMAN announced SB 132 to be up for consideration. He asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for discussion purposes. SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER made a motion to adopt \I version CS for SB 132 dated 4/6/04. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CHAIR STEDMAN asked Senator Lincoln to introduce the bill. SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN explained that \I version of the bill contains several changes, the largest of which is adding language from AS 38.05.125 to the bill beginning on page 2, line 16 rather than simply referring to the section. The other change was to add the legislative findings on page 1, line 7-11. The bill would transfer about 32 acres of land, which is the Old Minto Village Site to the Native village of Minto. The old village site was established in the early 1900s, but in 1971 the state forced the relocation because of flooding and erosion. Although the village was moved about 40 miles north, villagers continue to use the old site for camping and other cultural activities. The church, cemetery, community hall and store are still located at the old site and the Interior Athabascan Cultural Heritage Education Institute holds a lease on the site until 2052 for a youth encampment. SENATOR LINCOLN advised that Chief Andy Jimmy from Minto was on- line to testify. "It was Minto that wanted to have the 32 acres transferred over to their village so they would have some control over it and to be able to use it as an educational site," she said. She and her staff have worked with DNR extensively and they are supportive of the transfer. Finally, she noted that the work draft fiscal note is zero. However, there will be a change in the analysis section. It says that DNR will sell the land, which is not the case. There was never any intent for the land to be sold to the village. The land reverted to DNR and then became part of the Minto Flats State Game Refuge in 1988. Under SB 132, the land will revert to the Village of Minto. SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER asked whether the land that the village was relocated to was a Native allotment or state land. SENATOR LINCOLN replied they relocated to a Native allotment. SENTOR KIM ELTON remarked that he was surprised at all the reservations that the state wanted and questioned whether the state had the same rights of access delineated on page 2 prior to the 1971 relocation. SENATOR LINCOLN said the state did have all those easements outlined on page 2 prior to the 1971 relocation because the land was an established town site and not a reservation. CHAIR STEDMAN asked how far apart the two sites are. SENATOR LINCOLN said the Village of Minto is located about 40 miles north of Old Minto. Old Minto is only accessible by river while the new site is accessible by road and looks out over Minto Flats. It's on a hillside and is in no danger of flooding. CHAIR STEDMAN opened public testimony. He called a brief at-ease at 1:45 pm due to teleconference equipment difficulty. The difficulty was not resolved and no teleconference testimony could be taken. JANET BURLESON-BAXTER, legislative liaison for DNR, said she was available to answer questions, but the technical experts intended to participate via teleconference. She affirmed that the language on page 2, (b) is standard conveyance language and the word "sell" in the draft fiscal note should be changed to "convey." CHAIR STEDMAN called a brief at-ease at 1:51 pm to check on the teleconference equipment. MATT ROBUS director of the Division of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), said he was available for questions and advised that ADF&G has no objection to the proposal. There is dual agency management of the land because ADF&G is the refuge manager under the refuge management plan while DNR is the state's land manager. But in terms of refuge management, the transfer makes perfect sense. There were no further questions or testimony. [The teleconference equipment continued to give problems.] SENATOR WAGONER made a motion to move CSSB 132(CRA) from committee with individual recommendation and attached fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR ELTON told the Chair he assumed that there would be a corrected fiscal note. CHAIR STEDMAN agreed saying it would reflect conveyance of the land rather than sale of the land.