CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 43(RES): An Act establishing a grant program relating to transplantation of elk; and providing for an effective date. C0-CHAIR DRUE PEARCE announced that CSSB 43(RES) was before the committee and invited Senator Robin Taylor, sponsor of the bill, to join the committee at the table. A work draft dated March 3, 1993 was distributed for the committee's review. SENATOR STEVE RIEGER MOVED for adoption of the CSSB 43 work draft dated March 3, 1993. No objections having been raised, the CSSB 43 work draft dated March 3, 1993 was ADOPTED. SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR asked the committee to consider the work draft in lieu of the original bill. He said he feared that the Department of Fish & Game (DF&G) would not perform a follow up on the previously successful transplant of elk as specified in the original bill. He said since the recent transplant in 1987, or as long ago as 1927, when elk had been transplanted to Afognak Island, that DF&G had made no effort to study the effect of elk on indigenous species. Even though studies have not been done, DF&G still maintains that a study is needed to determine if competition exists between elk and other deer families. He felt DF&G had already reached the conclusion that elk and deer compete for the same food. He maintained that DF&G felt the elk transplant would fail and it had not. He wanted DF&G to start managing the existing elk population and determine when the first hunt might be sustained. He suggested that the elk could provide a source of food for the residents of southeast Alaska, and could cut trails through which deer and other game could pass. He maintained that deer and elk seemed to be able to co-exist quite well. CSSB 43 would make it mandatory for DF&G to transplant a certain number of elk on Kruzof Island, Gravina Island, Cleveland Peninsula, and Prince of Wales Island in a specified period of time. He estimated that it would cost approximately $1,000 per animal. Senator Taylor passed to the committee photographs and showed a video of existing transplanted elk. He informed the committee that in 1987, of the 52 elk transplanted, approximately half survived. He estimated that the elk population today is approximately 100 to 120 animals. SENATOR JAY KERTTULA pointed out that CSSB 43 called for an appropriation but asked if there would be any public contribution. Senator Taylor maintained that there would be a significant local contribution and effort, even though CSSB 43 did not contain the 50 percent match or grant language of the original bill. Senator Kerttula asked if there was any additional cost other than the handling cost of $1,000 per animal. Senator Taylor said that the state may have to exchange goats for the elk as was done in the past transplant but that $1,000 per animal should include veterinarian costs, crates, etc. SENATOR TIM KELLY asked for clarification on the cost of the transplant of the elk and asked if the state was funding the transplant at 100 percent. Senator Taylor said that he would appropriate any additional funding needed out of discretionary funds to complete the transplant. Senator Taylor explained that if the state had to fund it at 100 percent it would not happen. He projected that approximately 50 percent of the cost would be funded by volunteer labor and contributions as it had in the last transplant. DARSIE BECK, Alaska Environmental Lobby, spoke in opposition to CSSB 43, on the grounds that transplanting elk was a biological threat, and that the economic costs and potential impact on subsistence users far outweighed any benefits. He said introduction of foreign species into a eco-system frequently have disastrous ecological and economic consequences. He offered examples in other parts of the world of the damage it has caused. He said that wildlife biologists they have talked to do not endorse CSSB 43. The greatest threat seems to be the spread of disease to other wild animals and humans. He said that transplant figures from DF&G showed that the cost per elk was $5,000. He called the committee's attention to page 2 of the fiscal note for DF&G that said "costs for a five year program to accomplish the above goals would range from $200.0 to $250.0 per year." The Alaska Environmental Lobby suggested it would be less expensive for the state of Alaska to fund elk hunting trips for individuals outside the state than to transplant elk. Discussion followed between Senators Kerttula, Kelly, Taylor and Mr. Beck regarding various diseases, their transmission, and whether elk were indigenous to Alaska. SENATOR BERT SHARP MOVED for passage of CSSB 43(FIN) from committee with the accompanying fiscal note. No objections having been raised, CSSB 43(FIN) was REPORTED OUT of committee with a zero fiscal note for the Department of Fish & Game. Co-chairs Pearce, Frank, and Senator Sharp signed the committee report with a "do pass" recommendation. Senators Kerttula, Kelly, Jacko and Rieger signed a "no recommendation." Recess 9:35am Reconvene 9:37am