CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 262(RES) "An Act relating to management of game populations for maximum sustained yield for human harvest and providing for the replacement of areas closed to consumptive uses of game; relating to management of fish and game areas; and amending Rules 79(b) and 82(b)(2), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure." Senator Mike Miller was invited to join the committee. He explained SB 262 and said the RES version was a combination of many concerned parties. The main thrust of the bill was to guarantee that the game populations in the state will be managed for maximum sustained yield for consumptive uses. The bill would require any areas closed to hunting for consumptive uses, with the exception of biological emergencies, a new area three times the size to be opened up in the state for those species that was closed in those particular areas. The state has set up a public trust for fish and game management areas. The monies used are generated through taxes, license fees and other fees paid by sportsmen. This trust would be breached if there was a restriction of public access into those areas where those monies are used, if there is a restriction of fishing, hunting and trapping activities in those areas and if those revenues generated from taxes, license fees and other fees paid by sportsmen, or federal funds from the sports fish or wildlife restoration fund in areas where consumptive uses would not be permitted or for management of non-game species. Another important aspect of the bill is the Senate RES version is a compromise put together by several consumptive user groups and the Tanana Chiefs Association in Fairbanks. It has been worked on by a wide range of groups and the Tanana Chiefs Association does support this particular bill. Geron Bruce, Department of Fish and Game was invited to join the committee. He said the department opposed the bill. Biologists do not believe specific levels of harvest can be sustained. The department uses the majority of the revenue generated through the Federal Aid and Wildlife Restoration Program and from the Fish and Game Fund for activities related to hunting. The federal aid authority is quite broad and it would be consistent to spend all license fees on other uses and not on hunting. In this state it is recognized that hunting is a very important activity however it is important to support a balanced program. The department felt the net effect of this bill would be to prevent closure of areas to consumptive uses, which would remove an important tool used by the Board of Game and the department for maintaining wildlife populations. He said this was a serious issue causing their concern with this legislation. Anthony Crupi, Alaska Environmental Lobby was invited to join the committee and testified in opposition to the bill. He said this bill was managing Alaska's game population solely on a biological basis and that consumptive use of game is the highest and best use of game. If Alaska's game population is being managed on a biological basis, why does this bill attempt to manage our game on an acreage an solely consumptive basis? This bill would not take into consideration the overall status of the eco-system in which these uses are imposed. Only a healthy eco-system can adequately sustain both consumptive and non-consumptive uses. He said the finance committee's responsibility should be to realize the magnitude of revenue that potentially would be lost. He said Alaskans and Alaskan resources deserve more thoughtful governing than SB 262. Senator Frank moved CSSB 262(RES) and without objection it was reported out with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note with fund source change from the Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Division.