HOUSE BILL NO. 131                                                                                                         
     "An Act relating to standards for forest resources and                                                                     
     practices; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
NICO  BUS, Administrative   Services Manager,  Division  of  Support                                                            
Services,   Department   of   Natural   Resources   testified   this                                                            
legislation modifies the  Forest Practices Act as a result of State,                                                            
private  industry,   resource  agencies,  university,   and  federal                                                            
government  representatives' efforts  of the previous two  years. He                                                            
noted  this bill  amends standards  applied  to Region  3,  Interior                                                            
Alaska and  is intended to protect  fish habitat and water  quality,                                                            
support a healthy  timber and fishing  industry and incorporate  the                                                            
best available science.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Kelly understood  all parties involved  are in support  of                                                            
this legislation.  He relayed he had spoken to miners  and foresters                                                            
and was told of no objections.  He also noted this legislation is of                                                            
a high priority.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Amendment  #1: This  amendment changes  the effective  date of  this                                                            
legislation from September 1, 2001 to September 1, 2002.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green moved for adoption.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The amendment was ADOPTED without objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green  "moved House  Bill 131, Version  A, out of  Committee                                                            
with individual recommendations  and accompanying zero fiscal note."                                                            
[It was the Committee's  intent to report Version  A as amended from                                                            
Committee.]                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Without objection  SCS HB  131 (FIN) with  accompanying zero  fiscal                                                            
note  #2  from the  Department  of  Natural  Resources,  MOVED  from                                                            
Committee.