SENATE BILL NO. 88 "An Act authorizing a land exchange with the federal government in which certain Alaska mental health trust land is exchanged for certain national forest land and relating to the costs of the exchange; and providing for an effective date." 9:22:13 AM SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, SPONSOR, introduced the bill. Senator Stedman discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on file): Section 1. Describes the purpose of the legislation: 1. Authorize the Department of Natural Resources, who is acting on behalf of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, to exchange mental health trust land with land of equal value from the United States Forest Service; 2. Assist the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority in achieving its goals, one of which is to increase trust revenue; 3. Contribute to the economic health of Southeast Alaskan communities; and, 4. Preserve land adjacent to communities of Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau, and Meyers Chuck Section 2. Details the process of the exchange in which parties are subject to the provisions of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2017 instead of AS 38.05.801, AS 38.50, or any other law; details the roles necessary for each party and the costs assumed by each party. Section 3. Details the affected lands of approximately 18,258 acres of mental health trust land and approximately 20,580 acres of United States Forest Service land, as well as defines the maps used. Section 4. Provides a timeline for the exchange and prioritizes the order in which lands described in Section 3 will be exchanged. Section 5. Provides a process in which the Department of Natural Resources and the United States Secretary of Agriculture will equalize the exchange if there are differences in total value after the final appraisal. Section 6. Provides the circumstances and actions that need to occur to allow this Act to be made effective. Section 7. Provides an effective date. 9:31:49 AM Co-Chair Hoffman queried reconciliation of the acres described in the testimony versus the written acreage in Section 3. 9:32:10 AM AT EASE 9:33:04 AM RECONVENED 9:33:15 AM Senator Stedman remarked that the numbers in the sectional analysis were slightly inaccurate, because there was an exclusion on the federal level of an island that was not included in the exchange. He stated that the language in the bill was correct. Co-Chair MacKinnon looked at page 3 of the bill, the acres that may be exchanged for federal land was 18,258. Vice-Chair Bishop queried the diameter of the 200-year old second growth trees. Senator Stedman replied with a gesture. He announced that it was a valuable standing second growth. Vice-Chair Bishop remarked that the "cut line" may not even be noticeable. Senator Stedman agreed. Senator Micciche wondered if there was a compromise for community growth by trading the land to the federal government. Senator Stedman replied that the vast majority of the land in the exchange was subject to the platting authority of the boroughs. The communities were concerned about their ability to expand for future generations. He stated that the communities supported the land exchange. 9:39:18 AM Senator Olson queried the number of corporations and native allotments were affected by the legislation. Senator Stedman replied that he was not aware of any impact on the allotments or lack of support from the regional corporations. He felt that the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) may provide further information. Co-Chair MacKinnon looked at page 3, line 7, and queried a definition of "KARSTA Areas." Senator Stedman replied that definition protected the below ground fish streams. Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the total acreage did not add up accurately. She also looked at page 6, line 13, and read, "subject to Section 5 of this act, if the United States Secretary of Agriculture has conveyed the parcels of federal land described in Section 13(b) to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, the Department of Natural Resources shall convey the parcels of trust land described in Section 3." She remarked that the totals did not add up to the shifted acreage. She noted that the current AMHTA land to be traded was 15,674 acres, but noted that Section 13(b) totaled 18,180 acres. She queried the reason for the difference. She wondered why the acreage was not covered. Senator Stedman deferred to AMHTA. Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that there was a difference in the land sizes. Senator Stedman replied that it was important to recheck the land sizes. 9:46:06 AM WYN MENEFFE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LAND OFFICE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY, discussed the presentation, "The Alaska Mental Health Trust" (copy on file). Mr. Meneffe looked at slide 1: •A perpetual trust using its resources to ensure a comprehensive integrated mental health program in Alaska. •Funding programs that serve Alaska's most vulnerable populations for the past two decades. •Providing programs for mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, traumatic brain injuries and substance abuse disorders. Mr. Meneffe highlighted slide 2, "The Trust Land Office": Manages the Trust owned land and resources to generate revenue, used by the Trust to improve the lives of the beneficiaries. Our Mission: to protect and enhance the value of Alaska Mental Health Trust lands. Mr. Meneffe addressed slide 3, "Trust Management Principles": 1. Maximize long-term revenue and productivity from trust land 2. Protect corpus 3. Encourage diverse revenue-producing uses of trust land 4. Manage trust land prudently, efficiently and with accountability to the trust and its beneficiaries Mr. Meneffe discussed slide 4, "Land Distribution." He remarked that the trust was not disposing all its assets. He stressed that there was still land available for development. 9:50:24 AM Mr. Meneffe looked at slide 5, "Land Exchange Details": 17,341 acres of Trust lands adjacent to the communities of Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and Juneau would be transferred to the USFS 20,580 acres of remote land on Prince of Wales Island and Shelter Cove would be transferred to the Trust for development and timber harvest Equal value exchange Phase I complete in 1 year and Phase II in 2 years Mr. Meneffe displayed slide 6, "Trust Land To Be Exchanged in Southeast Alaska; National Service Land to be Exchanged." He outlined the details of the map. The areas were removed from the communities, and eliminated some concerns about logging the lands. Mr. Meneffe highlighted slide 7, "Land Exchange Benefits": Consolidates Trust land ownership Replaces lands adjacent to communities with lands that are more conducive to revenue production such as from timber harvest Protects timber and tourism industries Protects jobs and economies in SE Alaska Protects viewsheds, watersheds, and certain old growth timber stands 9:55:15 AM Mr. Meneffe addressed slide 8, "Why Now?": Result of 10 years of planning and public input Extensive negotiations with USFS Addressing concerns from conservation groups and other interests USFS timber supplies have dwindled Timber industry, a key revenue generator for the Trust, is at risk because of low timber supply Vice-Chair Bishop looked at slide 7, and remarked that it was important to maintain a workforce. He stressed that the timber industry was a year-round industry. Co-Chair Hoffman queried the status of all the native land selections in Southeast Alaska. Mr. Meneffe replied that the bill did not affect the native corporation lands. Co-Chair Hoffman wondered whether there were still negotiations. Mr. Meneffe responded there were some native allotments that were unresolved, but there were no native allotments in the exchange. Mr. Meneffe discussed slide 9, "USFS Forest Plan." He stated that the map was a representation of the U.S. Forest Service Dilemma. He remarked that there were many designations that prevented timber harvest. Mr. Meneffe addressed slide 10, "Federal Legislation": •S. 131 introduced by Senator Murkowski and Sullivan in January 2017 •HR. 513 introduced by Representative Young in January 2017 •Language compatible with SB 88 and HB 155 •Directs the USFS to complete the exchange 10:00:55 AM Mr. Meneffe remarked that there were many supporters of the bill. He stressed that the exchange was a positive revenue generating exchange. The provision was timely, because the timber industry needed the timber immediately. Co-Chair Hoffman queried the positive impact of the exchange from the U.S. Forest Service viewpoint. Mr. Meneffe replied that the U.S. Forest Service saw the legislation as "buffering their landholdings." He stated that they did not like to be adjacent to private lands, because of trespassing issues. He remarked that the U.S. Forest Service wanted land that provided recreational opportunities. He stated that the U.S. Forest Service had become a recreation management organization, more than a timber agency. Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony. 10:03:35 AM JON BOLLING, CITY ADMINISTRATOR, CITY OF CRAIG, CRAIG (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. 10:07:02 AM DAVID LANDIS, MAYOR OF KETCHIKAN, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. 10:09:27 AM OWEN GRAHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA FOREST ASSOCIATION, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony. 10:12:03 AM Vice-Chair Bishop discussed the fiscal note. Co-Chair MacKinnon announced that amendments were due the following day by 5pm. She discussed the afternoon meeting agenda. SB 88 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. Senator Dunleavy shared that there was a concern about a line item in the budget that there be a mandate to close two pioneer homes. He wanted clarification on that issue. 10:14:48 AM AT EASE 10:15:53 AM RECONVENED In response to a question from Senator Dunleavy, Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the budget identified the largest areas where UGF were utilized in departments. She shared that the Pioneer Home had large UGF spending. She remarked that there were also two sections that allowed administrations to move those allocations for cuts. She stated that it was up to the administration to send notice, but that there was continual discussion on the budget. Senator Dunleavy surmised that the budget had reductions, but did not specifically target the pioneer homes. Co-Chair MacKinnon replied that she did not draft the operating budget. She shared that she had been told that, "if the department chooses to take the entire the reduction from the Pioneer Home, that was the choice of the department."