SENATOR MILLER announced HCR 16 ESTABLISH STATE COAL POLICY to be up for consideration. BOB STILES, President, Alaska Coal Association (ACA), supported HCR 16, because the policy reflects the work of a lot of the membership of the ACA as well as other industrial organizations throughout the state. This legislation sends a message to the international investment community and international customers for Alaskan coal that Alaska is a good place to do business. This perception is tremendously important and of value to the long-term future of the state. Number 490 SENATOR FRANK asked if he expected a domestic market to be viable? MR. STILES replied yes, that the domestic market is in two places - Hawaii, which is currently importing Indonesian coal, and in the state of Washington. SENATOR FRANK asked what the chances for waiving the Jones Act were. MR. STILES said there are numerous waivers to the Jones Act. The State Ferry System has a waiver to the Jones Act, for instance. He believes there is a good possibility of getting a Jones Act exemption and, given that exemption, opens some potential markets to Alaskan coal that are not now available to us. Number 508 CHARLIE BODDY, Alaska Coal Association and Alaska Miners Association, said they supported HCR 16. SENATOR LEMAN moved to discharge HCR 16 from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There were no objections and it was so ordered.