SB 203-UNIFIED PERMIT APPLICATION  CHAIR THOMAS WAGONER announced SB 203 to be up for consideration. SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS, sponsor of SB 203, said she wanted to create a one-stop online permitting system whenever two or more agencies need to permit a project. SB 203 breaks her proposal down into two phases, one for each year. The first phase would be for designing the permit application and the second for development of the online system. She explained that Legislative Legal did not like the language on page 9 that excluded De Minimus projects that require only a standard condition, but she did not intend to include small permits, but rather to target developments where people have to go to multiple agencies for permits. 4:44:50 PM SENATOR BERT STEDMAN moved to adopt Amendment 1. A M E N D M E N T 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR GUESS TO: SB 203 Page 1, line 4, through page 2, line 22: Delete all material. Page 2, line 23: Delete "Sec. 5" Insert "Section 1" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 9, following line 6: Insert a new paragraph to read: "(3) a limited entry permit under AS 16.43;" Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. CHAIR WAGONER announced that there were no objections and Amendment 1 was adopted. SENATOR STEDMAN asked how the departments would work together under SB 203. SENATOR GUESS replied that she hoped that there wouldn't be turf battles and that people would look for common elements, not diversity. It might not be easy on the departments nor inexpensive, but the State of Alaska would be viewed as being open for business. The focus would be on writing the correct permit for the area and, "Not trying to get someone through the hurdles of paperwork." 4:47:28 PM DICK MYLIUS, Director, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said he was available to answer questions. RANDY BATES, Acting Director, Office of Project Management and Permitting, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said that ADF&G, DNR and DEC supported the concept of permit streamlining, but did not support SB 203 for three reasons. The first reason was that the unified permit application concept as proposed fails for practical reasons; secondly, the departments are already streamlining their application process; and thirdly, the financial support is not available to implement the bill. 4:49:43 PM SENATOR ELTON said it makes sense for people to apply on line. MR. BATES replied that it makes sense and DEC is moving towards online permit applications and DNR is developing an online coastal project questionnaire for an online permit specific to two of its agencies. The interactive application is a four-year project that will cost a little more than $4 million. SENATOR ELTON pointed out that he didn't disagree with this part of the bill, but language on page 6 talks about permit application information on the Internet being done within one year rather than four. He asked if he disagreed with just the deadlines. MR. BATES responded that a one-year deadline is a worthy goal, but it is difficult to fill out 30 or 40 applications in the confines of one year. SENATOR ELTON replied that he thought that was why this bill was needed - if all those applications were going to be done by paper. 4:53:58 PM CHAIR WAGONER said that the Alaska Mining Association was real hesitant about this bill because the process is already working for them. They are getting their permits in a timely fashion and would rather rely on proven technology, not new technology. 4:55:12 PM SENATOR GUESS responded that just because one industry or one group of people in Alaska is familiar with the process doesn't mean that it is the best process, especially when the state is trying to encourage new entrants into the market. She wanted to make clear for the record that SB 203 is not changing the permit process, but it is changing the application process. She emphasized that permits would not be written differently. She has asked DNR for any suggested changes, but she hadn't received any at this time, but she had received suggestions from ADF&G. She thought that creating one unified online application made more sense than creating three different online application systems. The current databases refer to the same elements as different things. She remarked: I don't think we have an efficient system right now and I think it would behoove the state to move towards it.... Although it might fail for practical reasons now, I don't think it fails for practical reasons in our future. CHAIR WAGONER stated that he would hold the bill and address it again later and adjourned the meeting at 4:58:49 PM.