SCR 9-TAKU RIVER TASK FORCE  4:40:11 PM CO-CHAIR WAGONER announced the consideration of [SCR 9] and asked the co-chair for a motion to bring the resolution before the committee. 4:41:31 PM Brief at ease. CO-CHAIR PASKVAN moved to bring SCR 9, version A, before the committee. CO-CHAIR WAGONER objected for discussion purposes. JESSE KIEHL, staff to Senator Egan, sponsor of SCR 9, said that over the last few years, Alaskans in Southeast have discussed a wide variety of ideas about the Taku River, and sometimes the conversations were heated. He explained that the proposed Taku River Task Force would provide a forum for future discussions and recommendations for the best management of the resources in that river. The task force was designed to represent a balanced cross section of user-groups and was small enough so as to not be unwieldy. Their recommendations would be due by December 1, 2011. SENATOR STEDMAN said he wasn't sure what the resolution did. CO-CHAIR WAGONER summarized that it establishes a task force to review the requests for restrictions and opinions about what should be done with the waterway. A proposal from a Canadian mining company was to run a hovercraft up the river. He asked if that was two years ago. MR. KIEHL clarified that there wasn't a current proposal for permits, but past proposals have raised concerns and questions about activity on the river. The task force would review the issues and the associated science, but the sponsor didn't want the resolution to presuppose anything. The idea was to gather the best knowledge and consider all the interests of all resource users before making any recommendations to public agencies. Recommendations to change regulations would go through a public process and recommendations to change the law would go before the legislature. CO-CHAIR WAGONER asked if it was presumptuous to suggest putting sideboards on the task force. 4:46:07 PM MR. KIEHL replied the first thing a task force like this should do is to get up to speed on the existing rules, regulations and sideboards. SENATOR STEDMAN asked for confirmation that the resolution wouldn't preclude a recommendation to build a road or railway into the area. MR. KIEHL replied this resolution does not tie the hands of the group before it starts meeting. If the recommendation of the task force was to build a road or railway, that's what it would bring forward. SENATOR STEDMAN asked if the task force would be precluded from asking for an expansion of wilderness designations. MR. KIEHL replied the task force could theoretically come up with that recommendation as well. SENATOR STEDMAN pointed out that both the Taku River valley and the Stikine River valley have been trade routes for thousands of years, and a long-term goal in Southeast has been to develop access to the outside. One corridor was north up the Lynn Canal and others were the Taku, the Stikine and the Bradfield. He questioned the composition and narrow representation of the task force. MR. KIEHL explained that the task force would include the three elected legislators from the Juneau area, and their positions on increasing access to the area are matters of public record. The commissioner of fish and game or the commissioner's designee would also be a member. The four public members would include 1) one owner of private recreational property in the Taku river valley; 2) one commercial fishing permit holder registered in area A; 3) one owner or employee of a business that derives significant income from transportation to or within the Taku River; and 4) one person who uses but does not consume Taku River resources. MR. KIEHL said he had no reason to believe that radical or extreme recommendations would come from the task force. SENATOR STEVENS asked for an explanation of a "person who uses but does not consume Taku River resources." MR. KIEHL replied the notion of a non-consumptive user was initially inspired by the local fish and game advisory committee, and was designed to provide some breadth of opinion on the issues. It would, for example, include people who float rivers or take photographs. 4:50:37 PM SENATOR MCGUIRE noted the controversy related to developing an economic barging or traffic corridor in the area, and asked if consideration was given to putting someone from the transportation community on the task force. MR. KIEHL replied the task force does have one business member that derives significant income from transportation to or within the Taku River. There is an established business that hauls supplies to the area, there's a lodge in the area and the area is serviced by a number businesses that provide air transportation in and out. All of these businesses have an interest in the future of the river. SENATOR MCGUIRE responded that there's a distinction between those businesses and a marine transportation company or a barge owner and their perspectives would be widely divergent. She then expressed reservation about delving into a very local issue about which she knew very little. 4:53:48 PM CO-CHAIR WAGONER agreed that this was a local issue and suggested that the City and Borough of Juneau should bring the resolution to the legislature. SENATOR STEDMAN highlighted that there were long-standing treaty issues with Canada related to the Stikine corridor and that may or may not be the case with the Taku corridor as well. In any event, that should be sorted out before going forward. MR. KIEHL said the Taku River flows across the international boundary so treaties are involved, and there was also interplay between the local municipality and various departments within the state. Those are the complexities the task force would address and then bring their recommendations to the appropriate agencies. 4:57:11 PM KIRK HARDCASTLE, commercial fisherman and owner/operator, Taku River Reds, stated support for SCR 9. He highlighted that the economic road map of Taku River salmon shows that they interact with all the commercial fish processing plants in Southeast Alaska. The Taku River sustains all five species of salmon and has active commercial, sport and subsistent fishing for nearly six months each year. 4:58:58 PM CHRIS CASEY, professional fly fishing guide, stated support for SCR 9. He described the Taku River as a vital public economic and cultural resource. It is Southeast's largest overall salmon producer, and according to the 2004 McDowell report, the fishery is worth over $7 million annually and supports nearly 500 jobs. There is broad support for increased protection through legislation. NEIL MACKINNON, secretary, Taku Users Group, stated that the Taku River was the last trans-boundary river not encumbered by a park, wilderness, wild and scenic or other restrictive designation. That alone was reason for cautious and careful consideration of the present and future effect of any action. In particular, a critical habitat designation would be an unjustifiable misallocation of Alaska's resources that could not provide commensurate benefit to its citizens. 5:03:10 PM CHERI RUDOLPH, president, Taku River Recreational Association (TRRA), said it is TRRA's position that the need for the Taku River Task Force was unwarranted. The impetus for the resolution was to further a continuing agenda for special interest groups seeking a critical habitat or a wild and scenic designation for this watershed. CO-CHAIR WAGONER asked the current membership of the TRRA. MS. RUDOLPH replied one year ago 414 members voted against critical habitat for the area and 18 in favor. She noted that the tally was submitted to the sponsor. 5:05:13 PM NIEL ATKINSON, representing himself, said he was a Taku River property owner who opposed SCR 9. He opined that appointments to any task force can be made to ensure a certain end result. The resolution doesn't direct the task force to look at historic commercial and private uses and future operations that some may feel are critical to the enjoyment of their lifestyle. 5:06:51 PM CARLEEN CONWAY, representing herself, said she was a cabin owner on the Taku River who opposed SCR 9. The idea for the task force was primarily brought up by a special interest group with a specific agenda. Furthermore, the task force would not supersede the ADF&G advisory committee or the international trans-boundary laws. 5:07:59 PM ERROL CHAMPION, representing himself, said the supporting material for the resolution included an article from the Juneau Empire about wintertime barge traffic on the Taku River. He was quoted expressing deep concern about the project and was a little resentful that it was included since the information dated back to 2008. At this point, both the business and the project were defunct, and there was nothing on record about future permit applications. He said he was also troubled by the efforts to get the Taku River area designated as critical habitat. He urged the committee not to pass the resolution. 5:09:34 PM JEV SHELTON, representing himself, said he had commercially fished the Taku River for at least 40 years and hoped to continue. He stated support for proceeding with the review because the Taku River problems were real. The mining company that proposed the hoverbarge operation up and down the river did fail financially, but not before it put a scare in the community. Even though it was clear that it would wreak havoc with the fishery resource, it appeared to be on the verge of being permitted. He said the fishing-related industry in Juneau supports getting more sensible control over the things that can occur to the Taku River fishery habitat. He emphasized that the interest was only in maintaining the habitat in the river and not sacrificing a significant part of the non-government employment in the Juneau community. He said there was already another applicant for that mine and it was a misconception to think that it wasn't the right time to set up a proper procedure, because the proposal will come up again. 5:12:09 PM RON SOMERVILLE, Territorial Sportsmen Inc., cautioned that the environmental community had for some time been focused on establishing an international body to govern trans-boundary rivers like the Stikine and Taku. He said he was also somewhat disappointed that the task force did not include a sport fisherman. He pointed out that the resolution was about barging down the Taku River and possibly impacting fisheries, but it covered game as well. He recommended removing any reference to game and appointing more people to the task force, with particular consideration given to the Territorial Sportsmen since it was the largest conservation group in Juneau. He further suggested that if the report to the legislature was majority based that there should also be an opportunity for a minority report so that legislators could get the whole picture. CO-CHAIR WAGONER announced he would hold SCR 9 in the Senate Resources Standing Committee. 5:15:16 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, CO-CHAIR WAGONER adjourned the Senate Resources Standing Committee meeting at 5:15 p.m.