The next order of business to come before the Senate Transportation Committee was HJR 28 (SUPPORT KANTISHNA AREA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT), sponsored by Representative Tom Brice. REPRESENTATIVE BRICE explained that HJR 28 requests the National Park Service to establish a rail utility corridor between the Healy area and the Kantishna mining district. It endorses the idea of private sector development of a railway into the Kantishna area as a tourism operation. SENATOR LINCOLN questioned why there is a zero fiscal note when a new park is being built. Representative Brice referred to page 2, line 15, "FURTHER RESOLVED that appropriate state agencies should work with the National Park Service and interested members of the public and private sectors to thoroughly investigate the potential of establishing a rail utility corridor to Kantishna in which the private sector could construct and operate a transportation system and other facilities that would serve the public needs." He said the resolution supports the private sector in accomplishing the rail utility corridor. Number 393 IRENE MORRIS, representing the Alaska Environmental Lobby, testified against HJR 28. She said during this time of severe state and federal budget cuts, the cost of a potential corridor cannot economically be justified. Ms. Morris said the Denali Access Task Force, in its November 1991 Report, found that the level of business activity, new businesses, visitation, and mining did not justify additional access. The same report concluded a new road is not justifiable for park purposes, wildlife, economics, or visitor services. The National Park Service has been buying private inholdings in Kantishna and is opposed to new commercial construction. Ms. Morris said HJR 28 also suggests that the private sector could build a rail utility corridor into Kantishna. Currently, DOT/PF has not evaluated the cost of such a railway system. Road construction estimates were over $80 million in 1992 and a rail corridor would be even more expensive. Ms. Morris continued to give testimony against HJR 28. Number 417 There being no further testimony, SENATOR KELLY moved that HJR 28 pass out of the Senate Transportation Committee with individual recommendations. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS objected for the purpose of stating that people like to see the area in its natural state and that is what attracts people. The railroad would detract from the very thing that the people are trying to see in the first place. He said he would put his own recommendation in the committee report. SENATOR KERTTULA said if the right-of-way is acquired for the facility the right-of-way should be limited for this particular use. CHAIRMAN SHARP said the way he reads the resolution is that it is restricted to railroad access only. He asked if there was objection to Senator Kelly's motion. Hearing no objection, the HJR 28 moved out of the Senate Transportation Committee.