ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC POLICY,  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM  April 25, 2017 11:34 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Dean Westlake, Chair Representative Andy Josephson Representative Chris Tuck Representative Gary Knopp Representative Mark Neuman Representative David Talerico MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Bryce Edgmon COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19 Commending the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee; supporting the adoption of prevention measures into international agreements to ensure clear, universal, and enforceable marine safety measures in the Arctic; and urging the state's delegation in the United States Congress and the governor to promote the adoption of spill prevention measures into international agreements; urging the President of the United States and the United States Department of State to initiate negotiations to enter into international agreements to ensure safe and environmentally responsible marine operations in the Arctic. - MOVED CSHJR 19(AET) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HJR 19 SHORT TITLE: ARCTIC MARINE SAFETY AGREEMENTS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WESTLAKE 04/07/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/07/17 (H) AET 04/11/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124 04/11/17 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard 04/20/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124 04/20/17 (H) Heard & Held 04/20/17 (H) MINUTE(AET) 04/25/17 (H) AET AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER WILLIAM HERRINGTON Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Offered a correction to his 4/20/17 testimony on HJR 19. ACTION NARRATIVE 11:34:48 AM CHAIR DEAN WESTLAKE called the House Special Committee On Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism meeting to order at 11:34 a.m. Representatives Tuck, Josephson, Neuman, Talerico, and Westlake were present at the call to order. Representative Knopp arrived as the meeting was in progress. HJR 19-ARCTIC MARINE SAFETY AGREEMENTS  11:35:39 AM CHAIR WESTLAKE announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Commending the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee; supporting the adoption of prevention measures into international agreements to ensure clear, universal, and enforceable marine safety measures in the Arctic; and urging the state's delegation in the United States Congress and the governor to promote the adoption of spill prevention measures into international agreements; urging the President of the United States and the United States Department of State to initiate negotiations to enter into international agreements to ensure safe and environmentally responsible marine operations in the Arctic. 11:36:04 AM WILLIAM HERRINGTON corrected information from his previous testimony on HJR 19, given before the House Special Committee On Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism on 4/20/17, by noting that although he had said it was the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that reported the story, in actuality it was Nippon Hoso Kyokai(NHK) Japan [official English name is Japan Broadcasting Corporation]. He added that the story highlighted the Russian-Japanese cooperation to supply Japan with natural gas for the foreseeable future. He noted that Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) is building huge gas processing ships called drill and processing vehicles (DPVs). He described that the vehicles are over nine football fields in length and ten stories in height. He added that the vehicles require no onshore pipeline or onshore labor, the DPV simply would park over a field. He reminisced about the old Alaska license plates that read "the Last Frontier" and opined that the Arctic is certainly the next frontier, as far as development. He inquired whether anyone had looked up the program he mentioned. CHAIR WESTLAKE answered no. He disclosed that the committee has been working with the department and Mr. Fuhs and Captain Page. 11:38:21 AM CHAIR WESTLAKE closed public testimony on HJR 19. 11:38:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked Chair Westlake whether he would be open to a slight amendment. CHAIR WESTLAKE answered yes. 11:39:10 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 that would change Page 2, line 29, from saying "the state's" to "Alaska's". There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK shared his appreciation for Mr. Herrington's claim that the Arctic is the new frontier. He added that countries are racing to stake claim in the region. He pointed out that were it not for Alaska, the United States would not even be an Arctic nation. He surmised that Alaska would play a pivotal role when looking at both the East and the Northwest routes because both start and stop between Alaska and Russia. He noted that Alaska is the key point of access to the Arctic, as well as to shipping routes in the Pacific. He extended his appreciation for HJR 19 because it would ensure the best interests of Alaska are being looked at as well as making sure newer and safer technologies are constantly being applied in the region. 11:41:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to report HJR 19, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 19 (AET) was reported from the House Special Committee On Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism. The committee took an at-ease from 11:42 a.m. to 11:43 a.m. 11:43:49 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee On Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism meeting was adjourned at 11:44 a.m.