HOUSE ECONOMIC TASK FORCE February 9, 1994 4:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Jeannette James, Vice-Chair Representative Joe Green Representative Bill Williams MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Al Vezey Representative Bettye Davis Representative Bill Hudson Representative Carl Moses Representative Eileen MacLean Representative Jerry Mackie COMMITTEE CALENDAR Draft of House Joint Resolution Relating to an exemption for federal lands in Alaska from the federal PACFISH management strategy. Draft of House Joint Resolution Relating to the importance to the economy of Southeast Alaska of continued timber harvests on the Tongass National Forest. WITNESS REGISTER CHRISTOPHER GATES, Director Division of Economic Development Department of Commerce and Economic Development 9th Floor, State Office Building Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-2017 POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 94-03, SIDE A Number 000 VICE-CHAIR JAMES called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS brought drafts of two resolutions for the Task Force to consider submitting. It was noted that, although the Task Force could not submit bills directly, the House Rules Committee could submit bills on behalf of the Task Force. The first draft to be discussed related to PACFISH. CHRIS GATES, Director of Economic Development for the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, testified that Alaska already had very effective and restrictive requirements for environmental impact statements, and that Commerce and Economic Development opposed PACFISH's "cookie- cutter" standards because Alaska did not need them. He supported Representative Williams' resolution. The Task Force agreed unanimously to submit the resolution. The draft relating to the Tongass National Forest was discussed next. MS. GATES testified regarding the disastrously negative impact of federal regulations on the entire Southeast Alaska timber industry and stated he agreed with the resolution. It was unanimously accepted by the Task Force for submittal. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice-Chair James announced that the Task Force would meet with the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation Friday, February 10, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 124. The next Task Force meeting will be Wednesday, February 16, at 4:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Vice-Chair James adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.