ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  January 19, 2018 1:01 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Andy Josephson, Co-Chair Representative Geran Tarr, Co-Chair Representative Harriet Drummond Representative Justin Parish Representative Chris Birch Representative DeLena Johnson Representative George Rauscher Representative David Talerico Representative Chris Tuck (alternate) MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Mike Chenault (alternate) COMMITTEE CALENDAR  PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES UPDATE - HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER ED KING, Legislative Liaison Office of the Commissioner Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources 2017 Highlights," dated 1/17/18. MARK WIGGIN, Deputy Commissioner Office of the Commissioner Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Described his responsibilities within the Department of Natural Resources, presented updates on certain divisions, and answered questions. STEVEN MASTERMAN, Director Central Office Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Department of Natural Resources Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the update presented by the Department of Natural Resources. HEIDI HANSEN, Deputy Commissioner Office of the Commissioner Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Described her responsibilities, presented updates on certain divisions within the Department of Natural Resources, and answered questions. ARTHUR KEYES, Director Division of Agriculture Department of Natural Resources Palmer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation by the Department of Natural Resources. CHRIS MAISCH, Director; State Forester Division of Forestry Department of Natural Resources Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the update presented by the Department of Natural Resources. BRENT GOODRUM, Director Central Office Division of Mining, Land and Water Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation by the Department of Natural Resources. ETHAN TYLER, Director Central Office Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Department of Natural Resources Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation by the Department of Natural Resources. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:01:49 PM CO-CHAIR ANDY JOSEPHSON called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives Josephson, Birch, Drummond, Johnson, Parish, Talerico, Tarr, and Rauscher were present at the call to order. Representative Tuck (alternate) arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^PRESENTATION: Department of Natural Resources Update PRESENTATION: Department of Natural Resources Update  1:02:44 PM CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON announced that the only order of business would be an update from the Department of Natural Resources on its activities in 2017 and anticipated activities in 2018. 1:03:53 PM ED KING, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) directed attention to a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources 2017 Highlights," dated 1/17/18. Slide 2 illustrated DNR's organization chart and he noted the following recent changes in leadership: Office of Project Management and Permitting Acting Executive Director Don Perrin; Mental Health Trust Land Office Executive Director Wyn Menefee; Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Director Ethan Tyler; Office of the Commissioner Deputy Commissioner, Heidi Hansen. 1:05:57 PM MARK WIGGIN, Deputy Commissioner, DNR, said his responsibilities are with the Division of Oil and Gas, the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and the Mental Health Trust Land Office. He reviewed the duties of the Division of Oil and Gas (DOG) and informed the committee in fiscal year 2017 (FY 17) DOG managed and collected $1.1 billion in royalties, rents, and bonus bids. Mr. Wiggin said DOG has released a total of eight seismic datasets - five under a new regulatory fee structure - out of the Geologic Materials Center. Also in 2017, DOG held the third largest lease sale by dollar amount since 1998 and delivered the 2018 production forecast to the Department of Revenue (DOR), which has proven to be very accurate. Other significant responsibilities have been to issue royalty audits and to collect additional state revenue. Finally, DOG processed revised 2009-2016 Trans-Alaska Pipeline System tariff reduction royalty reports that are expected to garner $141 million in additional revenue (slide 3). 1:11:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether successful lease bidders make one lease payment or pay for the lease on a payment schedule. MR. WIGGIN explained bidders make a one-time bonus bid payment to hold a lease, and thereafter make annual rental payments. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON inquired into which fund lease bonus bids are deposited. 1:12:59 PM MR. KING said the payments are split between general funds (GF) and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC), with one-half of 1 percent going to the Public School Trust Fund, Treasury Division, DOR. In further response to Representative Johnson, he confirmed all oil and gas revenue is directed to the aforementioned funds, except for audit settlements, which go to the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR), Treasury Division, DOR. MR. WIGGIN continued the presentation and said in 2018 DOG is working to release 12 additional tax credit seismic datasets; DOG will also hold a special lease sale of lands adjacent to land that has new seismic data available. There will be continued work on spring and fall 2018 production forecasts, and continued support for the Alaska Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR) infrastructure project because of DOG's role in oil and gas development. Further, DOG will issue the 2018 North Slope Best Interest Finding which is performed every ten years, and will support ongoing negotiations between DNR, the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., and North Slope (NS) working interest owners to advance the Alaska LNG gas pipeline project by sourcing the gas for the project. Further, DOG in 2018 will work with NS communities, the federal administration, and the [Alaska] Congressional delegation to support reasonable development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1002 Area, on the outer continental shelf, and in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Finally, DOG seeks to rationalize fees, regulations, and administrative leasing processes to modernize procedures and promote development (slide 4). 1:18:59 PM CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON questioned DNR's position toward the expense of releasing the seismic datasets. MR. WIGGIN acknowledged DOG had concerns related to the expense of acquiring, checking for accuracy, and distributing extremely large datasets; DOG established a regulatory fee package for this work, and expects the release costs to be covered thereby. In further response to Co-Chair Josephson, he described the following process: contract seismic firms acquire the data, operators pay the contract firms for the data, and data that qualifies for tax credits is held by DOG for ten years. Thus, data from 2006 is being released; he estimated some seismic shoots have cost up to hundreds of millions of dollars, and the amount the state pays depends upon the percentage of the credit. REPRESENTATIVE PARISH expressed his understanding the tax credit program up to 2016 has cost the state $500-$600 million in tax credits. MR. WIGGIN said, "It's that or higher." 1:23:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE PARISH questioned how much the state is expecting to collect in fees up to 2027 to cover the aforementioned cost. MR. WIGGIN explained the fee schedule was set to recover all the cost - not of the tax credits - but of managing and distributing the data, and DOG calculated the cost would be "in the many millions of dollars, which would be enough to pay for that process of distributing the data." He gave an example of a dataset being successfully used for exploration. In further response to Representative Parish and in response to Co-Chair Josephson, he said he would provide information on why DOG is prohibited by statute to sell the data. MR. KING added DNR believes the highest value from the state's resources is garnered from reaching the market; therefore, much of the value in the release of the seismic data will be generated through finding and developing new prospects, not through collecting fees. MR. WIGGIN turned attention to the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), located in Fairbanks, and which is staffed by scientists, geophysicists, and geologists who conduct mineral, mining, and oil and gas studies, and other work. [DGGS] collects and publishes data, maps, and reports to stimulate oil, gas, and mineral development, and identifies geologic hazards, such as volcanic activity. In 2017, DGGS released its 5,000th publication, responded to nearly 3,200 requests for geologic information, and - with DOG - was involved in releasing tax credit seismic data. 1:29:45 PM STEVE MASTERMAN, Director, Central Office, DGGS, DNR, referred to volcanic activity and said the Bogoslof volcano in the Aleutian Islands was very active last year and erupted 60 times; DGGS has a responsibility to alert aviation of hazards to airspace. MR. WIGGIN returned to DGGS in 2017 and said the division established erosion and flood monitoring sites in Western Alaska, and its coastal manager assigned village residents to inform DGGS of incidents. Further, DGGS documented new mineral occurrences, led a Nanushuk workshop at the Geologic Materials Center, and discovered and documented new oil in western Cook Inlet (slide 5). CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON asked what is meant by "documented 20 new mineral occurrences." MR. MASTERMAN explained when DGGS field crews complete geologic mapping in mineral-rich areas they are also looking for surface concentrations of metal; if found, rock samples are taken - such as the new prospects found near Tok - which can result in new claims made by mining companies. CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON asked which DNR lands are ineligible for mining. 1:34:22 PM MR. MASTERMAN advised all state lands are open for mineral location unless otherwise closed. HEIDI HANSEN, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, DNR, nodded in agreement with Mr. Masterman's response. 1:35:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked if information on whether certain state land is closed to mining would be found in "areawide plans." MR. MASTERMAN said yes. MR. WIGGIN directed attention to DGGS 2018 planned activities: publish airborne surveys over the Porcupine River and the Yukon River; publish bedrock geology map to assist Cook Inlet oil and gas development; focus research on formations in NS; complete geology mapping in a portion of the Tanacross Quadrangle; utilize an in-house Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) radar system for landslide and avalanche assessments; continue flood hazard maps and flood forecasting for Western Alaska; continue mapping in villages; support ASTAR regarding materials sourcing for construction (slide 6). 1:39:00 PM MR. WIGGIN turned attention to the Mental Health Trust Land Office (TLO), which is responsible for managing the land and other natural resources owned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust). Activities in 2017 by TLO were: generated $11.1 million in revenues to fund programs for 85,000 Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries; initiated work to complete a land exchange in Southeast Alaska with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Department of Agriculture (USDA); initiated an exploratory drilling program near Yakutat to further delineate a potential beach mine; leased Trust properties; facilitated sale of Trust land on the Homer Spit (slide 7). [TLO] planned activities for 2018 are: continue land exchange with USFS; exploratory drilling at Icy Cape; keep commercial real estate properties fully leased; digitize workflow process for authorization processing; create over-the-counter land sale program for Trust lands; complete first wetlands mitigation sale; continue feasibility work on the Palmer hard rock mine in Haines on Trust land (slide 8). 1:43:23 PM MS. HANSEN directed attention to the Division of Agriculture (division), DNR. She said Alaska Grown membership has grown from three members in 1988 to eight hundred and seventy-seven members today. In 2017, the division inspected and certified 80.3 million board feet of timber for export; leveraged $189,867 in funds for Farm to School activities, including funds from the USDA Farm to School Network and funds from a reimbursable service agreement with the Department of Education and Early Development; administered $650,000 of multi-year USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant projects over three years, including seed potato, peony, and marketing studies; launched a successful $5 Alaska Grown Challenge campaign, which has directly resulted in additional farm production; sold Matanuska Maid and Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage; cleaned 210,000 pounds of seed; treated twelve invasive Canada Thistle outbreaks (slide 9). REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked how many Canada Thistle outbreaks occur. 1:47:20 PM ARTHUR KEYES, Director, Division of Agriculture, DNR, was unsure; however, Alaska's situation of geographic isolation makes eradication possible, thus the division responds to each reported outbreak of invasive weeds. CO-CHAIR TARR congratulated the division on its successful $5 Alaska Grown Challenge Campaign awards ceremony and the division's efforts to engage communities and support farmers. REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked whether any Farm to School activities and Specialty Crop Block Grant programs occurred in Southeast Alaska. MR. KEYES will provide the requested information. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO inquired as to the operation and production of Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage. MR. KEYES advised Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage has successfully transitioned to the private sector thus certain information is confidential; however, the new owner is making investments to upgrade the facility with new lighting and efficiencies. There is direct slaughter of animals coming in from the Lower 48 because Alaska doesn't have enough livestock to support the facility, but the facility is creating a market for local pigs. 1:53:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether the facility is still supporting Alaska 4-H. MR. KEYES said his understanding is the needs of industry and Alaska 4-H are being met. MS. HANSEN directed attention to division planned activities in 2018: auction 663 acres of agricultural land parcels; increase support for the livestock industry, including meetings with industry and adding a livestock section to the division; generate a revegetation plan for the Alaska LNG pipeline project; treat Elodea infestations; expand export and promote the $5 Alaska Grown Challenge Campaign (slide 10). REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether only the Anchorage School District is using Alaska Grown foods in school lunches. MS. HANSEN said the program has expanded into the Bristol Bay region. REPRESENTATIVE PARISH questioned whether Barnacle Foods in Juneau would qualify for support from the division. MR. KEYES said kelp is not covered in the Alaska Grown program at this time, but remains under discussion. REPRESENTATIVE PARISH referred to other wild harvested products and inquired as to where one finds support for wild harvested vegetable products. 1:59:10 PM MR. KEYES said he would confirm whether the Alaska Grown trademark covers any wild harvested products because its focus is on cultivated products; however, he acknowledged there are opportunities for said products, such as mushrooms. In further response to Representative Parish, he said he would provide a later response in writing as to whether legislation is needed for the division to recognize wild harvested products grown in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO questioned whether there is collaboration between the division, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America. MR. KEYES will provide a later response. MS. HANSEN directed attention to the Division of Forestry (DOF), DNR, and said in 2017, DOF safely managed 353 fires - in cooperation with federal partners - with 652,904 acres burned, which are lower than average numbers for acreage burned and the frequency of fires. In addition, DOF filled 2,053 orders for firefighting assignments in the Lower 48; sold 11.3 million board feet of timber; completed construction of Vallenar Bay road; held the first Good Neighbor Authority timber sale on USFS land, selling the timber for twice its appraisal value; conducted widespread social media engagement (slide 11). CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON asked for the recipient of the revenue from the Good Neighbor Authority timber sale. MS. HANSEN clarified the $2.6 million for the Good Neighbor Authority sale was USFS revenue. In further response to Co- Chair Josephson, she said state revenue from timber sales was $1 million. 2:04:58 PM CHRIS MAISCH, Director and State Forester, DOF, DNR, in response to Co-Chair Josephson, said Vallenar Bay road is a resource extraction road on Gravina Island built with Department of Transportation & Public Facilities funds at a cost of $4.6 million. 2:05:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER inquired as to how firefighter deployments are handled. 2:06:19 PM MR. MAISCH said deployments to or from Alaska are facilitated through resource orders for crews or equipment; the state is responsible for the costs to fight fires on state land. For federal land, in the state service area, costs are billed to the Alaska Fire Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). When crews are sent to the Lower 48, all the costs are paid by the ordering entities after a fire season's total costs are balanced by the National Interagency Coordination Center, National Interagency Fire Center. In further response to Representative Rauscher, he explained compensation is paid only for the actual cost of transportation, support, and wages, and some indirect administration costs. REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH questioned what impacts there will be to the timber industry from changes to the roadless rule affecting the Tongass National Forest, and from the Good Neighbor Authority. 2:09:05 PM MR. MAISCH explained the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (roadless rule) applied to federal lands and the state sued for an exemption that was place for about eight years; current ongoing litigation seeks a rulemaking process with USFS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the objective to restore the Tongass National Forest exemption to the roadless rule. For the timber industry, the roadless rule means access to lands in the forest plan classified for forestry use is only by helicopter logging; also, during the time of the exemption, some roads were built that now cannot be used. He pointed out roads are better and more efficient access to facilitate the industry's transition from old growth to young growth wood. Mr. Maisch further explained the Good Neighbor Authority is a new authority that allows states to enter into [good neighbor agreements] with USFS or BLM in activities such as timber sales, restoration projects, and other forest management services. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked for information on beetle infestation. MR. MAISCH stated the bark beetle population is increasing again in the Kenai Peninsula and in the Matanuska-Susitna region; DOF is providing pertinent information to residents. REPRESENTATIVE PARISH returned attention to firefighting costs. MR. MAISCH said last year the state spent $23.4 million. In further response to Representative Parish, he said DOF begins each year with $18.4 million in a preparedness fund and $19.4 million in a fire suppression activity component. During the fire season, DOF can get more money through the disaster declaration process or by a supplemental budget. MS. HANSEN returned to DOF planned activities in 2018: increase involvement with Good Neighbor Authority projects; facilitate full allowable and surplus cut in the Southeast State Forest; increase use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in fire operations; secure grant funding for projects; collect additional data for management; prepare succession management plan for DOF (slide 12). 2:17:37 PM MS. HANSEN continued to the Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), DNR, noting in 2017, DMLW generated $29.7 million in [FY 17] revenue as follows: $10.8 million related to mining activity; $7.8 million related to land leases; $5.7 related to material sales; $4.8 million related to land sales; $350,000 related to shore fish; $240,000 related to water authorizations. Further, DMLW conveyed 9,700 acres to boroughs, authorized 135.5 miles of ice/snow roads and 65 acres of ice pads in FY 17, cleared title to 165.9 river miles of submerged lands; issued 188 temporary water use authorizations; reduced statewide platting review time; deployed the Unified Permit reconfigured platform for primary DMLW authorizations (slide 13). CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON asked for the location of the lands on which DMLW cleared title. MS. HANSEN said the title was cleared on submerged lands along the Knik, Stikine, and George rivers. 2:19:50 PM BRENT GOODRUM, Director, Central Office, DMLW, DNR, confirmed title was cleared to submerged lands along the George River - which in the vicinity of Crooked Creek village - the Knik River, the Stikine River in Southeast, and the Kisaralik River near Bethel. CO-CHAIR TARR asked whether the aforementioned title issues relate to Stikine River transboundary issues. MS. HANSEN will provide a response. MS. HANSEN, in response to Co-Chair Josephson, explained the Unified Permit (UP) reconfigured platform is a program that will modernize and unify the administration of permits within DMLW to help with its backlog. MR. GOODRUM recalled the UP program was initially set up with IBM business process management; recently DMLW converted to dot net coding to utilize a more common coding language for better cost efficiency. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked whether classifications are finished for any of the boroughs. MR. GOODRUM will provide a list of the municipalities with completed conveyances. MR. GOODRUM confirmed earlier testimony by Mr. Masterman that all state lands are open [to mineral entry] unless otherwise closed; furthermore, areas of activity are initially closed to mineral entry to avoid potential conflicts between surface and subsurface rights, however, mineral entry closing orders can be subsequently reopened. He offered to provide the committee information as to where closing order information is posted. 2:26:49 PM MS. HANSEN said DMLW planned activities in 2018 are: work with all parties to address federal actions relating to resource management plans and the BLM Resource Management Planning rule BLM 2.0; finalize statehood land entitlements from the federal government; support federal permit reform and automate DNR's permitting processes; finalize fee regulation updates; finalize a land exchange at Point Bridget [State Park]; finalize a land exchange with the City and Borough of Yakutat. MR. GOODRUM, returning attention to the land exchange at Point Bridget, said documents have been signed and the exchange will be finalized in 30 days. MS. HANSEN said the final planned activity for DMLW in 2018 is continued development of the North Slope Area Plan, with a draft issued within 60 days (slide 14). 2:30:20 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 2:30:44 PM CO-CHAIR JOSEPHSON passed the gavel to Co-Chair Tarr. REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH informed the committee DOI is planning a restructure to common regional boundaries and to move staff to regional offices. He asked how these changes would impact the state. MS. HANSEN opined Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke seeks to make DOI more agile, robust, and effective; although she said she has not seen restructure plans, DOI clearly remains committed to its mission and will take steps to avoid delays in its objectives. She said Secretary Zinke regards the early reorganization efforts as positive steps in the growth and evolution of the agency. MS. HANSEN directed attention to the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR), DNR, noting in 2017, DPOR accommodated 3.6 million visitors and collected over $4 million in fees divided by region as follows: 31 percent Chugach, 15 percent Southeast, 2 percent Wood-Tikchik; 25 percent Kenai, 6 percent Northern Region; 17 percent Matanuska-Susitna; 3 percent Kodiak. [DPOR] issued 626 commercial use permits and special use permits for weddings and events and sold $15,300 of merchandise in an emerging program. Further, Delta Area parks were converted to private management, and the K'esugi Ken campground in Denali State Park was completed with campsites, cabins, and interpretive services. Also in 2017, DPOR initiated an online reservation system for cabins, expanded electronic pay options, collected over $800,000 in parking pass revenue, and promoted the Kids Don't Float program (slide 15). REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether all four parks in Delta are open. 2:38:39 PM ETHAN TYLER, Director, Central Office, DPOR, DNR, advised all the park areas in the Delta region are being operated by permit holders. He then recognized Office of Boating Safety staff members Jeff Johnson and Kelly (indisc.), who received national awards, and Joe Hall, a park specialist, whose work was acknowledged by Alaska Geographic. MS. HANSEN continued to DPOR planned activities in 2018: increase state park sustainability through the expansion of electronic fee stations and electronic pay options and through the sale of park merchandise. Also, DPOR seeks to streamline permitting processes, make improvements to Eagle Rock boat launch area on the Kenai River, grow inventory of public use cabins and fee areas, add campsites to its online reservation system, and increase partnerships with regional and statewide nonprofits, volunteer groups, and private sector businesses (slide 16). 2:44:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked who reports avalanche danger within the state parks. MR. TYLER advised DPOR does not issue avalanche reports but relies on partners such as the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center and a similar organization in Hatcher Pass. In further response to Representative Johnson, he explained no fees are paid to either organization, and he offered to provide a list of DPOR partnerships. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON recalled the Matanuska-Susitna Borough attempted to regulate trapping on its park land and asked whether trapping is regulated in state parks differently than on other state lands. MR. KING said there is no law that restricts trapping on trails "on general state land"; he was unsure of specific park regulations. MR. TYLER will provide a response to Representative Johnson. MR. TYLER, in response to Co-Chair Tarr, said at web site [dnr.alaska.gov/parks/] one can purchase state park merchandise, parking passes, and boat launch yearly passes. CO-CHAIR TARR suggested committee members inform their constituents about electronic reservations. 2:51:03 PM MS. HANSEN directed attention to the Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP), noting in 2017, OPMP coordinated over 20 major projects, including oil and gas projects Greater Mooses Tooth 2 (GMT-2), Liberty, Nanushuk, Point Thomson, and Alaska LNG, and mine projects including Pebble, Donlin Creek, Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington, Greens Creek, Red Dog, Livengood, Nixon Fork, and the Palmer exploration project. In addition, OPMP coordinated the aforementioned BLM resource management plans, a road project to the Ambler Mining District, one ASTAR project, and protected 3,000 acres of coastal habitat through the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and one mitigation project. Further, OPMP collected $1.2 million in contracting fees, signed a memorandum of agreement for GMT-2, coordinated state interests on Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) issues, assisted the Department of Law with DOI regulatory reform and National Park Service Wildlife regulations, and mapped 371,488 square miles of Alaska (slide 17). MS. HANSEN continued to OPMP planned activities in 2018: coordinate state and federal environmental review processes for mining and oil and gas projects; coordinate audits and permit renewals for mining projects and Point Thomson; through ANICLA program, seek to lift public land order (PLO) 5150; continue with BLM management plans; conserve 4,200 acres of coastal habitat; map data discovery and access for wetlands and surface hydrography mapping; finalize ASTAR contracts on several aspects of the project (slide 18). REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked what would result from lifting PLO 5150. MS. HANSEN explained lifting a PLO means the current BLM management authority would be removed thus the lands become available for state selection. She stressed this is an important priority for the state, not only for the land associated with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and Alaska LNG, but for the Ambler Road; in addition, the state could sell gravel and other natural resources sourced from land currently restricted by PLOs. 3:00:05 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.