SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE April 13, 1993 3:43 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Sharp, Chairman Senator Randy Phillips, Vice Chairman Senator Tim Kelly Senator Georgianna Lincoln Senator Jay Kerttula MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Jay Kerttula OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT Sentor Robin Taylor COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING: Bruce A. Campbell, Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-21, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN SHARP called the Senate Transportation Committee to order at 3:43 p.m. He announced that the meeting is a confirmation hearing for Bruce A. Campbell, Commissioner Designee for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF). He asked Mr. Campbell to come before the committee and discuss his background. BRUCE A. CAMPBELL, Commissioner Designee, DOT/PF, explained he came to Alaska in 1952, and went to work for the Alaska Road Commission doing construction work, etc., until 1956. In 1956, the Bureau of Public Roads took over the operation of the commission as a result of Washington passing the Interstate Act. He said he was with the bureau until statehood. Commissioner Designee Campbell said he was one of the first employees to transfer from the Bureau of Public Roads to the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways. He said he worked his way up to acting commissioner in 1964. In 1967, he left state employment and moved to Fairbanks to work with Burgess Construction Company where he did a lot of work on the North Slope. Commissioner Designee Campbell said 1971, Governor Egan asked him to be Commissioner of the Department of Highways until 1975. In 1975, he moved to Anchorage and was Construction Manager, Alaska General Construction for three years. He then opened his own business of Campbell and Associates, a consulting engineering practice. He explained he did work there until about 2 years ago and was semi retired. About four weeks ago, he was requested to be commissioner of DOT/PF. Number 074 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked Commissioner Designee Campbell what his observations are of the current legislature versus the legislatures he dealt with in the past. COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CAMPBELL said he can't answer the question as he has had very little contact with the current legislature. He noted the Senate Transportation Committee is the first committee he has actually been before. He said there are going to be legislators that are going to like him and there will be those that won't. Senator Randy Phillips said he is very constituent oriented. He said he has had frustrations in the past with DOT/PF. Most of the problem has been with communications. Senator Randy Phillips explained that under Commissioner Turpin, the communications improved and he would like to see that continue. Commissioner Designee Campbell said he hopes communications will improve even more. He said he is basically a hands-on person and he plans to give more direct instruction and leadership. The department has many good people and they need direction, a sense of purpose, and a target. CHAIRMAN SHARP asked Commissioner Designee Campbell if he has ever built any new roads. COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CAMPBELL said he was involved in the building of the Parks Highway and his wife cut the ribbon on the Dalton Highway. SENATOR LINCOLN stated that she has worked with Commissioner Designee Campbell in her term on the Doyon Board of Directors. She said the board was quite pleased with his work. She asked Commissioner Designee Campbell what his position is on large scale road projects such as the Bettels access road, the Copper River Highway, and the transportation utility corridor from the interior to Nome. COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CAMPBELL said he basically favors expanding the system. He said he feels that intermodel transportation is important and is generally air or highway traffic. He explained he favors completing the Copper River Highway. He referred to an access road to Bettles and said he would support if it serves a purpose. Commissioner Designee said he always has favored some type of access to the Seward Peninsula. Senator Lincoln asked Commissioner Designee Campbell how he plans to involve the communities during the planning process for major projects. She said she has a concern in that there is a state government that plans from the top down and is not getting involvement from the people who are going to be directly affected by the projects through the use of fish, wildlife, timber, etc. Commissioner Designee Campbell explained that involvement from the communities is the first step. It would be taking an inventory of all the human, natural, mineral, and consumable resources in an area and making a study of how they are affected. One result of the environmental impact statements may be that it is best not to build a facility. The no build alternative is just as viable as the build alternative in the initial evaluation. Commissioner Designee Campbell said we also have to realize that any public works feature that is built has supporters and detractors. Usually any public works facility is generally a compromise. Senator Lincoln said she thinks a step could occur prior to the environmental impact statement and that is just to go and talk to the people. Senator Lincoln referred to legislation she introduced last session that would require DOT/PF to involve the communities in the planning, monitoring, and the evaluation of construction projects. She said she considered the bill to be related to local hire. Senator Lincoln said we need to work harder to have more local hiring of people on construction jobs. Commissioner Designee Campbell referred to the local hire issue and said one thing that the department is dealing with is there has to be a certain level of skills for a lot of the projects. He said he favors doing more training and would like training provisions in contracts where a contractor has to train a certain amount of local people. Senator Lincoln discussed Mr. Campbell being very successful in litigating against the state on highway projects. She said under the new commissioner, we won't find the state going into litigation so much. Commissioner Designee Campbell said he is sought over all over the west coast along the lines of settling contract disputes. He said he is very knowledgeable in that area. Number 344 SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR announced he supports Commissioner Designee Campbell's candidacy and strongly recommends him. CHAIRMAN SHARP said he wishes Commissioner Designee Campbell well and looks forward to working with him in the future. There being no further business to come before the Senate Transportation Committee, CHAIRMAN SHARP adjourned the meeting at 4:10 p.m.