ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE  April 20, 2004 2:10 p.m.   TAPE(S) 04-18  MEMBERS PRESENT Senator John Cowdery, Co-Chair Senator Thomas Wagoner, Co-Chair Senator Gene Therriault Senator Georgianna Lincoln MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Donny Olson COMMITTEE CALENDAR    SENATE BILL NO. 384 "An Act relating to a natural gas pipeline with a terminus at the Cook Inlet Basin." MOVED CSSB 384(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION    BILL: SB 384 SHORT TITLE: ROUTE OF NAT GAS PIPELINE FUNDED BY RR SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION 03/31/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/31/04 (S) L&C, FIN 04/06/04 (S) TRA REFERRAL ADDED BEFORE L&C 04/15/04 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 04/15/04 (S) Heard & Held 04/15/04 (S) MINUTE(TRA) WITNESS REGISTER    MS. MARY JACKSON Staff to Senator Thomas Wagoner Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information on SB 384.  MS. LANDA BAILY Department of Revenue PO Box 110400 Juneau, AK 99811-0400 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that a zero fiscal note for SB 384 was anticipated. MR. HAROLD HEINZE Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA) Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that he had no problem with SB 384 as amended. ACTION NARRATIVE  TAPE 04-18, SIDE A  CO-CHAIR THOMAS WAGONER called the Senate Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Lincoln, Therriault, Co-Chair Cowdery, and Co-Chair Wagoner. SB 384-ROUTE OF NAT GAS PIPELINE FUNDED BY RR    The committee took up SB 384. CO-CHAIR WAGONER told members the proposed amendment addresses wordsmithing that was mentioned during the previous meeting [4/15/05]. CO-CHAIR COWDERY introduced Amendment 1. [Amendment 1 is as follows:] Amendment 1: Offered by Senator Wagoner Page 1, lines 9 - 11, following "corporation," delete in its entirety and insert: "except that any pipeline financed under this paragraph with a terminus in the Cook Inlet Basin must, where technically, economically, and environmentally feasible, follow the Alaska Railroad right-of-way for the portion of the project from the City of Fairbanks or from the point of a gas offtake valve on a pre-existing or proposed pipeline project, to the pipeline terminus in the Cook Inlet Basin." CO-CHAIR WAGONER asked if there was any objection to the amendment. There was none. [Amendment 1 was treated as adopted.] CO-CHAIR WAGONER explained Amendment 1 basically entails wordsmithing to address concerns that if the Railroad right-of- way isn't the best route to lay a pipeline in some places, deviating from that route may be necessary. MS. MARY JACKSON, staff to Co-Chair Wagoner, reported that both Harold Heinze and Steve Porter have seen this language. She clarified that because the CS encompassing this change wasn't ready, the new language was in amendment format. MS. LANDA BAILY, legislative liaison and special assistant to Commissioner Corbus, Department of Revenue, said Mr. Porter asked her to testify on his behalf to let the committee know he expects to have a fiscal note prepared and transmitted to the governor's office this evening; it will be drafted according to this language. He anticipates a zero fiscal note. CO-CHAIR COWDERY commented that answered questions asked in the previous meeting. MR. HAROLD HEINZE, Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA), testified via teleconference, noting he had reviewed the language with Steve Porter and agreed the CS would have a zero fiscal note; he didn't see any problem with the new language. SENATOR GEORGIANA LINCOLN suggested that the new language might require a title change. CO-CHAIR COWDERY moved to report [CSSB 384(TRA)] out of committee with individual recommendations; he asked for unanimous consent. CO-CHAIR WAGONER asked if there was any objection. Hearing none, it was so ordered. There being no further business to come before the committee, Co-Chair Wagoner adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.