Alaska Conservation Voters

Conservation Watch

Announcement!
Alaska Conservation Alliance's Legislative
Fly-In will be held on April 2-4. Click here for more information.

Alaska Conservation Voters
works to protect Alaska's environment through public education and advocacy, and supports pro-conservation candidates for public office.

“This has got to be a miracle, an absolute miracle.
I have in front of me... a letter from the Alaska Center for the Environment in support of a Governor Murkowski Bill. This has got to be a great day.”
---Representative Harris speaking about HB420 at the House Special Committee on Fisheries on February 15.

• Invasive Species
• SB85 & The Dalton Corridor

In Every Issue

• On the Move
• New Legislation
• Hot Bills
• Hearings this Week

A quiet war is being waged throughout Alaska's farmlands, wetlands, waterways, and communities, yet this battle is hardly one you would hear mentioned on the evening news. Rather, it involves a silent siege by non-native plants, animals and microbes on Alaska's native species. The story is hardly new to our nation on the whole--invasive species are estimated to cost upwards of $13 billion per year in the United States alone--and the number is expected to grow in the years to come.

Non-native organisms have caused numerous problems in Alaska, ranging from defoliating and destroying trees, killing fish and destroying their roe, to decimating colonies of birds. In combination with factors such as rising temperatures throughout Alaska, many of our native species have been left susceptible to harmful invaders (see C.W. # 3).

Experts have counted almost forty native and non-native species thought to be invasive in Alaska and many more established non-native species that may become invasive. The species of greatest concern include: Atlantic salmon, northern pike, the Norway rat, two bird species, at least eight insect species, the European slug (crop pest), at least 11 terrestrial plant species, at least six aquatic plant species and at least seven aquatic invertebrate species.

Here are few more facts to ponder:

• State, federal and private groups spend millions to manage or remove established invaders.
• Three of Alaska’s major industries – commercial fishing, sport fishing and tourism risk economic losses from invasive species. Forestry, agriculture and other industries also suffer from invasive species.
• Invasive species are a growing problem in areas of traffic and disturbance including national parks, forests and wildlife refuges; even Prince William Sound.
• Invasive species threaten Alaska’s rare and unusual plants and animals and impact the functioning of whole ecosystems.

Rep. LeDoux's (R-Kodiak) HB324 is intended to ban the knowing importation, cultivation and distribution of orange hawkweed and purple loosestrife in Alaska. HB324 represents a strong first step towards taking a closer look at the problem with invasive species within Alaska. The bill had its first hearing this last week on Wednesday, February 15. With Rep. LeDoux's commendable efforts to bring a subsection of the invasive species issue to the forefront, we hope that the increased awareness of the growing problem will lead to additional discussions of the issue outside of the bill and to the formation of potential solutions.

So how can we get there? Alaska already has developed two strategic plans involving key public and private stakeholders and has undertaken other actions designed to address this growing problem. We believe the time has come for a well coordinated process to refine and implement these plans and take additional appropriate actions.

Other states, like Oregon, have established invasive species councils or working groups to facilitate comprehensive efforts. We are encouraging the State of Alaska to take a similar step – either administratively or through legislation. This group should be inclusive and include representatives from all affected parties with strong support from the top, adequate staffing, clear mandates and reasonable deadlines for completing their work. EPA funding already is available to help get things started.

Delay is our enemy. All the necessary ingredients are in place. Now we need clear and unequivocal support from State leaders to make it happen. We have initiated this conversation with key agencies and legislators and are working hard to get there.

For more information check out:

Conservation Watch #1

Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Managment

Alaska Invasive Species Packet by the Union of Concerned Scientists

Dalton Highway 101

After passing in the Senate on a fairly narrow vote (11 to 9), SB 85 was transferred to the House and referred to the House Transportation Committee on February 10. If passed, SB 85 will repeal the prohibition on off-road vehicles within the 5 mile corridor around the Dalton Highway north of the Yukon River. Under the current law, the public can stop their vehicles anywhere along the route and are allowed to walk, ski or dog team into the surrounding area. ORV use is presently limited to individuals needing to access mining claims, to explore gas and oil prospects, and to traverse between opposite sides of the corridor.

Opposed by hunters, local residents, native groups, scientists, and business owners alike, SB85 was held over the summer to allow for public comment in Fairbanks and throughout the bush. Over 100 individuals attended the public hearings in Fairbanks alone last October, with the large majority in opposition to the bill.

Though some assurances have been made otherwise, SB85 has the capacity to impact activities such as subsistence hunting and scientific research. With increased hunting pressure on the porcupine caribou and other species that live or migrate along the corridor, current subsistence practices may be threatened. Likewise, the Toolik Lake Field Research Station, a world-class arctic research facility that draws in hundreds of scientists and over $8.6 million in research funds each year, could be adversely affected. Researchers have testified that opening the area to off-road vehicles will jeopardize funding and compromise experiments, some of which have been running for almost 30 years.

One element of SB85 that has been highly debated both in and out of the legislature is the absence of projected costs for the rollback. Each of the fiscal notes has stated that there will be a $0 fiscal impact as a result of SB85’s changes, yet the lack of current infrastructure to handle increased traffic, enforcement, and environmental issues has indicated otherwise in the minds of the bill’s opponents. Presently, only one state trooper patrols the entire corridor and the only Fish and Game officer in the area has been given an enforcement area of more than 78,000 square miles.

Though Fish and Game does not have an official position on the bill, it has acknowledged the fact that the bill will impact current management practices and will cost money. The management of caribou, moose and other game in the corridor is in a dynamic equilibrium that has developed with the ORV ban. If the ban is removed, Fish and Game will need to increase monitoring, change hunting regulations, and possibly hire a full time biologist to monitor the corridor. Another potential expense that has yet to be considered is an increase in costs for medical and rescue operations, as the nearest facilities for dealing with accidents along the corridor are in Fairbanks.

Numerous issues—including financial as well as hunting and environmental questions— will need to be addressed if SB85 has a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.

For more information check out:

ACV's SB85 Webpage

On the Move

HB318 Limitation on Eminent Domain - Reps. McGuire (R-Anchorage), Holm (R-Fairbanks), Hawker (R-Anchorage)
HB 318 passed the House on Friday (29-2), with Reps. Gara and Cissna voting against the bill. Before passage, two amendments were adopted. One amendment by Reps. Gara and McGuire expanded the land and water access provisions added in the House Finance Committee. The second amendment by Rep. Holm deleted the delayed effective date of January 1, 2007 . Another proposed amendment by Rep.Gara that would have stripped the bill entirely of the controversial provisions preventing the taking of personal residences (and associated property up to four acres) for recreational purposes was defeated (20 -11) after fairly vigorous debate.

HB324 Ban Orange Hawkweed & Purple Loosestrife - Rep. LeDoux (R-Kodiak)
HB 324 by LeDoux moved out of the House Resources Committee last Thursday. Kate Troll, Executive Director of Alaska Conservation Voters, testified in support of the bill but proposed an amendment that would require the state to use the most strategic and least toxic method of eradication. This amendment was not offered or considered at the hearing but is likely to get more attention at the bill's next stop – the House Finance Committee.

HJR14 Urge Congress to Grant Land to University - Rep. Elkins (R-Ketchikan)
HJR14 is intended to urge Congress to pass legislation to convey federal land to the University of Alaska. At the House Resources hearing on Wednesday, February 15, the amendment added in by the previous committee, House Education, was removed. The deleted section urged Congress to include a provision that land grants not interfere with public access to streams and other established recreational areas. The committee was concerned that this provision could be used as an excuse to diminish the available land pool. The committee substitute (CS HJR14 (RES)) was adopted and referred to the House Rules Committee.

HB420/SB262 Riparian Protection Standards for Region II - Introduced by request of the Governor
Both HB420 and SB262 had their first hearings on Wednesday, February 15 in the House Fisheries and Senate Resources Committees, respectively. The bills are intended to establish protective timber "buffer zones" and standards for riparian areas in Region II. In the House Fisheries Committee, a CS was adopted with a proposed technical amendment to correct a drafting error that accidentally omitted language pertaining to Region 1.

On the Senate side, Sen. Wagoner, chairman of the Senate Resources Committee, was absent. An identical amendment to that proposed in the House Fisheries Committee was discussed but no action was taken. SB262 was held in the committee to allow for further deliberations on the proposed amendment upon the Chairman's return. The committee also said they may try to streamline the bill by moving the findings section into an attached letter of intent.

HCR29 Pebble Copper Deposit Management Plan - Rep. Hawker (R-Anchorage)
A series of three hearings on HCR29 took place between February 10th, 13th and 15th in the House Resources Committee. HCR 29 is a resolution that asks DNR to take a closer look at the proposed Pebble Mine Project and to develop a science-based management plan for the project and vicinity. A broad range of groups and individuals were represented at the hearings, including individuals representing mining, civic, native, economic, and environmental interests. HCR29 was held in committee to allow time for the Lake and Peninsula Borough to discuss the issue and take public testimony at their meeting on February 21.

New Legislation

These bills popped up since our last issue of Conservation Watch . If the bills fail to pass during this session, they will die.

HB445 Alternative Energy Grant Fund - Rep. Thomas (R-Haines)
HB 445 would set up an Alternative Energy Grant Fund. The money may be used by electric utilities for new or existing alternative energy projects that are economically viable and will result in reduced costs for consumers. This money must be matched with other sources equal to 25% of the grant amount.

Another provision would encourage the legislature to appropriate to the fund an amount equal to 10 cents per barrel of crude oil produced in the state during that year if the fund balance is less than $250,000,000 and the price of crude is $35/barrel or higher. Earned fund income also could be appropriated.

SB283 Energy Task Force- Sen. Dyson (R-Eagle River)
SB 283 would establish an Energy Task Force appointed by the directors of the Alaska Energy Authority. The members must include experts in energy issues, representatives of businesses involved in supplying energy, and members who represent local governments and public consumers.

The Task Force is charged with gathering facts and examining a series of issues regarding needs, programs, requirements and cost variables. It also must investigate and identify incentives for communities to conserve energy and develop alternative energy sources. Last but not least, it is asked to “evaluate the merits of establishing a single, integrated, fair, universal statewide energy policy with a single program to ensure that all communities in the state have safe, reliable and affordable power and heat.”

The Energy Task Force is required to report back to the Legislature by January 3, 2007 with 1) recommendations for one or more alternatives for achieving more efficient, cost effective delivery of heat and energy to residents and communities of the state; and 2) necessary legal, organizational and management changes to carry out these recommendations.

Hot Bills

Bills move at a rapid pace this time of year. You can obtain up-to-date legislative information on the BASIS website. The following chart notes the status of a few bills of importance to the conservation community.

Hearings this Week

Click on the date in the table below to get the most current schedule information for that day, or check the BASIS hearing schedule. Once a bill has been heard in a particular committee it may be brought up again without public notice or listing on the weekly committee schedule. You can click on a committee name to see a list of its members.