Alaska Conservation Voters

Conservation Watch

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

Conservation Watch (CW) is a weekly publication of ACV highlighting conservation issues in the AK Legislature.

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Contributing Editors

Suzanne Bostrom
Legislative & Communications Manager
suzanne@akvoice.org

David Rogers
ACV Lobbyist

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ACV- Juneau
419 6 th Street, #321
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 463-3366
(907) 463-2554 fax

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ACV- Anchorage
810 N Street #203
Anchorage, AK 99801
(907) 258-6171
(907) 258-6177 fax

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Web Resources

ACV Legislation Page
Bill position papers, back issues of Conservation Watch, and legislative updates

Legislative BASIS
Current bill text, history & committee schedules

Legislature Homepage
Find Your Legislators, party links, committee lists

State Homepage
Links to state agencies and the Governor

 ACV Homepage

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“We can lead this nation, to help this nation, with a zealous energy plan which contains renewable energy components and cost-effective alternatives, especially for rural Alaska... and we’ll show the way for the rest of the world - that we can be good stewards of God's green earth. We haven’t always done that.”
--- Governor Palin in the State of the State Address

• TAKE ACTION! - Climate Change Hearing, 1/24
• 25th Legislative Session Starts Rolling- Bill Highlights
• Hearings this Week

In 2006, the Alaska State Legislature passed HCR 30, which created the Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission. The Commission will examine the effect global warming is having in Alaska and discuss approaches and recommendations to address identified impacts. The Commission will hold an all-day hearing on January 24th in Juneau. Invited presentations will take place from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. and public testimony will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

What You Can Do -
Testify on the impacts of climate change in Alaska and tell your personal story of how climate change has touched your life. It is important that the Commission understand the gravity of their charge in safeguarding our way of life in Alaska. Your voice can make a difference!

• When: January 24 th, 2007 between 6:00p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Where In Juneau: Senate Finance Room, Room 532, Capitol Building
• Where Outside of Juneau: If you are not located in Juneau, public testimony will also be accepted at Legislative Information Offices at the same time. Go here to locate your LIO address. If you are unable to go to an LIO, call (888) 295-4546 and ask for the Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission hearing.

For more information check out:

To learn more about the impacts of climate change in Alaska , visit www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com or download a summary of the impacts in Alaska here.

To read more about the Climate Impact Assessment Commission and the scope of their duties, visit BASIS.

The first session of the 25th Legislature is officially underway and, based on initial comments by legislative leaders, fewer bills are likely to move and the gasline, ethics and budget issues are expected to dominate. At least one body (House) is also shooting for a “trial run” 90-day session. Meanwhile, Governor Palin says she will: introduce a new and improved gas bill soon (Alaska Gasline Inducement Act – “AGIA”) to get the project right even if it takes more time; develop a “zealous” energy plan that includes renewable energy and “cost effective” alternate energy projects; bring the Brown Shirts back; support funding for reliable ferry service; beef up pipeline surveillance on the North Slope; and work hard to develop our resources while receiving “appropriate value” in return. Time will tell.

Bill Highlights from Week 1:

HB 74 (Rep. Seaton): This bill – one of our top three priorities - is back. It would reinstate a compelling, longstanding policy to protect clean water and our precious fish resources by prohibiting mixing zones in freshwater spawning areas, with a couple of limited exceptions for certain municipal wastewater facilities and placer mining operations.

HB 63 (Rep. Thomas): Another priority topic—Renewable Energy—is addressed in HB63, a bill similar to one introduced last year that sets up an alternative energy grant fund for qualified alternative energy projects. In this legislation, alternative energy is defined as "a system that provides a source of thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy that is not dependent on a fossil fuel other than natural gas for the supply of energy."

HB 73 (Rep. Crawford) and SB 44 (Sen. McGuire): Both of these bills would appropriate $24,000,000 to fund the construction of a wind farm on Fire Island and transmission lines to connect it to the existing electrical infrastructure in Anchorage.

HB 41 (Rep. Gara): This detailed, 11-page bill would return certain habitat management duties from DNR to the Department Fish and Game.

SB 46 (Sen. Olson): SB46 deals with the Alaska Coastal Management Program and requires notice and opportunity to comment on any DEC proposed consistency finding. It also would extend the deadline for the required update of “categorically and generally consistent determinations.”

HB 56 (Rep. Crawford): This proposal would set up the Hydrogen Energy Partnership within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (essentially a committee consisting of members from a variety of interested parties) to “facilitate the development of a hydrogen fuel industry in Alaska.” The commissioner is also required to look for a mix of public and private dollars to fund the effort.

HB 30 (Rep. Samuels) and SB 26 (Senators Therriault &. Wagoner): Both bills would allow appeals to go directly to the Alaska Supreme Court for any final decision approving termination of an oil and gas unit or lease that lies “north of 68 degrees North latitude”. This would allow a direct appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court of the recent Point Thompson decision in order to facilitate an expedited judicial review of the matter. The bill will probably start moving soon.

HB 28 (Rep. Ramras): This bill would require suppliers of electricity to disclose all sources of electricity (renewables, coal, etc.) to consumers.

HB 25 (Rep. Seaton): This bill, back on the table from last year, is a second try at giving landowners immunity for allowing their land to be used without charge for recreational purposes. Its predecessor – HB 415 - had much support last session and got to the Senate without controversy, but appeared to be a victim of last minute politics. A hearing is scheduled for HB25 in Houses Resources this week.

HB 40 (Rep. Gara): Would require the Commissioner of Fish and Game to submit to the Commissioner of DNR a list of land along certain waterways where access to these waterways is impeded by private ownership. The commissioner would be authorized to acquire public access to waterways across these lands consistent with existing eminent domain authorities, provided that an equivalent amount of state land is made available for private use. The commissioners also are required to submit an annual plan to acquire access through trade or purchase for the following fiscal year. Upon request, landowners would have the right to remove their land from the list.

HB 80 (Rep. Salmon): Would require DOTPF to study the feasibility of expanding the Alaska Marine Highway to Yukon and Kuskokwim River locations. It also would authorize - but no longer require - the Commissioner to provide terminal facilities at all locations, including along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.

HB 89 (Reps. Gara, Crawford & Guttenberg): This very complicated bill would essentially rewrite the new net profits oil tax law to return to a tax on the gross value.

HB 87 (Rep. Kelly): The measure would reestablish the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Federal Management Areas in Alaska. This bill is scheduled for a hearing in House Resources this week.

HB 94 (Rep. Kerttula): This bill addresses issues relating to fishing, hunting and trapping in marine parks of the Alaska state park system and makes additions and changes to the park units.

HB 53 (Rep. Kohring): Would exempt oil production facilities that produce less than 501 barrels a day from the requirements for oil discharge prevention, contingency plans and proof of financial responsibility.

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.