Interior Alaska – The “Place” To Do Business 100 Cushman St., Suite 102 | Fairbanks, Alaska 99701-4665 Phone (907) 452-1105 | Fax (907) 456-6968 | www.Fairba nks Cha m be r.org NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA Chamber Conference Room Wednesday, November 12, 2014 -- 7:30AM ACTION INFO Notes 1. Call to Order 2. Conflict of Interest Disclosure X Only related to actionable items on the agenda. Declaring a conflict does not prevent a member from participating in discussion; it ensures the Chamber is operating in a transparent manner. 3. Approval of Agenda X 4. Approval of Minutes a. October 15, 2014 X 5. Federal Legislative Priorities a. Federal Overreach priority X Decide if the committee will take this as a priority, begin drafting position statement 6. 2015 Natural Resources Committee Program of Work a. Review /modify 2014 Program of work b. Develop advocacy plan X Due December 7. Letter of Support for State of AK - ANWR western boundary X Sen Murkowski’s office is requesting a letter of support REVIEW ACTION ITEMS FROM MEETING & RESPONSIBLE COMMITTEE MEMBERS(S) and/or STAFF 8. Review Committee Attendance X Committee members should maintain a 75% or greater attendance rate 9. Reports & Communications a. Committee Chair b. Committee Members c. Staff d. Guests X X X X Program of Work due by end of year 10. Upcoming Meetings & Events a. Next NRC Committee meeting: TBD 11. Adjourn X
Transcript
Interior Alaska – The “Place” To Do Business 100 Cushman St., Suite 102 | Fairbanks , Alaska 99701-4665
Committee members present: Guests present: Staff present:
Bill Brophy, Joni Scharfenberg, Roger Burggraf, Jim Mery, John Ringstad, Cassie Pinkel Karl Gohlke, Chad Hutchison Jonni Roos
1. Call to Order John Ringstad, committee chair, called the meeting to order at 7:35am. A quorum was established.
2. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
No conflict was noted
3. Approval of Agenda A motion was made by Joni and seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Minutes a. September 17, 2014
A motion was made by Joni and seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting. Motion carried.
5. Federal Legislative Priorities
a. Presentation and Q&A : Federal Overreach with Chad Hutchinson
The committee is working on drafting a position statement on Federal Overreach. Chad Hutchison with Sen Coghill's office presented legislative review on Federal overreach. Federal Overreach increasingly means "executive overreach" . Almost 60% of lands in Alaska have been designated as Federal lands, Alaska has seen increasing intercession by governmental agencies. EPA has been the biggest suppressor of natural resources. Also US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, Forestry Service, Bureau of Land Management and US Corp of Engineers. this also affects and access and natural resource development in Alaska, the federal governments is using orthodox and unorthodox ways to usurp state and private and owner authority Examples of Federal Overreach include Redefining waters of the US, Pebble, Clean Air act, garnishment of wages, destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. Issues that happen at the state level in the future that will have impact on Federal decisions and policies. The environmental groups file law suits and utilize federal agencies in order to general bad press and use psychological warfare to press their views. There is concern there is collusion between the environmental groups and the federal agencies. The feeling is after the Pebble Mine issue, the next one they will tackle will be Donlin Mine. State needs to do a better job of counterbalancing
the comments from environmental groups.
Alaskan can have influence and impact in the process: Participate in comment periods Make state aware of potential lawsuits. Read the promises in the Statehood Compact, ANILCA, ANCSA, Vote for people that understand the problem Probe candidates about knowledge during debates Continue to challenge anti-development Push for Washington DC to give back control and decision making authority to the federal regions and local authorities The Natural Resources committee could provide a counterview to some of the opposing viewpoints coming from groups . Committee would like to track comment period with bills this session.
6. Draft comment - Arctic Policy Commission Implementation Plan (John)
A comment is being submitted jointly GRC / NRC. Public comment period is Sept 15 - Nov 15
Committee will work on an advocacy calendar to pinpoint deadlines for comment period and respond in a more timely manner.
7. Review Committee Attendance
Committee members reviewed the current attendance record. Committee members should maintain a 75% or greater attendance rate.
8. Reports & Communications a. Committee Chair b. Committee Members c. Staff
d. Guests
Q3 committee reports due 10/20, None Program of Work due by end of year, Legislative forum 10/28, please be sure to RSVP None
9. Upcoming Meetings & Events a. Next NRC Committee meeting: Wed, November 5, 2014 7:30am or TBD
10. Adjourn John adjourned the committee meeting at 8:45am
2014 Natural Resources Committee Program of Work
2014 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE PROGRAM OF WORK
Chair: John Ringstad, BP
Meeting Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays @ 7:30AM – 8:30AM
Mission Statement: The Natural Resources Committee proactively advocates for access to and responsible development of our natural resources, and strives to have a working knowledge of technical, financial, and political aspects concerning the State of Alaska’s natural resources on the local, state and federal levels.
Advocate
Monitor and track natural resource legislation related to the adopted legislative priorities of the Board of Directors o 2014 Adopted Statewide Legislative Priorities:
Encourage increased oil production Support for natural gas pipeline Increase responsible natural resource development through the permitting process Support renewable resource development and management – forestry & agriculture / biomass Support utilization of the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery Support active fish and wildlife management
In addition, obtain pertinent information from specialists, promoters, sponsors, or other knowledgeable spokespersons, and advocate through letters of support, chamber resolutions, or other means to support responsible natural resource development policies or actions, pending board approval
Form work-groups, when needed, to further research and bring forward recommendations to the committee as a whole
Educate
Invite guest speakers to at least one committee meeting a month, Identify speakers to provide information on relevant natural resources topics
Topics of Interest: Agriculture, Wildlife Fisheries & Land Management, Oil & Gas, Forestry & Biomass, Mining & Minerals (see addendum for list of identified areas of interest)
Recommend general membership luncheon (GML) programs and/or panel discussions
Provide a quarterly committee report to the Board of Directors
Utilize Chamber resources (5-minute spotlights, newsletter, Chamber Chatter, News-Miner op-eds) to inform the general membership about natural resource related topics
Collaborate
Partner with other resource development associations and organizations (refer to addendum for list of potential partner organizations)
Encourage participation in natural resource industry local and statewide conferences
Work with other Chamber committees and Board of Directors, as needed
Interior Alaska – The “Place” To Do Business
Total # of Meetings
QUORUM = 6 Meeting Held: Yes / No 13NAME ORGANIZATION % Attend % Absent
1 Brophy, Bill Usibelli Coal Mine 9 69% 31%2 Burggraf, Roger Greatland River Tours 13 100% 0%3 McDowell, David Individual Member 11 85% 15%4 Mery, Jim Doyon, Limited 6 46% 54%5 Metz, Paul; Fairbanks Exploration 5 38% 62%6 Milne, Clark DOWL HKM 9 69% 31%7 Novak, Dana Alaska Miners Association 3 23% 77%8 Pinkel, Cassie Superior Pellets 10 77% 23%9 Ringstad, John (CHAIR) BP 13 100% 0%
10 Scharfenberg, Joni Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District 9 69% 31%Pyne, KT (resigned 3/26) Department of Natural Resources - Forestry 2 40% 60%Stewart, Jomo (resigned 3/2Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation 2 40% 60%Bundtzen, Tom (resigned 3/Pacific Rim Geological Consulting 1 20% 80%
Quorum Established: Yes / No 12
Committees members are expected to attend at least 75% of regularly scheduled meeings. Currently, 4 of 10 members are meeting the attendance expectations
Natural Resources Committee 2014 Member Attendance
