Session: State Capitol, Room 108 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3878 Fax: (907) 465-3265 Interim: 600 E. Railroad Ave., Suite 1 Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 376-4866 Fax: (907) 373-4724

Sponsor Statement for HB 439
Coastal Zone Management Petitions

An Act removing provisions providing an opportunity to petition for review of proposed or final consistency determinations under the Alaska coastal zone management program; and limiting the authority of the Alaska Coastal Policy Council to order a coastal resource district or a state agency to take action with respect to a proposed or final consistency determination.

The Alaska Coastal Zone Management Petition Process is broken.

Currently, any citizen may file a petition to have an automatic 30-day delay to the issuance of a CZM permit.

In the vast majority of cases, this is used as a delaying tactic to try to kill projects. Five out of six petitions filed, were withdrawn at the eleventh hour. The Council unanimously overruled the sixth petition.

There is wide industry support from oil, gas, mining, timber and related industry associations.

The Division of Governmental Coordination is not opposed to the bill.

In this day and age of budget deficits, it is imperative that we do all we can to provide regulatory certainty. With two of the three major oil companies no longer doing exploration in frontier areas, it is clear, unambiguous environmental policy that will continue to attract independent explorers and producers to Alaska.

This bill is a first step in bringing that clarity and common sense to our permitting process.

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