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ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
Fiftieth Legislature – First Regular Session
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND TRANSPORTATION AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE FOR THE SUNSET HEARING OF
ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT,
ARIZONA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION AND
ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Minutes of Interim Meeting
Monday, October 17, 2011
Senate Hearing Room 109 -- 1:30 p.m.
CoChairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.
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Senator John Nelson, CoChairman |
Representative Kate Brophy McGee, CoChairman |
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Senator Gail Griffin |
Representative Brenda Barton |
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Senator Jack Jackson Jr. |
Representative Karen Fann |
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Senator Don Shooter |
Representative Macario Saldate |
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Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford |
Representative Bruce Wheeler |
Opening Remarks
CoChairman Nelson called for the presentation from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Presentation
Robert Woodhouse, Chairman, Arizona Game and Fish Commission, stated his belief that the commission system in Arizona is one of the strongest in the country. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, and then appoint the Directors. Mr. Woodhouse stressed that all wildlife management decisions in the state are made with science-based information. He added that the Arizona Game and Fish Department uses no general fund dollars, but is funded by license sales and other sources.
Larry Voyles, Director, Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department), gave a presentation on the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Attachment 1), which is a statewide law enforcement agency, second only to the Arizona Department of Public Safety in the employment of sworn officers. He described the mission of the Department, which is to be responsible for the management and conservation of wildlife resources in Arizona, as well as watercraft and off-highway vehicle safety and law enforcement and habitat protection with regard to those activities. He explained that the Department is governed by the five-member Arizona Game and Fish Commission which is confirmed by the Senate and which sets policy and direction for the Department.
Mr. Voyles described for the Members the three divisions of wildlife management (page 3, Attachment 1):
· Game Species Management
· Non-game Species Management
· Sport Fisheries
He described the Department’s involvement in habitat restoration and enhancements, which include research and contracts with groups invested in the outcomes. He then explained law enforcement field operations in six regional locations in Arizona (page 5, Attachment 1):
· Pinetop
· Flagstaff
· Kingman
· Yuma
· Tucson
· Mesa
Mr. Voyles explained that the Department’s programs are dependant upon public support, and for this the Department prepares and distributes information, holds educational and wildlife recreation events.
Mr. Voyles discussed funding sources for the Department, reiterating that it uses no general funds, but obtains funding through user fees, license sales, and watercraft registration. It also receives federal funds, money from the Heritage Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Fund, as well as federal matching funds for volunteers.
Mr. Voyles informed the Members that the Department provides economic benefits to Arizona totaling $1.3 billion and is responding to the challenges of today’s economy. He stressed the importance of a responsible and well-managed forest industry being applied to conservation goals and efforts. He stressed the importance of sound science and stated that the health of Arizona’s wildlife depends upon the health of Arizona’s forests.
Senator Griffin expressed concern about the recent forest fires, the result of poor forest management, which resulted in the loss of timber, habitat and wildlife. She requested more information about the Wildlife Urban Interface (WUI).
Mr. Voyles replied that the Wallow Fire taught the Department about fires on the ground versus crown fires. He went on to describe forest health practices at the urban interface and explained that the challenge is the cost to focus dollars at the urban interface to protect cities. The history of the Forest Service is that the road system was built by the forest industry. Forest thinning practices before the 1980s were conducted by the forest industry and did not support wildlife and habitat management so too many trees were harvested, well beyond what the forests could sustain. Mr. Voyles stated that the answer is to manage and work in concert with the forest industry to find a balance with an effective, viable industry that helps maintain and manage forest land resources but still make a profit. Achieving that balance today will be much more costly than if it had been put in place at the outset.
Senator Griffin stated that grazed lands did not burn, and cutting the grazing allotment has allowed those lands to burn. Mr. Voyles replied that Arizona must use all methodologies to manage fuel loading, including timber harvesting and grazing.
Discussion ensued regarding private property acquired by the Department, and Mr. Voyles stated that he would provide additional detail to Senator Griffin.
CoChairman Brophy McGee asked about fees and the policy dealing with fee increases. Mr. Voyles replied that the fee schedules are capped by legislation; current fees, last increased in 2006, are below the legislative caps. The Department instituted “belt-tightening” procedures (freezing hiring, negotiating new contracts, and obtaining new external grants) which have enabled it to manage through a 15 percent drop in funding in recent years. He explained that now expenditures are exceeding revenues and there will probably be a fee increase up to the current legislative cap within the next two years.
Senator Jackson inquired if the Department is working with tribal governments regarding tribal lands. Mr. Voyles replied in the affirmative, saying that the relationships vary from nation to nation: the strongest are with the Navajo, Hopi, and Apache, and are developing now with the Hualapai. He stated that there is a long way to go, and reminded the Members that the nations are not Arizona regions.
Public Testimony
Tony DeMarco, Senate Research Analyst, stated that Lyn White, Government Relations, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, is in support of continuing the Department and will speak if necessary. Ms. White did not speak, but distributed a letter of support (Attachment 2).
Discussion
There was none.
Recommendations by the Committee of Reference
CoChairman Brophy McGee moved that the Committee of Reference recommend to the full Legislature that the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission be continued for ten years. The motion carried.
CoChairman Nelson called for the presentation from the Arizona Geological Survey.
Arizona Geological Survey
Presentation
Lee Allison, Director and State Geologist, Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS), addressed the Committee to give a brief overview of the Arizona Geological Survey (Attachment 3), which is an agency that traces its history back to the early 1880s as the Office of Territorial Geologist. He explained that the AZGS has exceeded its efficiency and statutory goals over the last ten years, and has transitioned from state-funded to self-funded. He added that AZGS implemented an emergency takeover of the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources (ADMMR), when it ran out of funding. AZGS continues to provide all of ADMMR services and is in the process of digitizing all ADMMR records.
Dr. Allison informed the Members of an AZGS report describing potash resources in the Holbrook region, which resulted in wells drilled, State Trust Lands leased, up to $800 billion in recoverable minerals, and 400 jobs. AZGS has digitized oil and gas well locations in Arizona, and provided administrative and technical support to the Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
Dr. Allison described the various protections that AZGS provides to lives and property:
· earth fissure study areas and maps available to developers
· information about landslides
· wildfire aftermath (floods, mudslides, and debris flows)
· earthquake faults identification and seismic network implementation
Dr. Allison discussed other efficiencies of AZGS:
· AZGS is 23rd nationwide in total budget, but with a very low per capita appropriation
· AZGS spends $1 to yield $8,437 in mining
Dr. Allison called the Legislature’s attention to two statutory issues:
· the earth fissure mapping program was to be turned over to the State Land Department for distribution, but the State Land Department no longer has the budget to do this and AZGS can do it at no additional cost
· the ADMMR consolidation needs to be updated and clarified in statute
Dr. Allison discussed objectives for AZGS for the next ten years and asked the Committee for its support in continuing the agency.
Public Testimony
Kenneth Fergason, Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, spoke in favor of continuing AZGS. He stressed the importance of the critical information that is available through this agency. In response to a question, he described the example of the Hoover bridge and how earth fissures and land subsidence can affect dams. He stated that AZGS information means that he does not have to duplicate those efforts.
Steve Trussell, Arizona Rock Products Association, distributed a letter of support for AZGS (Attachment 4). He stressed that AZGS is a fantastic source and repository of information for his Association members. AZGS is very important to the strategic planning and protection of aggregate resources and in compiling information that will be of use to cities and counties.
Robert Quick, representing self, stated his support for AZGS and stressed the importance of its assumption and continuance of ADMMR. AZGS provides critically important geologic functions for state, county, and municipal governments, as well as commerce and industry.
Steven Reynolds, representing self, informed the Members that he is a geologist and a member of the United States National Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee. He stated that the state surveys provided by AZGS are the best in the country. He supports continuance of the agency.
Eric Mears, representing self, stated that he is a geologist and supports continuance of AZGS, stressing that it is one of the best agencies in the country, is responsive and timely in preparing information that is invaluable to the State of Arizona. The agency meets an extremely diverse set of requirements and requests for information, as well as being responsible for a wide range of technical issues that are directly related to public safety. He added that AZGS is an incredible foundation for the future growth of Arizona by doing groundbreaking research in understanding the geology and identifying the unique mineralization of Arizona.
CoChairman Nelson thanked Dr. Trussell for his help in creating the rock displays on the second floor in the Senate and outside at the Capitol. Dr. Trussell spoke of the assistance of AZGS in tying together the entire project.
CoChairman Nelson announced the names of those who signed up in support of AZGS but did not speak:
Laurie Swartzbaugh, Deputy Director, Arizona State Mine Inspector
Jeremy Browning, Senior Associate, ASARCO LLC
Lyn White, Government Relations, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold
Discussion
The Members discussed the many statements of support for AZGS and addressed the statutory issues to be included in the motion for continuance.
Mr. DeMarco explained that the Members are to make a recommendation in concert with the two statutory issues presented by AZGS; stakeholders will address and develop the actual legislation recommended in the motion.
Repesentative Fann stated that she believes that a state agency should continue to promote mineral resources in Arizona.
Recommendations by the Committee of Reference
CoChairman Brophy McGee moved that the Committee of Reference recommend to the full Legislature that the Arizona Geological Survey be continued for ten years with the following modifications:
· Eliminate the statutory requirements of the State Land Department relating to earth fissure maps and require the Arizona Geological Survey to provide earth fissure maps directly to the State Real Estate Department
· Modify the Arizona Geological Survey’s statutory duties to clarify its responsibility to be an objective scientific, technical and research-based state agency that encourages the wise use of lands and mineral resources in the state.
The motion carried.
Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 3:27 p.m.
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Jane Dooley, Committee Secretary
November 16, 2011
(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Office of the Chief Clerk; video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov)
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COR - SENATE NRT AND HOUSE ENR
October 17, 2011
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