ARIZONA STATE SENATE

 

SENATE AD HOC TASK FORCE ON FOREST MANAGEMENT

 

Minutes of the Meeting

Thursday, November 17, 2011

1:00 p.m., SHR 1

 

 

Members Present:

Senator Sylvia Allen, Chairman

Senator John Nelson, Co-Chairman

Senator Gail Griffin

Senator Steve Pierce

Senator Steve Smith

 

 

Members Absent:

Senator Frank Antenori

 

Senator Al Melvin

 

 

 

Staff:

Tony DeMarco, Senate Research Analyst

Sharon Langford, Senate Assistant Research Analyst

                          

Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. and attendance was noted.

 

Senator Allen thanked the Staff and Senators for their work on the task force.

 

Senator Allen read into the record her statement (Attachment A) that she gave at the Capitol press conference on forest management.

 

Presentations

 

Scott Hunt, Arizona State Forester, distributed a handout on "Arizona's 2011 Fire Season & 2012 Outlook" (Attachment B) and gave a powerpoint presentation.  Mr. Hunt answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Norman D. James, Fennemore Craig, P.C., distributed a handout entitled "The Mexican Spotted Owl" (Attachment C) and gave a powerpoint presentation on the Endangered Species Act, Equal Access to Justice Act and National Environmental Police Act.  Mr. James answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Senator Griffin distributed a handout entitled "2011 Fire Season, Coronado National Forest" (Attachment D) and gave a DVD presentation.  Senator Griffin answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Dr. Scott Hamblin, Courage to Stand for Arizona Forests, testified how the fires have impacted the forest and the communities.  Dr. Hamblin answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Steve Hamblin, Courage to Stand for Arizona Forests, testified on the impact of the forest fires to the communities. Mr. Hamblin answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Doyel Shamley, Natural Resource Coordinator for Apache County, gave an overview of Apache County's forest conditions and management.  He sought State support for a forest management resolution which was unanimously adopted by Apache County.

 

Eric Krueger, Resident of Alpine, Arizona, testified regarding his personal economic damage from the Wallow Fire.  Mr. Krueger answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Whitney Wiltbank, Sprucedale Ranch, testified regarding his personal experience and the impact of the Wallow Fire.  Mr. Wiltbank answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Daniel Martinez, Consultant for Otero County, New Mexico, informed the Committee that he was an Arizona resident.  He discussed the legal issues between state and federal land management.  He reviewed the Endangered Species Act and the Federal Land Management Policy Act.  Mr. Martinez answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Gary Finch, Citizens for Multiple Land Use and Access, testified on road closures to the national forest and answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Discussion was held by the Committee on the information from the presentations.

 

Public Testimony

 

Rex Hamblin, representing self, testified on the management of the State's lands and natural resources.

 

Brannon Eagar, representing self, testified that the State of Arizona needs to stand up for the health of the forest.

 

John W. Bennett, President, Citizens for Multiple Land Use and Access, testified regarding the Wallow West Project.

 

Reed Hancock, Apache County, testified on the need for an emergency resolution to be adopted by the state regarding the fires and the impact of the fires.

 

Paul J. Ramsey, representing self, testified on the logging industry and the economy.

 

Barry Williams, representing self, distributed information from an oversight hearing of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Resources Committee on "Onerous Regulatory Actions Stifle Economic Viability, Jobs, Access to National Forests" (Attachment E). Mr. Williams gave an overview of the hearing.

 

Attached is a list noting the individuals who registered their position on the agenda items (Attachment F).

 

 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:41 p.m.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Toy Brown

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

 

 

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Senate Ad Hoc Task Force on Forest Management

November 17, 2011

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