More than 60 people testified in the Senate Resources Committee about an order by Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski to move habitat permitting authority from the Department of Fish and Game to the Department of Natural Resources. The transfer plan will take effect April 15th unless the Legislature acts to block the governor's order. The hearing was a review of the plans, not a consideration of legislation. Sport fishing groups and conservationists objected to the move on the grounds that it would weaken protections to habitat, but industry supporters and department commissioners said it would streamline permitting without degrading environmental oversight. In his State of the State address in January, Murkowski said the Habitat Division has delayed legitimate development projects. Shortly after the governor's speech, five former Fish and Game commissioners came out in opposition to the move, noting state founders created two agencies to establish checks and balances between developers and regulators. State Sen. Kim Elton said using an untested method of habitat permitting and laying off biologists or moving them to a department whose main function is to develop resources "creates a playground for lawyers."

Update: No legislative action was taken before the April 15th deadline and the Department of Fish and Game's Habitat Division was moved to the Department of Natural Resources.