00                  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22                                                                   
01 Relating to the development of moose escape routes by the Alaska National Guard.                                        
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS moose avoid areas of deep snow while traveling and foraging in winter;                                  
04 and                                                                                                                     
05       WHEREAS the current winter of 2003 - 2004 is unusually severe in Southcentral                                   
06 Alaska; and                                                                                                             
07       WHEREAS the plowing and removal of snow from road and railroad rights-of-way                                    
08 create areas attractive to moose; and                                                                                   
09       WHEREAS the concentration of moose along road and railroad rights-of-way                                        
10 frequently results in tragic encounters between moose and motor vehicles and trains; and                                
11       WHEREAS collisions between moose and motor vehicles and trains result in the                                    
12 wasteful destruction of moose and pose avoidable risks to the personal safety of Alaskans and                           
13 to the Alaska economy; and                                                                                              
14       WHEREAS the Alaska National Guard possesses the personnel and equipment to                                      
15 ameliorate the problems associated with the concentration of moose along road and railroad                              
16 rights-of-way by developing escape routes for moose through deep snow to safe areas away                                

01 from busy rights-of-way; and                                                                                            
02       WHEREAS one of the functions of the Alaska National Guard is to protect the                                     
03 general health and safety; and                                                                                          
04       WHEREAS participation in development of escape routes for moose through deep                                    
05 snow to safe areas away from road and railroad rights-of-way will foster conservation of                                
06 moose, further the mission of the Alaska National Guard, and provide a meaningful training                              
07 opportunity for members of the Alaska National Guard;                                                                   
08       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests Governor                                 
09 Murkowski to direct the Alaska National Guard to participate in developing escape routes,                               
10 jointly identified by the Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Moose Federation, for                              
11 moose through deep snow to safe areas away from road and railroad rights-of-way.