Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
01/26/2017 11:30 AM House ARCTIC POLICY, ECONOMIC DEV., & TOURISM
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 5-ENDORSING ANWR LEASING; RELATED ISSUES
11:33:56 AM
CHAIR WESTLAKE announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5, Urging the United States
Congress to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development;
urging the United States Department of the Interior to recognize
the private property rights of owners of land in and adjacent to
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; relating to oil and gas
exploration, development, production, and royalties; and
relating to renewable and alternative energy technologies.
11:34:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO moved to adopt Amendment 1, [labeled 30-
LS0314\D.2, Nauman, 1/23/17], which read as follows:
Page 3, following line 26:
Insert new material to read:
"WHEREAS, in December 2016, President Barack
Obama, through executive action, closed 125,000,000
acres of the Arctic Ocean, a vast majority of the
United States Arctic offshore water, from future
leasing consideration, thus preventing extraction of
an estimated 27,000,000,000 barrels of oil; and
WHEREAS the Alaska Congressional delegation
decried the executive action; and"
Page 3, lines 27 - 28:
Delete "President Barack Obama's recent action to
withdraw millions of acres of land in the Arctic from
new offshore oil and gas drilling"
Insert "the executive action"
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO stated that Amendment 1 provided clarity
as to the actual resource that would be available in the area
addressed in HJR 5. He referred to the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) map in the committee packet, which shows estimates of the
resource that would be available in the central North Slope
area, area 1002, the Beaufort Sea, and the Chukchi Sea, if they
were open to exploration and development. He asserted the
information on the map gives a clear indication of what Alaska
would be pursuing with HJR 5.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON removed his objection to Amendment 1.
There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
11:36:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO moved to adopt Amendment 2, [labeled 30-
LS0314\D.3, Nauman, 1/24/17], which read as follows:
Page 2, following line 4:
Insert new material to read:
"WHEREAS, in 1998, the United States Geological
Survey estimated the central North Slope and 1002
study area combined could contain up to
46,000,000,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas; and"
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO said Amendment 2 provides the committee
with a very clear estimate of the resource that would be
available. He mentioned that the legislature has had many
discussions about the resources available "up north" and the
development of new infrastructure to move gas for Alaska. He
stated that he was surprised to see the combined estimate for
the central North Slope area and the 1002 study area to be 46
trillion cubic feet of natural gas. He stressed the importance
of the estimates "for the people we're going to provide the
resolution to, so they have very good information to base their
decisions on."
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON removed his objection to Amendment 2.
There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
11:39:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to report HJR 5, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes.
11:40:18 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 11:40 a.m. to 11:41 a.m.
11:41:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK withdrew his motion to report HJR 5, as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes.
11:41:34 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 11:41 a.m.
11:41:47 AM
CHAIR WESTLAKE opened public testimony on HJR 5.
11:42:38 AM
LOIS EPSTEIN, Arctic Program Director, The Wilderness Society,
paraphrased from the following written testimony [original
punctuation provided]:
Thank you to Chairman Westlake and to committee
members for this opportunity to testify today on HJR
5. My name is Lois Epstein and I am a licensed
engineer and have lived in Alaska since 2001. I am the
Arctic Program Director for The Wilderness Society.
When I have given talks that include the Arctic
Refuge, I emphasize that the Refuge's coastal plain is
the "top of the pyramid" when it comes to sensitive
ecological areas. The coastal plain, also known as the
1002 area, is a national treasure and home to polar
bears, wolves, migratory birds and the Porcupine
Caribou Herd, which consists of nearly 200,000,
currently-healthy animals. I say currently-healthy
because Arctic conditions are changing with global
warming, and it is difficult to know if the herd will
remain as healthy in upcoming years. Notably, the
Alaska Dispatch News reported in November that the
Central Arctic Herd near Prudhoe Bay is down to 22,000
individuals from 70,000, however the reasons for that
decline are unclear. According to the ADN, the size of
the herd has "plummeted, leaving biologists with
Alaska Department of Fish and Game concerned and a
bit flummoxed. Since it peaked in 2010 at 70,000
animals, the size of the Central Arctic herd has
fallen 69 percent to 50,000 in 2013 and 22,000 this
year. The herd often calves in and around Prudhoe
Bay.
My organization focuses on balance which means that we
strive to prevent oil and gas operations in the most
sensitive areas but we are comfortable with oil and
gas development if it is done well in less sensitive
areas such as on state lands. To allow a "free for
all" by opening all areas no matter how sensitive
to oil and gas development, which appears to be the
new Trump administration approach, does not represent
balance.
As an engineer and a member of an Alyeska Pipeline
advisory committee, I am very familiar with the
[Trans-Alaska Pipeline System] (TAPS). Based on
engineering and economic studies that have been
presented to state courts during litigation, TAPS is
able to continue operating for the next half-century
just with known reserves, i.e., not including
additional oil from the Arctic Refuge. Recent major
oil finds by Armstrong at Nanushuk and ConocoPhillips
at Willow in the Greater Mooses Tooth Unit will extend
TAPS' lifetime even longer. These finds each may be
more than 100,000 barrels per day.
One difference between HJR 5 from previous resolutions
passed by the state legislature is that, with the
Trump administration, we might have an Environmental
Protection Agency which is greatly scaled back.
Currently EPA provides grants to Alaska [Department of
Environmental Conservation] (DEC), including for spill
prevention and response, and those grants have been
halted as of this week. I don't believe anyone in this
room supports moving forward with development in the
Arctic Refuge without environmental controls, but that
is what we may have with the Trump administration and
a state without sufficient revenues. As we all know,
responding to spills on the North Slope is very
expensive.
Because of the sensitivity of the coastal plain, the
lack of need for this oil to maintain TAPS operations,
the Trump administration's hostility to environmental
concerns which could result in serious impacts from
major spills including for subsistence, I ask those
legislators who have previously supported similar
resolutions to reconsider their support. For those
legislators voting on such a resolution for the first
time, I urge you not to support HJR 5.
11:47:07 AM
KATIE LLOYD said she understands the need for job opportunities
in Alaska but also believes that "we have to be balanced." She
asserted that with unrenewable resources come unrenewable jobs,
and renewable jobs and renewable energy are the future of
Alaska. She stated her family enjoys hunting and fishing, and
offered that caribou, not just oil, is an important resource.
She opined that the coastal wildlife refuge is precious and
fragile, and urged the committee not to support HJR 5.
11:49:23 AM
RONALD YARNELL, All About Adventure, said he has led wilderness
trips in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) since 1976,
taking hundreds of people from all over the world across the
ANWR coastal plain. He attested that ANWR is a unique, national
treasure and questioned the wisdom of opening the area to oil
development with today's glut of oil on the market. He alleged
that there are other far less controversial areas, which offer
excellent prospects for oil development, such as the Smith Bay
area west of Prudhoe Bay. He mentioned the variety of wildlife
in ANWR: tens of thousands of caribou crossing the Hula Hula,
Okpilik, Jago, and Aichilik Rivers; bands of muskoxen wintering
on the plains; wolves; grizzly bears; polar bears; and other
predators that follow the caribou herds. He claimed that float
trips across the coastal plain will be bisected by roads,
pipelines, ports, and other industrial development. He urged
the committee not to support HJR 5.
11:52:09 AM
MR. YARNELL, in response to Representative Josephson, confirmed
that he was based out of Fairbanks and has been leading trips in
ANWR since 1976. He said the name of his company is "All About
Adventure." He added that he sold the Alaska part of his
business to Arctic Wild in 1999 but continues to lead trips for
Arctic Wild.
11:53:06 AM
LYNN LARSON said she is a retired secondary school teacher and
an artist whose subject matter is ANWR. She asked the committee
not to support any legislation that opens the 1002 area to oil
and gas development. She related that in 1989 she rafted the
Hula Hula River in ANWR and the 1002 area. Although she had no
preconceived notions beforehand about the area, whether it
should be protected or developed, her experience made her "a
passionate protector of the Arctic Refuge, in particular the
coastal plain." She claimed that the image she had of the
coastal plain from the [Atlantic Richfield Company] (ARCO)
brochures was of a gray, ugly, barren wasteland when, in fact,
"it is stunningly beautiful." She stated that she has spent
over 140 days in ANWR, including 30 in the 1002 area, hiking,
rafting, painting, and experiencing "one of the planet's last
great wildernesses." She lamented that many of the people
making decisions regarding the 1002 area have not spent time
there and, from her experience, most people who spend time there
want the area protected. She added that the 1002 area is an
important calving area for the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked if there has been any discussion,
among those opposing the development of ANWR, about allowing
exploration to define "what's there." He asked, secondly, if
the testifier was aware of any discussion of compromise, that
is, after the resource is developed, the area might become part
of the wilderness south of ANWR.
MS. LARSON responded that in her opinion, "a compromise has
already been made." She reiterated that she would like to see
the 1002 area remain wilderness.
11:57:50 AM
MIKE STERLING testified to ask the committee to oppose HJR 5
because of the value of ANWR as wilderness, which should be
protected for future generations.
11:58:28 AM
HEATHER MIRCZAK said she is a high school teacher who came to
Alaska in 2014. She claimed that the Arctic is what brought her
to Alaska and keeps her coming back. She maintained she was
"absolutely blown away" to experience a place so wild, open, and
untouched. She offered that the Arctic, as wilderness, is a
unique and amazing resource that is as valuable as oil; can't be
replaced; and brings people and jobs to the state.
12:00:50 PM
BERNADETTE DEMIENTIEFF, Executive Director, Gwich'in Steering
Committee, said she represents 8,000-plus Gwich'in and asked the
committee to protect ANWR and the Gwich'in way of life. She
stated that the ANWR coastal plain is a special place and asked
the committee to "protect the heart of Alaska." She maintained
the Porcupine Caribou Herd is the last known wild herd that is
still healthy in numbers; all the other herds are declining
rapidly. She alleged that drilling in the Arctic refuge would
harm the Gwich'in, and "we deserve to protect what keeps us
alive and well."
12:02:38 PM
PRINCESS LUCAJ testified that the [Gwich'in] name for ANWR means
"the sacred place where life begins." She described the
"balance of life" in ANWR and charged the committee members to
"make decisions that are sound, that are going to ensure that
these critical, last remaining, intact ecosystems on our
beautiful mother earth remain protected." She opined that
people are going to have to return to simpler ways of living and
being. She maintained that as we use resources for our
survival, we have a responsibility to ensure clean air and
water.
12:04:54 PM
JESSICA GIRARD, Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC),
proclaimed that NAEC stands in solidarity with the Gwich'in and
their request for protection of "this sacred area." She
reminded the committee of the damages that are occurring to the
Arctic at a dramatic rate as a result of climate change, which
she contended is caused by oil and gas production, development,
and use. She asserted that by the time a pipeline is competed,
connected to the TAPS, and moving oil to market, "we should be
off fossil fuels." She added, "We need to justly transition to
renewable energy." She opined, "We, as a state and as a nation,
have taken enough away from indigenous cultures, and it is time
that we leave things so that they can remain intact." She added
her belief that the Porcupine Caribou Herd keep the culture of
the Gwich'in people alive.
12:06:42 PM
SHERRY LEWIS, President, Arctic Audubon Society, said that ANWR
has been of special interest to the Arctic Audubon Society for
many years because of the large migration of birds to the
coastal plain to have their young. She stated that ANWR is
special and unique. She mentioned the diminishing wilderness in
the Lower 48 and offered that ANWR is a complete, intact
ecosystem, which needs to be preserved.
12:08:21 PM
ANNE DAERPINGHAUS testified that she is a nurse, who is married
to a geologist, and she has lived in Fairbanks since 1993. She
stated she is looking to the committee for vision and leadership
in moving away from a fossil fuel-based economy to a
sustainable, diversified economy for Alaska. She opined that
ANWR is a huge draw for tourism and a treasure "for all people
of all times." She urged the committee to "take the long view"
and act now to value, protect, and preserve this irreplaceable
resource.
12:09:18 PM
MIKE MUSICK said that he has been a resident of Interior Alaska
since before statehood. He offered his concern for his
grandchildren and their children, and stated his belief that "it
is not possible to continue to burn fossil fuels and leave a
habitable planet." He emphasized the need to transition to
renewables, conservation, and efficiency, and cited other
countries that have done so successfully. He said that in
regard to the two amendments brought to committee, there was no
mention of the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation (KIC) data that has
already been gathered on oil resources in ANWR, and he opined,
"I don't think we need to drill more."
12:11:14 PM
PAMELA MILLER identified herself as a former biologist who has
spent time in ANWR, both as a wilderness guide and as someone
who has evaluated the impacts of oil development at Prudhoe Bay
and monitored seismic exploration in the ANWR coastal plain.
She said she is concerned about the impacts of oil development,
especially seismic impacts. She expressed a need for Alaska to
diversify away from fossil fuels and emphasized the importance
of preserving the wilderness, Alaska Native cultural ties, and
Native subsistence. She said there would be great impacts to
the tundra of the refuge and unknown impacts to its wildlife,
"without any great results." She added that she would provide a
2,000-acre map that shows more realistically the extent of the
oil and gas development areas.
12:13:43 PM
NADIA BACON testified that she has lived in Fairbanks for over
18 years. She compared Alaska to Central Europe, her homeland,
and stated that although tourism and the beauty of landscape are
important in Central Europe, there is no wilderness area left in
Central Europe like northern Alaska. She claimed that ANWR is a
valuable resource. She urged the committee to take a long-term
outlook, not just for the next five years but the next 20 years,
and consider what the destruction of open, natural landscape
would mean.
12:16:42 PM
ELLEN MITCHELL identified herself as a University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF) student, born and raised in Alaska. She
declared her appreciation of trees, which provide her oxygen,
and the state of Alaska, which provides her food, water,
shelter, and entertainment. She claimed that her desire to
preserve ANWR was a selfish interest, but also a conservative
interest. She defined conservative as conserving the current
values, laws, and environment, and maintained that closing ANWR
to drilling is in keeping with conserving those values. She
conceded the importance of maintaining Alaska's economy, but
contended that oil and gas are non-renewable resources and will
be depleted eventually. She offered her support of developing
sustainable resources, which would provide just as many jobs and
energy as oil and gas. She expressed her concern for the impact
of climate change and of oil and gas depletion on Alaskans.
12:18:45 PM
ENEI BEGAYE PETER, Native Movement, said that she is Navajo,
married into the Gwich'in Nation, and the mother of three
daughters. She urged the committee to oppose HJR 5 to protect
ANWR, because it is a sacred place; it is calving ground for
caribou that sustains the Gwich'in; and climate change demands
transition away from fossil fuel extraction. She claimed that
oil and gas drilling impacts not only the climate, but "our
land, our water, and our future." She added that the fiscal
budget for the state demands that Alaska transition away from a
fossil fuel economy, and she emphasized the need to diversify
for the good of all Alaskans.
12:21:20 PM
MISTY NICKOLI maintained that [TAPS] does not employ as many
Alaskans as it does out-of-state workers, so it is not bringing
as much money back to Alaska's economy as it should. She stated
that oil [extraction] is not a sustainable industry but is a
shorted-sighted solution to the current budget deficit. She
opined it would lead to long-term budget hardships caused by
adverse environmental impacts and the potential reduction of the
sustainable industry - tourism - when oil spills occur.
12:23:20 PM
ODIN MILLER testified that he is a graduate student at UAF
studying cultural anthropology. He urged the committee to
consider the impact of oil development on the Porcupine Caribou
Herd. He claimed that reindeer and caribou have been an
invaluable subsistence and cultural resource throughout the
history of human habitation of the Arctic and subarctic; many
northern Alaska communities still rely on them. He said that
caribou are already experiencing stress due to climate change,
and many herds are declining. He also mentioned reports from
the Northwest Arctic Borough (NAB) residents regarding impacts
of the road to the Red Dog Mine on the migration pattern of the
Western Arctic Herd. He asked the committee to "please look at
our state's long-term economic picture and not just the next
decade or two." He went on to say, if protected, caribou
provide primary wealth for Alaska in perpetuity. He speculated
that the oil will be depleted, and he offered his hope that the
state's recent economic troubles "have taught us something about
the long-term shortcomings of pursuing a boom-bust economic
strategy."
12:26:04 PM
ROSE OHARA stated that she is a special education elementary
school teacher. She offered her opposition to opening ANWR to
development in solidarity with the Native population of the
region because of the effects it would have on their cultural,
spiritual, and sustainable resources. She added that she also
opposes HJR 5 because of the potential impact it would have on
an irreplaceable, wild place - one that is important for all
Alaskans and the health of the entire planet.
12:26:52 PM
LOIS BARGER, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, said that
becoming a parent has "magnified" her opposition to drilling in
the 1002 area. She urged the committee to "take the long-range
view" and consider what Alaska's environment and economy will
look like in 40 years. She opined that "continuing with gas
development, especially in [the] 1002 area, is looking backward
and not forward."
12:28:15 PM
MARTHA RAYNOLDS identified herself as a biologist who
specializes in Arctic ecosystems. She said she studied the
seismic exploration in ANWR in the mid-'80s and contended that
seismic exploration today, which is more intense than in the
'80s, would definitely have impacts on the vegetation of ANWR
and specifically on the coastal plain where the caribou calve.
She maintained that HJR 5 would be symbolic, since the oil
industry is currently focused on a new find west of the Colville
River in the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPRA). She
added that the attempt to open ANWR gives a poor impression of
Alaska in light of new finds and the lack of support from the
Lower 48.
12:30:37 PM
ALEXANDER GUDSCHINSKY expressed his concerns: it would be
difficult to limit oil drilling in ANWR to the very small area
proposed; there are large oil finds in uncontested lands; and
Alaska natural gas is not competitive in today's market. He
claimed oil should be extracted from land that is available and
not "in conflict" and ANWR is irreplaceable.
12:32:08 PM
BARBARA JACKSON said that as a resident of Alaska for over 35
years, her experience kayaking in ANWR has "helped to define me
as the Alaskan that I am." She maintained that regardless of
the wealth and jobs provided by resource development, wilderness
is "another type of wealth" that sustains Alaskans. For that
reason, she concluded, ANWR must be protected, not developed.
12:33:44 PM
BERNIE HOFFMAN reported that she does not support HJR 5. She
maintained that climate change is "real" and Alaskans are
experiencing its impact. She offered her support of developing
renewable energy resources and not continuing "on the path
toward the precipice." She stated Alaskans value clean air and
water and "places to go for spirituality."
12:35:32 PM
EDMUND GEINS testified that he worked in the environmental
consulting business and is familiar with oil and gas development
on the North Slope. He offered his belief that with the new
[federal] administration and the threat of weakened
environmental regulations, there is no guarantee that oil and
gas can be developed environmentally responsibly. He declared
the ANWR 1002 area to be one of unparalleled natural and
cultural resources. He characterized Alaska's dependency on oil
and gas development as "an addiction," which needs to be changed
through diversification. He said the cyclical "boom and bust"
that Alaska experiences is untenable for the future of Alaska.
He urged the legislature to oppose any oil and gas development
in ANWR as, in his opinion, the risks and costs are too great.
He added that "change" is going to come to Alaska and the world,
and the state now has an opportunity to make those changes the
easy way, through actions like opposing HJR 5.
12:37:31 PM
JENNIFER NU related that a 15-day kayak trip through ANWR gave
her the opportunity to experience one of the world's last great
wilderness areas. She claimed that no other area is comparable
for diversity, clean water, and wildlife. She said that ANWR's
intact ecosystems provide clean water, vegetation, and food
security to local communities, as well as help mitigate the
effects of a changing climate. She added that the land in ANWR
is meant to be a resource for future generations, and the value
and economic potential of the above-ground resources is unknown.
She mentioned ANWR lands are indigenous sacred places and are
important for the long-term well-being of the Gwich'in. She
advocated for Alaska to pursue new, innovative ways to invest in
the economy and touted the protection of ANWR as a long-term
investment in Alaska's future.
12:39:42 PM
ROBERT THOMPSON mentioned that Kaktovik borders ANWR. He stated
that the area being discussed for oil and gas development
represents 5 percent or less of the land available to the oil
industry in the North Slope, and there are other more productive
areas to consider. He maintained that he does his subsistence
hunting in ANWR and does not know if he will be able to continue
if it is opened to development. He relayed his concern for the
loss of muskox due to climate change. He reminded the committee
that ANWR is a wildlife refuge and opined that this last 5
percent of North Slope land should be protected.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked if residents of Arctic Village
generally oppose Arctic drilling and residents of Kaktovik
generally support it.
MR. THOMPSON responded there have been several polls. He
mentioned a petition with 70 signatures against drilling in
ANWR; a poll which Senator Lisa Murkowski cited in Congress to
support drilling, but Mr. Thompson didn't feel people in
opposition had been consulted; a poll by Arctic Slope Regional
Corporation (ASRC), a for-profit corporation with business
affiliations with the oil industry; and a poll by Arctic Voices,
a nonprofit human rights/environmental organization.
12:45:13 PM
RUTH WOOD asked the committee to introduce a committee
substitute that opposes drilling in the 1002 area. She asked
that the amendments to HJR 5, citing 46 trillion cubic feet of
natural gas and 27 billion barrels of oil, not be released to
the public unless the source of the information is identified.
She referred to language in HJR 5, page 2, lines 8-11, which
states the U.S. depends on oil produced by hostile foreign
nations, and reminded the committee that the U.S. is a net
exporter of oil and is not dependent on any foreign nations.
She referred to language in HJR 5, page 3, line 6, which says
the coastal plain makes up less than 8 percent of ANWR. She
conceded that was true, since the area includes the Brooks
Range, but offered her belief that this is the last area of the
coast of Alaska that is not open for drilling and asked that HJR
5 reflect that information. She said HJR 5 references President
Barak Obama withdrawing land from offshore oil and gas drilling
but makes no mention of the additional leases that have been
provided in NPRA. She stated that she suspects HJR 5 to be a
"retread" of a previous resolution and asserted that it should
not be passed with incorrect or unsubstantiated facts. She
recommended HJR 5 and the amendments be withdrawn, updated with
the correct information and supporting evidence, or "better yet"
withdrawn in favor of a resolution stating the people of Alaska
do not want oil and gas development in the refuge.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON confirmed that President Obama did set
aside parts of the area near Teshekpuk Lake and NPRA, and the
implication that President Obama was anti-oil was, in his
opinion, dubious. He also confirmed President Obama was
concerned with off-shore drilling. He stated that he shared Ms.
Wood's concerns regarding off-shore drilling and reported that
he has raised that concern in previous resolutions and on the
House floor multiple times. He confirmed that HJR 5 is about
Arctic drilling and offered that he respects Ms. Wood's position
on that.
MS. WOOD opined, "If you give one statement that ... there's no
oil available, you need to include statements that there is oil
available."
12:50:00 PM
JOHN STRASENBURGH said he has recreated in ANWR many times and
the experiences have been some of the most memorable and
inspirational of his life. He declared it was a magnificent
wilderness and the coastal plain, particularly the 1002 area, is
integral to ANWR. He reported that the biological significance
of the 1002 area for caribou and other wildlife is well-
documented and readily apparent. He opined that oil and gas
exploration would widely and significantly alter the biological
and ecological processes of the area and would alter the
wilderness experience through helicopter noise and scars on the
land. He claimed that the notion of development being limited
to 2,000 acres is a political ploy, since the 2,000 acres would
not be contiguous. He emphasized that the impacts of
development would be significant, widespread, and unacceptable,
and he agreed with Ms. Wood's assessment that the resolution
should be accurate for legitimacy.
12:53:11 PM
RICHIE MUSICK, a retired biology teacher, claimed the 1002 land
to be a special and unique intact tundra ecosystem. She
mentioned that Canada has established a national park across the
border from ANWR to protect its tundra ecosystem. She advised
against "selling" the area for short-term profit, as most
countries are trying to move away from oil. She urged the
committee members to consider the special properties of the 1002
land and to preserve it for the future.
12:54:56 PM
BYRON CHARLES testified that he helped build the original
pipeline in Alaska. He added that the job opportunities were
good for him and many others. He relayed his work experience
with the veneer plant in Ketchikan and said that building a
pipeline would create employment opportunities for Alaskan youth
in skilled trade jobs. He added that he only asks that federal
regulations, guidelines, and policies be respected.
12:58:11 PM
SARAH ERKMANN, Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA),
paraphrased from the following written testimony [original
punctuation provided]:
My name is Sarah Erkmann, and I am the external
affairs manager for the Alaska Oil and Gas
Association, commonly referred to as AOGA. AOGA is a
professional trade association whose mission is to
foster the long-term viability of the oil and gas
industry for the benefit of all Alaskans. Our members
have been exploring, developing, producing,
transporting, and refining Alaska's abundant natural
resources in the arctic for more than 40 years. AOGA
is proud of the industry's partnership with the people
of Alaska, providing revenue to the state, economic
opportunities, and infrastructure to the arctic
region.
AOGA supports HJR5 for the opportunity it brings for
all Alaskans, including economic opportunities.
Responsible development in the 1002 area would provide
an invaluable boost to America's energy security and
bring much-needed economic growth to Alaska, at a time
when we need it most. Our pipeline also desperately
needs the new oil ANWR could provide.
ANWR has incredible potential for oil and gas, more
than 10 billion barrels by some government estimates.
For reference, The Trans Alaska Pipeline has moved
just more than 17 billion barrels of oil since start
up, so the resource is truly massive.
A project the size and scope of ANWR would create
thousands of high-paying jobs for Alaskans. With an
industry-wide Alaska hire rate of about 70 percent,
these family-sustaining job[s] would go mostly to
Alaska residents, who would spend their wages in our
local communities, boosting both the State and local
economies.
In addition, with the recent development of the Point
Thomson field just to the west of ANWR, ANWR is closer
than ever to existing infrastructure, and could feed
into TAPS with a much smaller footprint than in years
past.
Last but not least, polls of Alaskans' attitudes about
ANWR continually show the vast majority of Alaskans
support opening a small portion of ANWR to oil and gas
development: 70 percent of Alaskans support it, and
have for decades. We thank you for introducing a
resolution that reflects most Alaskans' desires, and
offer our whole-hearted support.
1:01:01 PM
MARY SHIELDS testified that Alaskans are the caretakers of the
valuable northeast corner of the state, and she opined that even
though the area is valuable for the oil, it is more valuable for
the integrity of ANWR. She cited the unrest in the world and
offered the importance of a quiet place. She asked the
committee members to protect ANWR by not allowing drilling in
the 1002 area and to preserve ANWR as a refuge for future
generations.
1:02:37 PM
CHAIR WESTLAKE closed public testimony on HJR 5.
1:03:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to report HJR5, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes.
1:03:59 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:03 p.m. to 1:04 p.m.
1:04:10 PM
There being no objection, CSHJR 5(AET) was reported out of the
House Special Committee on Arctic Policy, Economic Development,
and Tourism.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR 5 Amendment D.2 Talerico.pdf |
HAET 1/26/2017 11:30:00 AM |
HJR 5 |
| HJR 5 Amendment D.3 Talerico.pdf |
HAET 1/26/2017 11:30:00 AM |
HJR 5 |