00CS FOR SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 6(RES)                                                                                     
01 Endorsing passage of S. 506 and H.R. 1580, measures making responsible changes                                          
02 in the Mining Law of 1872.                                                                                              
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:                                                                                           
04  WHEREAS more than 60 percent of land in the state is federal land; and                                                 
05  WHEREAS most of this federal land is not currently open to mineral entry; and                                          
06  WHEREAS much of the federal land in the state, including, for example, the location                                    
07 of the Greens Creek Mine on federal land within the Tongass National Forest, is of high                                 
08 mineral potential; and                                                                                                  
09  WHEREAS orderly and responsible exploration and development of mineral resources                                       
10 on federal land within the state can do much to diversify and strengthen the state's economy;                           
11 and                                                                                                                     
12  WHEREAS a significant amount of exploration and development of federal mineral                                         
13 land will take place in rural parts of the state, providing much needed jobs and infrastructure;                        
14 and                                                                                                                     

01  WHEREAS, as the mining industry evolves, changes in the industry's legal                                               
02 underpinnings should be made, reflecting that applicable law remains cognizant of the                                   
03 industry's technological improvements;                                                                                  
04  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Senate urges the governor, the Alaska                                             
05 Congressional delegation, and the Western Governors' Association to support S. 506 and                                  
06 H.R. 1580, measures proposing responsible changes in the Mining Law of 1872.                                            
07  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the members of the Western Governors'                                       
08 Association and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S.                                    
09 Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska                                       
10 delegation in Congress.