SCS CSHJR 56(CRA): Relating to yttrium mining and transfer of the linear induction motor research vehicle to Alaska.
00SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 56(CRA) 01 Relating to yttrium mining and transfer of the linear induction motor research 02 vehicle to Alaska. 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS yttrium bearing and other rare earth minerals have been identified in large 05 quantities on Prince of Wales Island; and 06 WHEREAS the Prince of Wales deposits are the only known deposits of yttrium 07 bearing minerals in North America; and 08 WHEREAS, based on the present world market, one pound of 99.9999 pure yttrium 09 has a market value of $320,000; and 10 WHEREAS the presence of yttrium in the state offers a potential economic 11 development opportunity on Prince of Wales Island and elsewhere in Alaska in the areas of 12 mining, refining, research, and manufacturing; and 13 WHEREAS the local availability of refined yttrium metal could promote the 14 establishment of a major research and manufacturing facility for yttrium-based products on
01 Prince of Wales Island or elsewhere in Alaska, resulting in new career opportunities for 02 Alaskans; and 03 WHEREAS products manufactured using yttrium and technology involving yttrium 04 include powerful frictionless motors and magnetic levitation equipment for use in 05 transportation systems, superconducting fault limiters, electromagnetic mass launchers, and 06 yttrium coated tapes and wire; yttrium wire can also be used in medical equipment, including 07 field magnets in MRI-scanning machines; and 08 WHEREAS the firm of Power Superconductor Applications Corporation, based in 09 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has expressed an interest in working with the state to establish 10 manufacturing and research facilities in Alaska using the local workforce and local facilities; 11 and 12 WHEREAS Power Superconductor Applications Corporation has requested assistance 13 from the state in securing use of a 30-ton linear induction motor research vehicle (LIMRV) 14 currently in storage by the Federal Railroad Administration; and 15 WHEREAS the LIMRV is expected to become part of a four-year based retrofit and 16 research project involving yttrium, yttrium products, and yttrium technology; and 17 WHEREAS the retrofit and research project is expected to start in 1998 and could lead 18 to the establishment of a new $3,100,000 yttrium and yttrium products manufacturing facility 19 on Prince of Wales Island or elsewhere in Alaska, employing 55 Alaskans; once transfer of 20 the LIMRV to the State of Alaska takes place, 15 new jobs for Alaskans are expected to be 21 established immediately; and 22 WHEREAS requests for funding to establish new yttrium industrial and research 23 sectors on Prince of Wales Island or elsewhere in Alaska are not currently being made by the 24 state; and 25 WHEREAS current economic opportunities on Prince of Wales Island and throughout 26 Alaska have significantly decreased due to recent declines in the timber and fishing industries; 27 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature would welcome a transfer of the 28 linear induction motor research vehicle (LIMRV) to the state as a federal contribution to 29 establishment of a new industrial and research sector located in Alaska; and be it 30 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Federal Railroad 31 Administration, the Alaska Congressional delegation, and the Governor to facilitate transfer
01 of the LIMRV to Alaska for a period of at least four years. 02 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Ms. Jolene M. Molitoris, Administrator, 03 Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; and to the Honorable Ted 04 Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, 05 U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.