00SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20                                                                                   
01 Relating to support of the State of Alaska's areawide leasing program.                                                  
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS the Nineteenth Alaska State Legislature unanimously passed and the                                           
04 Governor signed legislation (House Bill 388) that acknowledges areawide leasing as a policy                             
05 that is in the best interest of the state; and                                                                          
06  WHEREAS the state must contend with a highly competitive global market for oil and                                   
07 gas exploration and development; and                                                                                    
08  WHEREAS areawide leasing encourages substantial economic investment in the state                                     
09 by offering businesses some certainty through annual bidding opportunities over a period of                             
10 10 years; and                                                                                                           
11  WHEREAS areawide leasing brings efficiency to government by eliminating the need                                     
12 to make a best interest finding for leasing in regions that have already had extensive leasing;                         
13 and                                                                                                                     
14  WHEREAS the areawide leasing process does not reduce the public's right or                                           

01 opportunity to comment but, in fact, adds opportunities to comment through an annual request                            
02 for new information from the public; and                                                                                
03  WHEREAS the oil and gas industry provides 80 percent of the state's unrestricted                                     
04 revenue base; and                                                                                                       
05  WHEREAS a prosperous business environment and employment for Alaska's people                                         
06 depend on the continued health of the state's oil and gas industry; and                                                 
07  WHEREAS areawide leasing helps promote a healthy oil and gas industry in the state;                                  
08 and                                                                                                                     
09  WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature supports a strong Alaska economy and                                            
10 opportunities for Alaska businesses;                                                                                    
11  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature endorses the State of Alaska's                                      
12 areawide leasing program for the Cook Inlet, North Slope, and Beaufort Sea regions.