02/07/1995 11:40 AM Senate RLS

 SRLS - 2/7/95                                                                 
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN MILLER brought  CSHJR 13(O&G)  (ENDORSING ANWR LEASING)              
 before the committee as the final order of business.  He directed             
 attention to a proposed amendment by Senator Lincoln.                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR DUNCAN moved the adoption of the following amendment:                 
                                                                               
 Page 1, line 15:  Insert the following:                                       
                                                                               
  "WHEREAS the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife                   
 Refuge comprises a core calving and nursery ground of the Porcupine           
 Caribou herd; and                                                             
                                                                               
  WHEREAS the people residing within the boundaries of the                     
 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have relied on caribou for                    
 subsistence for thousands of years, and continue to subsist on the            
 Porcupine Caribou herd, a herd that is essential to meet the                  
 nutritional, cultural, and spiritual needs of these people; and"              
                                                                               
 Page 3, line 3:  Delete "." and insert "; and be it"                          
                                                                               
 Page 3, line 4:  Insert the following:                                        
                                                                               
  "FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress join with the state to                   
 ensure the continued health and productivity of the Porcupine                 
 Caribou herd, and the protection of land, water and wildlife                  
 resources during the exploration and development of the coastal               
 plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN MILLER objected to the adoption of the amendment for                 
 discussion purposes.                                                          
                                                                               
 SENATOR FRED ZHAROFF explained it was his understanding the                   
 amendment was offered in the Senate Resources Committee, although             
 neither Senator Lincoln or Senator Hoffman were present at that               
 meeting.  He said the caribou within ANWR is a subsistence herd and           
 the purpose of Senator Lincoln's amendment is to ensure protection            
 of that herd.                                                                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR SALO, speaking in support of the amendment, pointed out               
 that in addition to the subsistence issue of the dependence on the            
 Porcupine Caribou herd, there is also an issue of how much the ANWR           
 development is either supported or fought by the people who live              
 there.  Although the language doesn't change the resolution a whole           
 lot, it probably assures that the people in that area are                     
 supportive of the development rather than in opposition.                      
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN MILLER said it was his understanding that the amendment              
 failed in the Senate Resource Committee, and he maintained his                
 objection.  The roll was taken with the following result:  Senators           
 Duncan and Salo voted "Yea" and Senators Pearce, Sharp and Miller             
 voted "Nay."  The Chairman stated the amendment failed.                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR PEARCE moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHJR 13(O&G)           
 be approved for calendaring.  SENATOR SALO objected and then                  
 requested that the legislation not be calendared until Senator                
 Lincoln is back in town so that she will have the opportunity to              
 offer the amendment on the Senate floor.  CHAIRMAN MILLER responded           
 that he and the presiding officer will try to accommodate that                
 request.  SENATOR SALO removed her objection, and there being no              
 further objection, HJR 13 was approved for calendaring.