04/29/1999 03:30 PM Senate STA

             HJR 27-ALASKA/RUSSIA MARITIME BOUNDARY                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COGHILL, sponsor of HJR 27, explained the                                                                   
measure is an attempt to resolve a maritime boundary discrepancy                                                                
between Russia and the United States in the Chukchi Sea.  The                                                                   
current boundary was never ratified and contains loopholes.  HJR 27                                                             
requests the establishment of a boundary and that the State of                                                                  
Alaska be at the table during negotiations.  HJR 27 will be sent to                                                             
members of Congress, the Governor, the President, and the Secretary                                                             
of the Department of the Interior.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GREEN referred to lines 6 through 10 on page 3, and                                                                     
questioned whether HJR 27 requests that the 40,000 square miles of                                                              
ocean not be given to the Russian government.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said that is correct because we would be                                                                 
asking that the current boundary be revoked and that the boundary                                                               
issue be revisited.  He noted the United States has already agreed                                                              
to give away some islands under dispute, as well as some fishing                                                                
grounds.  A Russian trawler was recently chased off of some of the                                                              
disputed grounds, but the United States is operating on the premise                                                             
that the disputed grounds belong to it.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GREEN moved CSHJR 27(STA) from committee with individual                                                                
recommendations and its zero fiscal note.  There being no                                                                       
objection, CSHJR 27(STA) moved from committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN WARD announced the arrival of Senator Wilken.