SB 7-CONSTABLES IN UNORGANIZED BOROUGH    CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced SB 7 to be up for consideration. MR. DARWIN PETERSON, Aide to Senator Torgerson, testified that in 1981 President Reagan's Secretary of the Interior issued a directive stating that BLM land in Alaska may not be considered for wilderness reviews as required by Section 603 of the Federal Land Planning Management Act of 1976. The purpose of this directive was to comply with congressional mandates in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Sections 13.20 and 13.26 of ANILCA are often referred to as the "no more clauses" because they exempt Alaska from future federal wilderness designations and withdrawals exceeding 5,000 acres. SJR 7 was introduced in response to Secretary of Interior Babbitt's last minute rescission of this directive. It is contrary to an Interior Department policy that has been an important tool for management and development of Alaska's resources for almost the last 20 years. "It was done without public comment or consultation with Alaska. With the absence of this policy, BLM will be able to manage its roadless land in Alaska as defacto wilderness areas in the expectation that Congress will eventually enact approving legislation," MR. PETERSON said. He explained after the original resolution was introduced, Mr. Somerville and Mr. Bill Horn recommended that the title be changed so it is easier to read by taking out some double negatives. The first two "whereas" sections are additions and include references to Sections 13.20 and 13.26 of ANILCA. He said that the "Whereas" on page 2, line 7 is an addition and describes the legislature's concern that without this directive, BLM would be able to manage land as defacto wilderness areas. SENATOR PEARCE moved to adopt the CS to SJR 7, Luckhaupt J. There were no objections and it was so ordered. TAPE 11, SIDE B    SENATOR TAYLOR said that the first two "whereas clauses" are the very basis upon which Governor Knowles sued the U.S. Forest Service. Those directives from Mr. Babbitt were in direct contravention of the policy and law set by Congress. He said it is crucial to the development of this resource based state that no more wilderness areas be created. SENATOR ELTON pointed out on page 2, line 3, anyone who tries to consult with Alaska won't get an answer, but they can try consulting with Alaskans. He also said that he couldn't imagine there was a need for the resolution. The new Secretary of Interior and the President campaigned on the issue of public land set asides. SENATOR LINCOLN said she wanted to know if this in any way affects Native lands. She knows that Native allotments are under the preview of BLM. CHAIRMAN TORGERSON said that was not his intent and the bottom "Whereas" on page 1 talks about the land being designated as wilderness and they couldn't designate any Native land as wilderness. SENATOR TAYLOR said he thought it couldn't impact those lands because provisions in legislation that just passed last year provided for 160 acres for Native veterans and they would not be able to select those lands from an area that was designated wilderness. MR. RON SOMMERVILLE, Resource Consultant to House and Senate Majorities, commented that they could make an argument for native allotments that haven't been finalized, but he didn't think it would affect the eventual transfer of an allotment. Once a review is started of all 5,000 acre roadless tracts for potential use of wilderness, those areas will be managed as wilderness until the process is completed. The inadvertent effect could be lengthy for 80 million acres. SENATOR TAYLOR moved to pass CS SJR 7(RES) from committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.