SJR 6-OPPOSE WILDERNESS DESIGNATION FOR ANWR  4:31:53 PM CHAIR HUGGINS announced SJR 6 to be up for consideration. JODY SIMPSON, staff to Senator Huggins, explained that in January 2007, Representatives Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Jim Ramstad of Minnesota introduced HR 39 as an extension of the Udall/Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act and it was referred to the U.S. House Resources Committee. A copy of HR 39 was in their packets. She said that SJR 6 addresses that resolution. 4:32:31 PM She said further: Oil and gas exploration and development of the Arctic Coastal Plain could result in discoveries that would reduce our nation's future need on imported oil, help balance the nation's trade deficit and significantly increase the nation's security. You have paperwork in your packet that speaks to the vast economic potential for this project. In 1980 the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Congress reserved the right to permit further activities within the Coastal Plain. At this time, 8.9 million of the 19 million acres of the Refuge have already been set aside as wilderness. Current enhancements in technology can be used in a manner that minimizes the area within the Refuge that is used for exploration and development while providing the nation with a needed supply of oil and gas. This resolution before you, if adopted, urges the U.S. Congress to defeat HR 39 and, therefore, allow additional activities within the Coastal Plain. MS. SIMPSON said she worked with Daniel Kish who works on the House Committee on Resources in Washington, D.C. to draft this language and she pointed out a series of amendments that our drafters provided that are mostly housekeeping measures. 4:34:18 PM FRAN MAUER, Alaska Outdoor Council, said he is a 36 year resident of Alaska and a graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. During his time in the state he has had the opportunity to work with the wildlife biologists on the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain and he has made many personal trips there as well. He opposed SJR 6 because the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge is the most essential area of an international eco-system that is unparalleled in the entire circumpolar region for its wildlife and its wilderness values. He asserted, "Indeed, designation of this area as wilderness by the U.S. Congress is actually the right thing to do" especially with the ever-growing implications of human-induced global warming. Now is the time for Alaska to show leadership in the development of clean renewable energy resources such as wind, geothermal and tidal and not to continue as the supplier of oil. 4:36:36 PM PAMELA MILLER, Arctic Coordinator, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, urged that the United State and Alaska move toward getting off of fossil fuels. She said the Interior Department's environmental statement that the congressional drilling bills rely on state that oil and gas development would damage the wilderness character of the Coastal Plain and that it would be irretrievably lost as a result. She asked if the state's citizens should really trust Exxon, BP, and ConocoPhillips after what happened last year with the largest crude oil spill ever in the North Slope caused by negligent corrosion. Industry has not demonstrated that it can be trusted on environmental health and safety. She said the National Research Council in 2003 found that cumulative impacts from North Slope development harmed the land, birds, caribou, endangered bowhead whale migration and other wildlife and Alaska Native culture. She opposed SJR 6 saying that even Gene Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler Corporation, said we need to think about our future use of fossil fuels. SENATOR WAGONER asked who funds her group. MS. MILLER replied that is funded by its members and by grants. 4:41:11 PM MATTHEW GILBERT, Venetie Tribal Government, said he is Gwichen Athabascan. He opposed SJR 6 because oil and gas development would detrimentally harm the Porcupine caribou herd on which Gwichens critically rely on for food, subsistence and cultural ways. They have been fighting this issue for 25 years. He stated: I believe it is beating a dead horse because the country has voted again and again in support of us and it's been defeated in Congress over and over. I think this is just distracting us from a real true economic policy, which is renewable energy because our fossil fuels are running out. It's worsening global warming.... MR. GILBERT also said that he supported HB 152. 4:44:42 PM SENATOR GREEN moved Amendment 1 that consisted of housekeeping issues. 25-LS0869\A.1 Bullock AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE HOUSE Page 1, line 1: Delete "House Resolution" Insert "H.R." Page 1, line 6: Delete "House Resolution" Insert "H.R." Page 2, line 4: Delete "ANCILA" Insert "ANILCA" Page 2, line 17: Delete "House Resolution" Insert "H.R." There were no objections and Amendment 1 was adopted. SENATOR STEVENS moved to pass SCS SJR 6(RES) with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.