SJR 3-ENDORSING ANWR LEASING  4:07:57 PM CHAIR GIESSEL called the meeting back to order and announced that SSSJR 3 was before the committee. She asked for a motion to [adopt] the work draft committee substitute (CS) for SSSJR 3 [as the working document]. 4:08:11 PM SENATOR MICCICHE moved to [adopt] CSSSSJR 3( ), version 28- LS0331\C, [as the working document]. SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH objected for purposes of discussion. SENATOR MICCICHE explained the resolution updates previous resolutions urging the US Congress to pass legislation to open Alaska's coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and development. Such development is currently prohibited in the Refuge under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980. He said it's clearly in the state's best interests to continue to become less dependent on foreign sources for energy and it's in the interests of Alaska to have that energy produced within the state. The one change to the resolution passed by the 27th Legislature is that Alaska will have a transportation system for oil very close to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with completion of the Pt. Thomson pipeline. It's a key time in the need for energy security for Congress to finally see the light on opening ANWR to development. SENATOR MICCICHE said other items that changed were on page 2, line 11, where the language - "although the domestic demand for energy continues to rise we are also increasing domestic production" - was outdated. Lines 21-24 talk about the Pt. Thomson pipeline and some numbers were updated for accuracy. The Central Arctic Caribou Herd was added on line 11. On page 3, line 14, "has developed directional drilling technology" was added. The old language was written at the sunrise of drilling technology. Line 18 deleted reference to "specific fields", because the reality is that we are practicing the innovative technology in the new fields that would enhance environmental protection beyond traditionally high standards. 4:11:19 PM Finally, the "whereas" that begins on line 24 was changed because it was prior to this legislature creating the Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources Plan. He reminded the committee that ANWR is about the size of South Carolina and the proposed development area in the Coastal Plain is about one-fifth the size Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. 4:12:44 PM At ease from 4:12 to 4:15 p.m. 4:15:10 PM SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH offered conceptual Amendment 1 to delete "of not more than 2,000 acres, which is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the area of the Coastal Plain" and insert "as limited by Congress" on page 3, line 3. She explained that language in past resolutions had stated acres that were all contingent on legislation before Congress that actually described the scope of what would be available inside the Arctic Coastal Plain for development. So when the first bill before Congress that the legislature was responding to had a very small number of 2,000. Now there is a $10,000 proposal before Congress. The issue is that they don't know that until Congress starts putting a bill to discuss ANWR in play; and her amendment is trying to allow Congress to make that definition and absolutely trying to limit the area that is open for oil exploration. Originally ANWR and the Coastal Plains had 8.9 million acres available and another 9.16 million acres were added to that. Of all that, about 9 million is in wilderness, but another 9 million is designated as Refuge - so Alaskans and Americans can be secure in the fact that most of this land is out of oil development futures. 4:17:58 PM She restated the amendment: the same deletion on page 3, line 3, after "area" and "of not more than 2,000 acres, which is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the area of the Coastal Plain" and insert "a limited area as defined by Congress" after "area". SENATOR MICCICHE objected for purposes of discussion and asked to hear from Adrian Herrera with Arctic Power. ADRIAN HERRERA, D.C. Coordinator for Arctic Power, Washington, D.C., supported the amendment saying the explanation on how Congress came up with the 2,000 acres was correct and that it is an ever changing figure. Currently Don Young has H.R. 49 on Capitol Hill to open the 1002 area and it has the 2,000 acre limit in it. This morning a second bill was introduced with a 1002 provision in it that limits the acreage to 10,000 acres out of every 100,000 acres that can be leased within the 1002 area. It didn't limit the actual footprint size. Legislation is going to vary ever more and keeping a footprint of 2,000 acres as a minimum is accurate as far as current legislation goes, but it changes. The point is to minimize impact and everyone agrees on that about ANWR 1002 legislation. SENATOR MICCICHE removed his objection. SENATOR FRENCH said the amendment also has the benefit of correcting the math error in the clause that said 2,000 acres is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the Arctic Coastal Plain, but it is actually 1,500 acres. CHAIR GIESSEL announced that conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 4:22:06 PM CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony. Finding none, she closed it. SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSSSSJR 3, version C as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. CHAIR GIESSEL announced that, without objection, CSSSSJR 3(RES) passed from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.