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Part I trikina i lications for Alaska by Carl Portman Alaska is indisputably a stunning and diverse land of tremendous resource po- tential. With vast natural resources of oil and gas, timber, strategic minerals and fish, America's 49th "star" has the means to di- versify its economy and generate new- wealth for its citizens and the nation. With proper and practical land use policies which stress multiple uses of the public lands, Alaska's economy has grown to new heights and so has the standard of living for most Alaskans. In one way or another, all Alaskans have come to share in new wealth generated from resource de- velopment. Proper land managment procedures, which provide for nature while recognizing the needs of the economy, have encour- aged the development of internationally significant arctic and sub-arctic resources. Development has taken place without de- struction to public lands and natural re- sources. Yet Alaska, which has barely scratched recreational opportunities and access. In Glacier Bay, a proposal to designate certain the surface of its vast resource potential, waterways federal Wilderness would lead to a ban on boats in those areas, limiting visitor may see many future economic oppor- experiences. (ATMS photo by Bob Giersdorf) Continued to page 4 The U.S. Forest Service will get $36 mil- Agriculture responsible for the Forest Ser- lion for the preparation of timber sales in vice and Soil Conservation Service, said if the in fiscal 1989. the bill reaches President Reagan's desk, The agreed-upon compromise budget is his department would recommend a veto. bigger than a House version, but it does Speaking in Anchorage earlier this Attention RDC Board members! fall short of what the Forest Service sought month, Dunlop asserted that better re- for timber funding. The compromise budget source and land management will result if At RDC we ask a lot of our board members. We send you to was set earlier this month by a House-Se- the timber is part of an overall resource Having just been re-energized by attending the 1988 Multiple Bethel, Barrow, Nome, Ketchikan and all over the state and ask nate conference committee on Interior De- development scheme. "You have to have Use conference in Reno, I can assure you the "war" over multiple you to meet from sunrise to sunset with people from local govern- partment funding. economic growth to have prudent manage- use is better defined than ever. ments, television and radio stations and of course, potential mem- Until this year the Forest Service had ment," he told concerned Alaskans. Strategies and tactics were argued, compared and developed. bers. We ask you to field tough questions even if they're outside been guaranteed an annual appropriation Forests that are actively managed or log- How to fight back, or better yet get on the offensive, was paramount. your area of expertise. If you're on the Executive Committee, you're of at least $40 million for timber prepara- ged hold more value in the economy and We must be increasingly better at dealing with the steamroller asked to meet every Wednesday at RDC headquartersto set policy tion. But Congress has dropped the au- will be cared for, he said. effect of relentless animosity expressed in multifarious ways to- and give direction to our ambitious workplan. And, of course, you tomatic funding for two years, making it The House bill would also force the re- wards productive citizenry. are always strongly encouraged to attend RDC's Thursday break- possible to lower the timber appropriations negotiation of two 50-year contracts for One thing the 300 individuals at the conference could agree on fast forums, held every week of the year. in 1989. timber supply to Southeast Alaska's two was that we had common foes in the non-development litigators, We ask a lot because we recognize that RDC's most important Earlier this session the House voted major pulp mills. the "entropy-is-better" philosophers, the monkey-wrench gangs resource is its board. The RDC Board is a strong working group, 361 -47 to revamp the Tongass timber sys- and Earth First! terrorists. Furthermore, those foes are relentless a synthesis of diverse backgrounds and interests working toward tem. The bill, which would end the annual since they do not bear the costs of delays, frivolous lawsuits, litiga- a common goal - resource development. Much of this strength appropriations and the 450-million board tion (after supposed compromise), marginal environmental protec- derives from the comradery and shared perspective developed on foot timber harvest target, next goes to the tion, enforcement and recreation habitat which requires the fore- an informal basis at quarterly board meetings and other RDC Senate where Alaska's congressionaldele- closure of multiple use on millions of acres. events. gation has predicted it will not pass in its We all want a healthy environment. Our foes cannot accept that About a year ago RDC decided to emphasize the statewide current form. Alaska senators Ted Stevens pro-development people like clean air, water, wildness and recre- composition of the board by holding its quarterly meetings in loca- and Frank Murkowski could work for acom- ation opportunities. Their refusal to believe us puts the burden of tions that allow us to visit our loyal members. Most recently, RDC's promise bill or attempt to filibuster to pre- proof upon productive society to make that case, which is costly, Board held its annual elections in Valdez, one of RDC's strong vent the bill's consideration. time-consuming and often thankless work. community members. To convey our sincere appreciation to They also have the recourse to ask the The Tongass timber harvest accounts for To battle the elite minority of well-educated and well-funded Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc., and the Usibelli family for their long- administration to veto the legislation. over 9,000 direct and indirect year-round individuals who form the core of able strategists designing, revamp- standing support, we are holding our next board meeting in Healy. George Dunlop, Assistant Secretary of jobs. ing and raising funds for this "stop-development-at-any-cost"move- If you have not attended a RDC Board meeting recently, this is ment is EXPENSIVE. We have to admire our foes' fundraising your opportunity to contribute your perspective to the working prowess since they often manage to get the very people they are group. The invitation includes a VIP tour of Usibelli Coal Mine, ruining to give them money! Sadly, many well-meaning individuals and Golden Valley Electric Association. Space is limited. Please and anxious corporations are swept away with the preservationist call me at 276-0700 for reservations. tide and help strengthen it by funding it. De-funding our foes must - The Alaska Miners Association and Min- against the federal government only. Forc- become another time-consuming imperative unless our friends will ers Advocacy Council have filed a motion ing the miners to camp on the river or fund us equally, which has not been the case. in federal ~istrictCourt in Anchorage that riverbed has created potentially dangerous To our foes nationwide, Alaska resource developers are at the will protect the environment of the Fortymile conditions, and in the words of District bottom of the heap, easy targets to kick when down or when we River drainage from harm caused by the Court Judge James Von der Heydt, this are not watching. Vampire-like, the wilderness movement is after commented on 13 separate DEIS Wilderness fall out from a lawsuit brought by the Sierra hayin some cases have environmentally the lifeblood of our state - our land. Fifty-five million acres of Recommendations. The list goes on and you thought there was Club. detrimental effects." Nevertheless, be- designated Wilderness in Alaska has only whet their appetite. It "no more" after ANILCA? In response to the Sierra Club lawsuit, cause of its continued opposition to dredge is evident they still want Alaska to quench the thirst of a national Sound overwhelming? It can be. However, we have had enough. the federal District Court issued an injunc- mining, the Sierra Club continues to op- run amok with good will toward preservation. Pro-development individuals and groups are on the move. It is an tion in 1987 that prevented the Bureau of pose requests by miners to camp on high Alaska, land of 70% of America's parks, home of 62% of uphill battle with weary soldiers, but RDC is there for you. Land Management (BLM) from approving ground controlled by BLM. America's designated Wilderness, bearer of the burden of 90% of How can you help? Many ways, but certainly, if you can't fund long-term camping permits for dredge min- In response, the Alaska Miners Associ- America's wildlife refuges, is still being carved up, aided by federal us, at least don't fund them. Maybe that will slow their army down ers along the Fortymile River, approxi- ation and Miners Advocacy Council, re- actions. For example, this summer RDC will have reviewed and and maybe, just maybe, a small victory will be in the making. mately 180 air miles east of Fairbanks. presented by Pacific Legal Foundation, Dredge miners are gold miners who filed a motion with the District Court re- have small one or two man operations that questing to stay the effects of its injunction, use suction hoses to pick up gold bearing allowing the miners to move their camps gravel from the riverbed. Because the For- to higher ground. Pacific Legal Foundation tymile dredge mines are so remote, miners President Ronald A. Zumbrun stated, "By often set up temporary camps on high allowing the miners to move their camps ground near their operations. to higher ground a potentially dangerous When the Sierra Club stopped BLM from situation will be eliminated and the miners giving camping permits to the miners, many will have less of a visual impact on the miners were forced to move their campsites environment of the Fortymile River. It is off BLM lands and instead camp on the ironic that it is the Sierra Club's blind oppos- riverbed, or to establish floating camps right ition to gold mining that has created the on the Fortymile River itself. The riverbed possible environmental problems." and river are under state jurisdiction and Page 2 1 RESOURCE REVIEW I August 1988 not affected by the lawsuit which was August 1988 I RESOURCE REVIEW 1 Page 7

-- In a speech before the Nome Chamber Editor's Note: This summer RDC has It appears that Congress may not act on ANWR this year. of Commerce in July, RDC Education submitted detailed comments to the Na- Chances are the federal government's commitments regarding the Foundation president Joe Henri said fed- tional Park Service on its wilderness review Tongass will not be honored by the current Congress. Meanwhile, eral land management trends should be proposals for 13 federal conservation units millions of acres of prime Alaskan lands are closed to all but the reversed. He suggested that some lands in Alaska. We thank to those who helped, most hardy traveler. should be restored to multiple use, opening especially Mary Jane Sutliff, Paul How have we gotten ourselves into these situations? Since selected areas to sensible exploration, de- Glavinovich, Chuck Herbert and Mike Ab- these acts were all made by Congress, it must be that these actions velopment, access and transportation cre- bott. Assistance was also provided through are best for the people of the . Right? Wrong! ation. Jim Burling of the Pacific Legal Foundation. These actions were taken because the Congress was urged to "Sadly, the spirit of compromise has put "preserve" these areas from the public by powerful national and way too much of this vast subcontinent off international lobbies set up by various "environmental" groups. We lack a visible pro-development organization of national sta- Nearly 25 percent of America's domestic limits, out or reach Henri said. "We must Each of these groups with their national membership would be a ture to which large corporations or foundations could make con- ...," oil production flows through the Alyeska roll back these massive land set asides and formidable force when it comes to lobbying Congress, but together, tributions. If such an organization existed, a national campaign Marine Terminal at Valdez. Photo by Becky restore wider opportunity to this great land," they make a force almost without peer in the body politic. could be launched to educate Americans of the benefits of multiple Henri added. Gay When it comes to Alaskan issues, another factor is in their favor. use on public lands. The tremendous acreage of withdrawals Since so few people have been to the locations which need "pro- There are numerous local resource development councils, Valdez water Valdez is as least as good as it has been tecting" and since so little is known about Alaska by those Outside, economic development councils, multiple use councils and similar might well "embrace a preponderance of in previous years and may even have-im- the more valuable resources needed by these protectors of wildlife and wilderness don't need to be organizations around the country fighting the same battles that we proved." bothered with accuracy. Their bulging coffers support so many are fighting in Alaska. I am convinced that all have similar problems. Alaska to develop flourishing industries naffecte The biological treatment, which stimu- with which to support itself and its people," mass mailings of inaccurate information that before long their prop- While it is difficult for scattered development organizationsto attract lates the growth of oil-consuming or- aganda becomes fact to a great many people. Armed with these major contributions outside of their geographical area, a united Henri said. ganisms in the ballast water, supplements Henri and RDC are not alone in oppos- terminal "facts" they write their congressional delegation to stop the front by all of these organizations banding together would certainly several processes which physically sepa- onslaught of those money-hungry developers in America's wilder- give us the political clout to attract major contributions to fund the ing new wilderness withdrawals. At the Las A new study by the University of rate crude oil from water carried as ballast Vegas wilderness conference, associa- Alaska's Institute of Marine Science indi- ness. type of national education program needed, not just for Alaskan in tanker ships arriving at the Valdez Termi- Our congressional delegation has told us on numerous occa- issues, but for land use and land planning issues across the coun- tions representing almost 10 million people cates the water quality of Port Valdez has nal. It was introduced in September, 1986, agreed to a common direction on govern- been virtually unaffected by operations of sions that a campaign is needed to educate constituencies of key try. a year before the field sampling was con- members of Congress with factual information. However, who is I am convinced that a strong national umbrella organization ment policy affecting land use, especially the trans-Alaska pipeline's Valdez marine ducted for the latest study. federal Wilderness designations. Atten- terminal. to organize such a campaign? Who is to pay for such a campaign? representing the diverse interests of the pro-developmentcommu- dees at the conference formed a steering The study contradicts allegations by oil Enormous costs are involved in research, strategy, media, printing, nity must be formed if we are to have an impact on resource committee to direct an emerging alliance industry critics on the impact of terminal and mailing. It's easy to say it needs to be done. It's much tougher development issues. I urge leaders of all like-minded organizations comprised of a broad spectrum of land use operations on the waters of Valdez Arm. to figure out who is to do it and how it is to be financed. to consider the benefits of a national association with a national concerns. The group laid a solid foundation The study was designed by the Alaska De- I have heard members of our organization question why some staff and various communication devices to develop national of cooperation, opening the door to a un- partment of Environmental Conservation large corporations give so much more to the "environmental move- strategies for educating the public and the Congress regarding the ified front in the advocacy and promotion and the U.S. Environmental Protection ment" than to pro-development organizations. So few large multi- benefits of using our lands to their highest potential consistent with of wise land use. Agency. It was funded by Alyeska Pipeline national corporations contribute to organizations like RDC. The appropriate environmental protection. I would invite all develop- The diverse group, representing all in- Service Company. pro-development advocates are supported primarily by local citi- ment leaders to write us at RDC and make their thoughts known. dustry sectors, including sportsmen, ag- The new Institute study utilizes bottom zens and businesses. Together, we can make it happen. reed to join forces to stop a juggernaut of sediment samples taken at Port Valdez in environmental extremism that some be- the fall of 1987. Investigatorson the project lieve is slowly strangling America. were Dr. Howard M. Feder and Dr. David "Grazing doesn't always go with timber, G. Shaw of the Institute's research staff. timber doesn't always go with mining, min- The two scientists developed the study as ing doesn't always go with recreation, but a follow-up to earlier research at Valdez, you've got to put petty arguments aside this time incorporating new design require- RDC urges Corps to issue permit and realize that we'll be all history if we ments established by the ADEC and EPA. don't cooperate," said Charles Cushman Ivan L. Henman, Alyeska's vice presi- Standard Alaska Production Company has submitted detailed In light of technological and economicfactors, RDC also believes of the National Inholders Association. dent for environment and engineering, plans to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of an application Standard's causeway proposal is the most viable alternative. With- Western Timber Association vice presi- noted the researchers found that "readings process for a permit to develop the Niakuk oilfield, one mile offshore out the causeway, the project does not appear economic. dent Roberta Anderson told conference for aromatic hydrocarbonconcentrations in Prudhoe Bay. RDC president Shelby Stastny urged the Corps to grant Stan- attendees that "we are fed up with being the Port Valdez bottom sediments were Despite the care and experience that has been used to design dard the permit, noting the causeway proposal is not only environ- cast as the bad guys because we produce even lower than the low concentrations the Niakuk facilities, some environmentalists consider the project mentally sound, but the most practical route in the development products from earth resources or recreate found earlier." unacceptable because of a proposed causeway connecting the of Niakuk. Stastny said "Niakuk's reserves may be modest in com- on public land." Drs. Feder and Shaw indicated in the production island to shore. The causeway would include a large parison to other North Slope fields, but a great share of Alaska's Since nearly all wilderness designations report that the latest study utilized a new breach over a natural channel to allow passage of fish. future oil production will come from small, marginal fields." in the past decade have been made without and more reliable method of sediment con- Causeway opponents prefer that Standard drill the Niakuk reser- Niakuk's size of 58 million barrels of recoverable oil and its any consideration of the cumulative, social tent analysis developed by the National voir in a horizontal manner from land. However, technological and offshore location has made it an uneconomical proposition prior and economic impacts created by such Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. economic factors make the Corps' alternative infeasible. to the development of the Lisburne oilfield, which has pipelines withdrawals, there is a need to stop and , Henman said though the study could not The causeway is an essential link in the successful development and facilities in the general area. With those facilities in place, plus reflect upon the costs of federal Wilderness precisely determine the cause of the lower of the field, which remains highly sensitive to cost factors. the experience gained from the successful off shore Endicott oilfield and a multitude of similar state designa- aromatics concentrations in the bottom Standard maintains the project has been planned in the safest six miles to the east, the Standard proposal for the development tions before any further substantial addi- sediments, addition of biological treatment and most efficient manner. The company says great care went of Niakuk makes sense, Stastny said. tions are made to the wilderness system. to the Ballast Water Treatment System in into a design that reflects delicate environmental concerns. The modest Niakuk field will bring many positive financial and The time has come to consider the scope 1986 reduced aromatics concentrations in After a thorough analysis of the economic, social, technological job benefits to Alaska. It is estimated Niakuk will generate up to of the hidden social and economic costs of the system effluent by 85 percent. He said, and environmental aspects of the project, the North Slope Borough $1 30 million in capital expenditures, and in excess of $290 million wilderness designations. "the results show the water quality at Port has determined the Standard development proposal environmen- in royalties and taxes to the State over a 15-year life. the field will tally sound and practical. The borough, which considers the project also contribute to domestic energy supplies through the recovery in the best interests of its residents, has issued its own development of oil and gas. Page 6 I RESOURCE REVIEW 1 August 1988 permit for the project. August 1988 1 RESOURCE REVIEW / Page 3 "Grazing doesn't always go with timber, timber doesn't tinue a serious trend toward restricting re- 41% of Alaska is federal park, refuge and forest creational opportunities and access. In always go with mining, mining doesn't always go with rec- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a proposal to designate certain waterways reation, but you've got to put petty arguments aside and federal Wilderness would lead to a ban on STATE OF ALASKA Alaska Land Facts realize that we'll be history if we don't cooperate." cruise ships and fishing vessels in those 154 million acres, or about areas. 41% of Alaska is locked up in -Charles Cushman, National Inholders Assoc. Theparks need facilities and manage- ".,,O"*L PAR"% .W,LDL,FS federal conservation units. ment schemes which will allow greater pub- rn ".,,O"AL P0"ES. s.sTeM = 56 million acres have been lic use and enjoyment. Access to and from

$.Are 0' ALbS". L."PS designated Wilderness, repre- ernmental permission that in many cases nations, which preclude destination tourism the parks and their facilities for a wide vari- senting 15% of Alaska. This has become a de facto denial of develop- site development and practical access. ety of recreational opportunities is needed area would consume all of ment. Tourists, especially the international, if tourism is to play a greater role in Alaska's Idaho, Minnesota, Utah or Today Alaska has 70 percent of the na- demand practical access, comfortable economy. New wilderness designations Kansas. tion's national parks and 90 percent of its accommodations and a variety of visitor op- would lock out a majority of the public and Alaska has 62% of the desig- wildlife refuges. It has 56 million acres in portunities. Most are older tourists who are close the door on many new and diverse nated Wilderness in the U.S. federal Wilderness areas where permanent unwilling and unable to backpack and sleep commercial visitor opportunities. Some 70% of all national development of roads, shelters, cabins or in a damp tent. They are making the trip Since the passage of the Wilderness parks and 90% of all national lodges is practically impossible. This area of a lifetime. They deserve better. Act, wilderness visitor use is declining na- wildlife refuges are in Alaska. alone would consume the entire state of Wilderness advocates have portrayed tionally. A recent report prepared for Sen- Utah, Idaho or Minnesota. This lock-up rep- themselves as representing tourism, but in ator Steve Symms of Idaho shows a resents 15 percent of the state in pure fed- reality they represent only a small fraction marked drop in wilderness recreation. The eral Wilderness. Alaska has 62 percent of of the recreation public. They believe dis- report warns that 1.4 million acres of new all the designated federal Wilderness in the persed backcountry recreation, as op- wilderness in Idaho could cost the state's United States posed to commercial operations catering recreation industry $730 million annually Continued from page 1 The facts show Alaska has more than to a much larger segment of the general by the year 2000. (unities vanish under relatively new govern- its fair share of protected wilderness. Yet, public, should have priority. Symms said "wilderness does not pro- ment policies affecting land use in general * there is no satisfying the voracious appe- Thousands have come to Alaska to visit mote recreation, and those who promote and federal Wilderness in particular. These tites of environmental organizations that wild lands, and many have left disappointed wilderness should not do so by pretending policies have led to the continuing with- ceaselessly push to protect what is always and dejected about the very few accommo- any benefit to the recreational economy." drawal of giant amounts of land from pro- "one of our last pristine wilderness areas." dations available to them or their ability to Even wildlife can suffer in wilderness ductive multiple-use management, leaving Burling stressed that wilderness desig- experience the wilderness. The average areas from a lack of management. Fires striking implications for hunting, recreation, nations often represent an economic op- tourist finds much of Alaska off limits and and insect infestations can rage out of con- oil and gas, timber, utilities, agriculture, portunity cost. He said it is vital that the out of reach. On the other hand,,what at- trol threatening nearby public and private mining, local governments and tourism. cumulative effects of such lost opportunity tractions which do exist in the very few ac- lands. Several years ago the forest service * "Wilderness designations represent a lost economic cost. It Land withdrawals have clogged, im- be studied before each new wilderness de- cessible areas are now reaching the sat- tried to save a forest in a southwest wilder- is vital that the cumulative effects of such lost opportunity paired and severed access to a wide variety signation is made. uration point. ness area by cutting beetle-infested trees, of resources. Without economical means The National Park Service is now An expansion of wilderness areas within only to be stopped by a Sierra Club lawsuit. be studied before each new wilderness designation is made." evaluating the suitability of all non-desig- of shipping the resources to market or the Alaska's national parks would only con- Continued to page 6 James Burling transporting of equipment, labor and mater- nated wilderness areas is Alaska's national ials to the worksite, resource development parks for the purpose of making new wilder- Pacific Legal Foundation cannot occur. ness recommendations to Congress. In its In the late days of 1980, when Congress wilderness review process, the park ser- @ "Wilderness does not promote recreation, and those who passed the Alaska National Interest Lands vice has identified some 18 million acres Conservation Act (ANILCA), a staggering suitable for wilderness classification. At the promote wilderness should not do so by pretending any 104 million acres of the public domain was present time, NPS is considering recom- benefit to the recreational economy." withdrawn into conservation units, a great mending to Congress that 6 million acres portion of which is entirely off limits to de- be added to the National Wilderness Pre- Senator Steve Symms velopment of any kind. Some 50 million servation System. (The Wilderness Society Idaho acres had previously been set aside. The would like to triple that figure.) grand total of 154 million acres, or about Because wilderness designations 41 percent of the giant state's land mass, clearly foreclose any opportunity for @ "Sadly, the spirit of compromise has put way too much of "makes Alaska the largest repository of economic and resource development and this vast subcontinent off limits, out of reach ... We must roll misdirected goodwill in the world," accord- have serious consequences upon the ing to James Burling, an attorney with the people who reside in or near these with- back these massive land set asides and restore wider oppor- Pacific Legal Foundation. drawals, the Resource Development Coun- tunity to this great land." "Square inch for square inch, we have cil is recommending no additional wilder- more land purposely taken out of produc- ness zones. The Council believes the new Joe Henri tive multiple use than anywhere," Burling additions are unnecessary since they President, RDC Foundation, Inc. told several hundred delegates at a Las would not significantly increase environ- Vegas National Wilderness Conference in mental protection already provided for non- June. wilderness park lands. Instead, the Council @ "We are fed up with being cast as the bad guys because One hundred million acres alone is big- warns such an onerous designation would we produce products from earth resources or recreate on ger than the state of Montana. It is equiva- ultimately impair access, use of the area lent to the entire area of California. And on and adversely impact inholders within con- public land. '- the face of it, many of the withdrawals were servation units. They could even lead to Roberta Anderson made in ignorance of the development the destruction of existing hunting cabins values of the land. The small area on which and prevent lodge owners near wilderness Western Timber Associatior development or access can occur has such areas from using chainsaws to cut firewood New wilderness designations could lock out a majority of the public and close the door a complicated procedure for achieving gov- used to provide heat for guests. on many new diverse commercial visitor opportunities. (Exploration Cruise Lines photo Ironically, the tourism industry would be by Bob and Ira Spring.) Page 4 I RESOURCE REVIEW I August 1988 Continued to page 5 seriously affected by new wilderness desig- August 1988 I RESOURCE REVIEW 1 Page 5