BUI~Rate This edition U.S. Postage Sponsored by: Anchorage, AK 1 Permit NO. 377 1 ADDRESS CHANGE REQUESTED Return Postage Guaranteed 6 Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc. Box 100516, Anchorage, AK 99510 October 1986 722C New coalition forms Alaskans to inform Congress on all aspects of issue Six pro-economic development organiza- tions in Alaska have formed a coalition to sup- port opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to environmentally- responsible exploration, development and production of petroleum resources. The Alaska Oil and Gas Association, the approximately 8 percent of the refuge, repre- Resource Development Council, Inc., and the sents the nation's best prospect for discovery Alaska Support Industry Alliance have joined of large oil reservoirs, possibly in the dimen- the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, the sion of Prudhoe Bay. Alaska Chapter of Associated General Con- The Steering Committee will head the co- tractors and Arctic Slope Regional Corpora- alition effort by charting strategy and policy. tion to form the Steering Committee of the A Coastal Plain Committee has been formed new Alaska Coalition For American Energy to work directly on the various issues. Security. The Coalition will combine its efforts The Alaska group is working with numer- with the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition for ous other organizations, companies and com- American Energy Security to assure that munities to establish a broad base of support members of Congress are fully informed for opening the refuge. The Coalition is de- about all aspects of the ANWR issue before veloping a speakers bureau to address issues deciding whether to open the coastal plain to relating to ANWR. exploration and development or designate it 'Contrary to what many people may be- wilderness. lieve, this is not an issue of energy develop- ment versus environmental values," said Tom Cook, a coordinator for the Steering Commit- tee. "The petroleum industry has consistently demonstrated its ability to operate in condi- tions similar to those found on the coastal Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel con- plain in a safe, responsible manner without 2173 University Ave. So. P.O. Box 1000 siders the upcoming congressional action on significant adverse environmental impacts." Suite 101 ANWR one of the most important resource Cook said the Coalition's effort will be Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 Healy, Alaska 99743 (907) 683-2226 management decisions to be made in the last based on factual information that shows open- (907) 479-2630 quarter of the 20th century. ing the coastal plain to oil and gas exploration Wilderness designation would prohibit de- and development is in the nation's best in- velopment of the highly prospective oil and terests. Organizations wishing to join the Coalition gas lands in the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain. A coalition of pro-development groups plan These lands are within 65 miles of Prudhoe to make the public aware that the petroleum in- should contact Cook at (907) 561-8641 or Bay and the trans-Alaska pipeline. Geologists dustry has an exceptionally responsible environ- write to Box 10-1515, Anchorage, Alaska I Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of its sponsors. believe the coastal plain, which accounts for mental record in the Arctic. 99510-1 51 5. Page 8 / RESOURCE REVIEW / October 1986 by Paula P. Easley The Resource Development Council was "The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coas- honored last month with the Anchorage 'Beware!" here comes November 4 tal Plain: Issues and Opportunities," will be Chamber of Commerce 29th annual Gold Pan the subject of a special luncheon forum on The Resource Development Council is seeking backing from the Port of Tacoma in securing Award for distinguished community service. BEWARE!" warns the invitation to RDC's Halloween Masquerade Ball. That event congressional support for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In awarding RDC the Gold Pan for distin- takes place Saturday, November 1 and is a painless way to offer financial support for Friday, November 21 at 12:OO in the Alaska Room of the Anchorage Hilton Hotel. In a meeting with Tacoma officials last month, RDC stressed that although the refuge is guished community service, the Chamber your organization. You have a blast spending the $40 per ticket and we get to fund Sponsored by the Resource Development in Alaska, it is not just an Alaska issue. The economic impact associated with oil and gas noted the Council's statewide efforts on meet- RDC projects with the profits. Council, the program will feature Charles di- development in the refuge, the Council emphasized, is much broader than the stateof Alaska. ing the most serious economic challenges 'Beware" also on an even more important day, November 4, the day of Alaska's Bona, President of the American Petroleum As far as the Port of Tacoma is concerned, jobs are the key issue. Thousands of Washington facing Alaska. The Council was specifically statewide election. Institute, economist Bob Richards, and a rep- state residents have been employed at the Port of Tacoma for many years building modules recognized for bringing Alaska's competitive To make the right decisions, November 4 requires some homework on your part. resentative from the oil industry. used for oil recovery on the North Slope. In addition, hundreds of companies outside Alaska position in the global marketplace to the fore- Whatever you do, don't be misled by candidates' pronouncements of support for such diBona will focus on the national interest have benefited directly from oil and gas development in Alaska's Arctic. front at its Sixth Annual International Confer- implications of opening the 1.5 million-acre After three years of building modules, Tacoma now stands to lose employment because ence on Alaska's Resources last February. issues as "economic development," "diversifying the economy," "jobs," etc. Some can- no new orders have been placed. The conference featured assessments of didates are saying the right words, but there's no functional substance behind them. Coastal Plain of the refuge to oil and gas exp- loration and development while the industry "The whole oil industry has had an impact on the Port of Tacoma in employing plumbers market potential in global trade for the basic That's why you must ask the right questions and read between the lines on their and pipefitters, as well as longshoremen and other employees involved in the shipment of industries supporting Alaska's economy. The campaign literature. representative will address the resource po- tential of the Coastal Plain. Richards will dis- these barges up to AlaskaInsaidJohn McCarthy, President of the Port of Tacoma Commission. conference also considered constraints to For example, have you noticed how many candidates propose to diversify the cuss the economic opportunities associated 'One major point we want to make to Congress is to let them know that Alaskan trade and Alaska's development and innovative ap- economy by "encouraging" only two industries-fisheries and tourism? That should make with oil and gas exploration and development development has a big impact on Pierce County and the state of Washington," said Commis- roaches to improving the state's competitive you see red flashing lights. Do you suppose they can't comprehend that neither govern- within the Coastal Plain. sioner McCarthy. position. ment nor private industry could pay the bills very long with income from just these two The event will target leaders from all Tacoma handles 65 percent of the waterborne shipping to Alaska, a state that receives RDC1s. .- new report on advancing Alaska's industries? economic sectors of Alaska and is intended 85 percent of its revenues from oil and gas production. economy through resource development also If we operate on the premise that Alaska's secondary industries will thrive if its basic to focus on the various issues that Congress The Resource Development Council has asked Lawrence Killen, executive director of the drew strong applause from the Chamber. industries are flourishing, candidates ought to be presenting positive platforms for im- will consider when it decides on whether to Port of Tacoma, to take a leading role in speaking with Washington state senators Dan Evans 'New Strategies for Advancing Alaska's open the Coastal Plain to oil and gas explora- and Slade Gorton about supporting environmentally-sound oil exploration and development Economy, 1986-1990,'' outlines specific ac- proving output from timber, agriculture, mining and oil and gas - not just fisheries and in the Coastal Plain of ANWR. tions for advancing Alaska's oil and gas, min- tourism which traditionally receive broad state support. Are candidates demonstrating tion and development or designate it wilder- ness, thereby prohibiting development. erals, wood products, agriculture, fisheries positive support for these other industries, and how will that support be manifested? and tourism industries. You'd best start asking some pointed questions about their positions on access to In a recent meeting with RDC executive resource lands, land ownership and management, developing transportation systems, committee members and division directors, Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel said permit procedures, resource taxation, industry incentives, eliminating unnecessary reg- the upcoming congressional decision on ulations, spending policies and restructuring state government. ANWR will be one of the most important re- Remember, too, when people talk about "marketing" the state's resources and putting source management decisions to be made in more dollars into education, both worthy causes, that we must first have access to the last quarter of the 20th century. He ex- natural resources, a monumental roadblock in our recent history. And it doesn't do pressed strong support for the Council's ef- much good to provide the widest educational opportunities if our educated citizens have forts to generate public awareness of the is- otable to move out of Alaska for a job.