February 21, 2006

Re: Glacier Bay Cruise Ship Quota

Dear Ms. Lee:

The Resource Development Council (RDC) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the National Park Service’s proposal to increase the number of cruise ships allowed to enter Glacier Bay National Park during the summer visitor season by 10 percent, beginning in 2007. RDC strongly supports the ten percent increase as it is reasonable and will help accommodate visitor demand.

RDC is a statewide non-profit business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, forest products, fisheries and tourism industries.  RDC’s membership also includes Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor and industry-support firms.  RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

The minimal increase of 14 additional cruise ship visits over a three-month period should not have any additional impacts to park resources and values. Two cruise ships have already been entering Glacier Bay on 47 of the 92-day peak season. Essentially, the net effect of the proposal is that there will be 14 more days during the entire summer when two ships will be allowed in the park rather than one. There is no evidence that two ships a day pose any additional environmental impact than one.

We applaud the Park Service for conducting an exhaustive public planning effort and thorough scientific studies, which ultimately concluded the proposed action would not result in unacceptable impacts to the park.

The Park Service proposal will give more Americans an opportunity to see up close one of America’s most magnificent national parks.

Sincerely,

Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.