February 17, 2009
Representative Bob Herron and Representative Cathy Muñoz, Co-Chairmen
House Community & Regional Affairs Committee
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
RE: HB134-Cruiseship Wastewater Discharge Permits
Dear Representative Herron and Representative Muñoz:
On behalf of the Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc., (RDC), I am writing in support of HB134-Cruiseship Wastewater Discharge Permits.
RDC is a statewide, non-profit, membership-funded organization founded in 1975. The RDC membership is comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, timber, tourism, and fisheries industries, as well as Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to link these diverse interests together to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources, including our tourism resources.
Setting standards for discharges through the initiative process, regardless of the industry, in my opinion is not appropriate. Indeed, what was put into place by this initiative would not allow cruiseships to discharge tap water from Anchorage, Fairbanks, or any port community for that matter. As legislators, and indeed, as Alaskans, we must do our best to encourage new investment in this state, including the tourism industry, by allowing reasonable and attainable standards for all industries. By correcting this error, DEC will have the tools to use the best available science, as they do with all industries in Alaska, to establish safe discharge limits that will protect Alaska’s clean water.
We encourage the committee to vote in favor of this bill. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.
