RDC Comment Letter:
Support of HJR18-Refrain from Passing Legislation that Designates Lands in Area 1002 of ANWR as Wilderness

February 20, 2009

Representative Craig Johnson and Representative Mark Neuman, Co-Chairmen

House Resources Committee

Alaska State Legislature

State Capitol

Juneau, AK 99801

Re: HJR18, Urging the U.S. Congress to refrain from passing legislation that designates lands in Area 1002 of ANWR as Wilderness

Dear Representative Johnson and Representative Neuman:

On behalf of the Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc., (RDC), I am writing in support of HJR18, which urges Congress to refrain from passing legislation that designates the 1002 Area of ANWR as Wilderness.

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.

A Wilderness designation would preclude future action by Congress to provide for environmentally responsible exploration and production of oil and gas resources in ANWR. Federal Wilderness should not be expanded to include the 1002 Area, given the Coastal Plain is considered the nation’s most promising onshore oil and gas prospect.

We encourage the Committee to vote in favor of this resolution. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.