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Session: State Capitol, Room 411 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2689 Fax: (907) 465-3472 Send E-Mail Interim: 345 W Sterling Highway, Suite 102 Home, AK 99603 Phone: (907) 235-2921 Fax: (907) 235-4008 |
Opening of Coastal Plain
Alaska's and America's Future in the Balance
| For Immediate Release: April 9, 1999 | |
| Contact: | Representative Gail Phillips at (907) 465-2689 |
Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Friday joined the House of Representatives and approved House Joint Resolution 11, which urges Congress and the White House to open the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration. The Senate vote was unanimous.
"Past Legislatures have given strong support to opening the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and it is only proper that the 21st Alaska Legislature should also vote it such strong support," said Representative Gail Phillips (R-Homer), sponsor of HJR 11. "Development is supported by the North Slope Borough and by the majority of Alaskans. The U.S. Interior Department even recommended development in 1987.
"It is estimated that between 250,000 and 735,000 jobs would be created by the development of the Coastal Plain of ANWR, and many of these jobs would go to Alaskans," Phillips said. "It would help Alaska offset its declining oil revenues while greatly reducing our nation's growing and dangerous reliance on imported oil."
HJR 11 now returns to the House for concurrence with Senate changes.