Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Tuesday passed House Joint Resolution 60, sponsored by the House Resources Committee.

HJR 60 opposes pending critical habitat designations by the federal government for the Spectacled Eider and the Stellar's Eider as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. HJR 60 also asks the governor to pursue legal action if these designations are enacted.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that it could not be demonstrated that the decline of these species could be attributed to lack of access to suitable habitat. The Department of the Interior (DOI) decided to designate critical habitat after a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit which DOI considered to be unwinnable. This decision was made without any new information pointing to habitat concerns.

"The designation of critical habitat fails to identify areas that are truly necessary for the recovery and long-term survival of these species and may have unnecessary negative effects on resource development, subsistence, and commercial fishing," said Representative Gail Phillips (R-Homer), who carried HJR 60 through the House. "It may mislead the public into believing that Alaska has done an inadequate job of protecting the environment while developing its resources. In fact, Alaska has done an exemplary job in this area."

HJR 60 passed the Senate 18-2. Notice of reconsideration was filed.

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