Resource development is Alaska's past, its present, and will be its future.

Born in Alaska and raised in Fairbanks, like many of you, my deep roots in the community create an inseparable connection to resource development and the prosperity it brings. Alaskans have always earned their living from the land, and Alaska's livelihood depends on access to the land, and all of its resources.

For that reason I am pleased with the recent announcement that the Pogo Mine would resume its operation and that Alaskans would be getting back to work. After hearing that the Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC) filed an appeal of the Pogo Mine National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, we took a stand for responsible resource development.

As your Representative, I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Teck-Pogo Inc., the NAEC, other members of the legislature, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Governor, to encourage withdrawal of the appeal. In the process, my pride in Fairbanks and its people swelled. Our public outcry was overwhelming, and I stand united with the many Alaskans who helped see the appeal withdrawn and the mine back in operation. The message from Fairbanks and all of Alaska was loud and clear, "Open the mine".

I am proud to say, the mine will resume construction, and responsible resource development in our state is alive and well.

A healthy mining industry translates to rewards for our great state. Mining provides a significant and visible economic boost to communities throughout the state. In Alaska's storied history, gold mining has been a magnet that pulls people North. Even today there are gold miners with links to the Klondike. Anyone who has heard of Felix Pedro knows that gold mining put Fairbanks, and Alaska, on the map.

The Pogo Mine is a prime example of prosperity generated by mining activities, with the expenditure of $250 million in capital start up costs and millions more in operating expenditures, and long term mine jobs expected to exceed 300 employees with an average wage of over $66,000 per year.

The Pogo Mine is just one of the many mines expected to come online in the near future. Right here in Fairbanks we need look no further than up the Steese Highway at Ft. Knox, which employs over 400 people in high paying positions and is the number one consumer of electricity at GVEA many times over, expending about $1.3 to $1.6 million a month on electricity, in addition paying the Fairbanks North Star Borough about $10,000 a day in property taxes.

Responsible resource development, oil, gas, mining, fishing, tourism etc., depends on our indomitable "Alaskan Spirit" to succeed. We as Alaskans must not lose that spirit which galvanized our community in support of the Pogo Mine.

Thank you again to all involved, especially my fellow Alaskans, in resolving the Pogo issue.

Let it be said again, Alaska's prosperity depends on responsible resource development, before, now, and in the future.

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Nick Stepovich is the Representative for District 10, Downtown Fairbanks, and sits on the House Resources Committee, House Transportation Committee, and is Chairman of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.