 February 12 , 2003
"When Congress passed ANILCA in 1980, it required the federal government to assess public lands for mineral and oil and gas potential, including on state lands and in conservation units," Murkowski said. "That program was never implemented as broadly as Congress intended, and was virtually stopped altogether by the Clinton administration. It's time to start again." The Alaska Minerals Resource Assessment Program, conducted by the Department of the Interior, helped identify major prospects such as the Pogo mine under consideration for development near Delta Junction, according to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. A broad program to assess public lands for mineral, oil and gas wealth is one of five key recommendations made by the commission in its biannual report, delivered to Congress and the White House last week. The commission also calls for new federal research on infrastructure and transportation in the Arctic. "State agencies will work with the commission, the White House, and the Congress to make these priorities happen," Murkowski said. "We will also enlist the University of Alaska." Federal research spending in the Arctic totaled more than $265 million last year, commission Chair George Newton told Murkowski. The commission discussed the broad impact research has on Alaska's economy, and slated further discussion on federal-state cooperation on research as requested by SJR 44, which passed the Alaska Legislature last year. Besides calling for interagency research initiatives on resource assessment and civil infrastructure, the commission wants stronger work on climate change, public health, and assessing the Bering Sea. Murkowski endorsed the commission's call for bottom mapping of the Arctic Ocean by U.S. nuclear submarines, so the U.s. would be prepared to claim additional territory north of Alaska if the U.S. ratifies the Law of the Sea treaty. "We understand oil rich lands in the continental shelf of the Chukchi Sea may extend well beyond 200 miles, but the U.S. can't make a claim unless that area is mapped," Murkowski said. "We support the commission's call for better mapping of Alaska onshore, as well." The U.S. Arctic Research Commission was created by a law sponsored by Murkowski in the U.S. Senate in 1984. Murkowski said he plans to ask a "mini-cabinet" of resource, health and community and economic development to work with the commission to better coordinated federal and state research efforts in Alaska. Alaskan commissioners appointed by the President include former Anchorage Borough Mayor Jack Roderick, Institute of the North Managing Director Mead Treadwell, and former Alaska Federation of Natives President Mary Jane Fate.
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