2008 Policy Positions

General Issues

Fiscal Policy & Planning

• Advocate development of a comprehensive, responsible, and long-range state fiscal plan.
• Support equitable and stable tax and royalty policies.
• Support some use of the Permanent Fund earnings to help fund state government.
• Support development of a strategic economic development plan.

Access

• Advocate increased access to and across public lands for resource development.
• Advocate multiple-use of public lands.
• Continue to assert the state's rights on navigable waters and submerged lands.

Regulation/Permitting

• Encourage the state to promote and defend the integrity of Alaska’s permitting process.
• Advocate clear, timely, and streamlined state and federal permitting systems based on sound science, economic feasibility, and protection of property ownership rights.
• Encourage the state to lower the costs associated with Alaska’s permitting process.
• Support NPDES primacy for the State of Alaska.

Infrastructure

• Encourage the state to develop a prioritized transportation strategy that supports resource exploration and development activities.
• Encourage the state to develop a prioritized energy/power generation and transmission strategy that supports resource exploration and development activities.
• Support financially sound improvements and additions to the state's land, marine, and air transportation infrastructure, as well as the state’s communication, power generation and transmission infrastructure.

Education

• Support growing the Alaska Mineral and Energy Resource Education Fund (AMEREF) program.
• Support initiatives to educate students and the general public on responsible resource development activities in Alaska.
• Support growing the state’s emphasis on workforce development.

Industry Specific Issues

Oil & Gas

• Support initiatives to encourage new exploration and development of Alaska’s oil and gas deposits, as well as enhanced production from existing fields.
• Encourage public policy decisions to improve the commercial viability of developing Alaska's North Slope and Interior natural gas resources.
• Advocate for a tax policy which enhances the State of Alaska's competitiveness for exploration and development investments.
• Encourage methods to improve the commercial viability of developing Alaska’s heavy oil resources.
• Educate and advocate for opening the coastal plain of the ANWR to oil and gas development.
• Support offshore oil and gas development and work to maximize benefits to Alaska through advocacy for federal revenue sharing and/or community impact assistance.

Energy

• Support simplified leasing and permitting of non-conventional fuel resources to encourage development of the state’s resources and provide energy to local areas.
• Encourage development of new electrical generating and transmission systems to provide stable sources of electricity for economic development and existing electricity consumers.
• Support utilization of Alaska's coal resources for value-added industries and power generation in addition to export to international markets.

Mining

• Encourage new exploration and development of Alaska’s mineral resources, as well as increased production from existing deposits.
• Advocate continuation and expansion of the airborne geophysical mapping program and the on-the-ground follow up work required to realize the full benefits of the program.

Fisheries

• Support fisheries policies that ensure access, markets and revenues for Alaska fishermen and coastal communities, and a healthy competitive environment for an Alaskan seafood processing industry.
• Support reduced fisheries waste and better utilization of Alaska fisheries resources, improved product value and development of new product forms.
• Support funding of fisheries and marine mammal research.

Forestry

• Advocate a reliable and economical long-term federal and state timber supply.
• Support adequate funding and enforcement of the Alaska Forest Practices Act.
• Encourage funding of forest management initiatives that address long-term forest health and reforestation.

Tourism

• Support increased and expanded tourism opportunities and improved visitor facilities throughout Alaska.
• Advocate additional aircraft landing sites and reduced restrictions on over-flights.
• Support amending the new cruiseship law to ensure compliance with federal tax restrictions, and avoid regulatory redundancy.