2009 Policy Positions

General Issues

Fiscal Policy & Planning

• Advocate development and implementation of a comprehensive, responsible, and long-range state fiscal plan.
• Support equitable and predictable tax and royalty policies.
• Support some use of the Permanent Fund earnings as part of a fiscal plan.
• Support development of a state 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.
• Support efforts to ensure Alaska’s ballot initiative process is open and transparent.
• Adequately resource permitting agencies for personnel, research, and science.
• Support the State of Alaska’s efforts to challenge unwarranted Endangered Species Act listings.
• Remove the “Point of Discharge” requirement implemented by the 2006 cruise ship head tax initiative to empower DEC to regulate cruise ship discharges to meet all water quality standards.
• Encourage the  state to carefully consider the impacts of potential changes to the ACMP program on communities and industry while striving to eliminate the duplication of current state and federal requirements.

Infrastructure

• Encourage the state to develop a prioritized transportation strategy that supports resource exploration and development activities.

Education

• Support programs, including the Alaska Mineral and Energy Resource Education Fund (AMEREF) 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

• Oppose efforts, either legislatively or through the initiative process, to impose a gas reserves tax.
• Support legislation to encourage new exploration and development of Alaska’s oil and gas deposits, as well as enhanced production from existing fields.
• Encourage public policy and fiscal decisions to improve the commercial viability of developing Alaska's North Slope and Interior natural gas resources.
• Support efforts to increase Cook Inlet oil and gas exploration and development to meet local demand and export markets.
• Advocate for a tax policy that enhances the State of Alaska's competitiveness for exploration and development investments.
• Encourage methods, such as investment tax credits, 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.
• Support efforts to diversify Alaska’s energy sources, including known renewable energy options and research and development of non-conventional sources.

Mining

• Support equitable and predictable mining tax and royalty policies.
• 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

• Advocate additional aircraft landing sites and reduced restrictions on over-flights.
• Support amending the new cruise ship law to ensure compliance with federal tax restrictions, and avoid regulatory redundancy.