Stevens urges Alaska coastal seas be engaged

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER | 8-23-02 | N/A

[Temple Owl]

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Stevens urges Alaska coastal seas be engaged

Friday, August 23, 2002

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sen. Ted Stevens has pledged to oppose withdrawals of Alaska coastal waters to fishing and oil exploration by the federal government, saying that he didn't want a repeat of what has happened to Alaska's interior.

"I'm going to oppose anything that sets up a process of withdrawals off our shore that's not managed by the local people," he told a hearing of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy on Wednesday.

The Alaska Republican said a distant and unwitting Congress, encouraged by environmentalists, withdrew much of Alaska's land from resource development and all but killed the timber industry. He said he doesn't want to see the same happen at sea, especially if Alaskans don't have much voice.

The commission, established by Congress, has been holding hearings nationwide to review U.S. ocean policy and its effect on pollution, fishing, development and transportation. It could report to Congress and the president as soon as March, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Many believe the commission's report could have the same impact as the 1969 Stratton Commission report.

That report led to formation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes agencies to forecast weather, conduct ocean research and manage fisheries.

Stevens, who has written some of the nation's most significant fishing laws, and other speakers emphasized that no state has more ocean coastline or produces more seafood than Alaska. Stevens said much oil could be developed from offshore Alaska, but only if those areas aren't closed.

Stevens also defended the eight regional fishery management councils that he helped create around the country, arguing that they give local people, not Washington bureaucrats, a say in managing fisheries.

[Temple Owl]

They are learning! How does it go? Do it to me once, your fault. Do it to me twice, my fault, or something like that.

We finally have people who are fighting back.