Marilyn Heiman

Special Assistant to the Secretary for Alaska

Department of the Interior

Remarks before the

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Anchorage, Alaska

August 10, 1999

on the

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)

On behalf of the Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, I would like to thank Senator Murkowski and members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for this opportunity to comment on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980. ANILCA was a very delicate compromise forged after years of intense public involvement and debate in Alaska, in Washington, and around the Nation. ANILCA is a landmark piece of legislation that should continue to be an important foundation of land management in Alaska for years to come.

The Act offered the Secretary of the Interior the opportunity to designate new special natural, cultural, recreational, and wildlife areas. The parks, refuges and other special areas that were created in Alaska provide great opportunities for diverse activities such as recreation and tourism, hunting, fishing, and subsistence. In addition, many individuals own private property or have ventures such as tourism or mining claims associated with these lands. And future generations will continue to enjoy these opportunities if we continue to manage these lands properly.

The parks and refuges have a very positive impact on Alaska's economy. The parks and refuges receive nearly three million visitors each year; visitors paid $2.67 million dollars in visitor fees in Alaska parks in 1998; and there are 300 private businesses licensed to provide visitor services in Alaska's National Parks. Across Alaska the Department of Interior employs 2,700 individuals and operates on an annual budget of $320 million dollars.

The Department of the Interior believes that ANILCA has been and continues to be successful. This is not to say that the implementation of ANILCA has been perfect; there have been some conflicts and warranted grievances from affected parties. But the Department is committed to working with the State of Alaska, Alaska Natives, the Congressional delegation, conservation, business, and other interest groups and individuals to solve past and current problems within the carefully struck balances contained in ANILCA.

One of the most important sections of ANILCA is Title VIII, pertaining to subsistence management and use. We believe Title VIII is the strongest assurance we have to protect subsistence resources now and for future generations. The Secretary has opposed amendments to Title VIII of ANILCA and does not support any future moratoriums that could delay the implementation of Title VIII by the federal government. The Secretary also clearly supports State control of subsistence resource management. Unfortunately the Alaska Legislature has not taken action to date to bring the State into compliance with ANILCA. Therefore the Department is moving forward on the implementation of a federal program to manage subsistence fisheries on federal lands beginning October 1. However, we hope that the State Legislature will meet and resolve this impasse before that time.

When the Department is faced with challenges implementing ANILCA, we look for consensus solutions. We are continuing to work toward improving implementation of ANILCA. We regularly meet with concerned groups to cooperatively address land management challenges. The Land Managers Forum chaired by the Lt. Governor, The Alaska Federation of Natives, and myself meet quarterly to address issues such as planning for visitor use in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, developing a watchable wildlife program, enhancing recreation and tourism visitor services, developing a streamlined permitting system, and improving rest stop and information systems. These issues are being dealt with in a fair manner through cooperation. A Regional Advisory Council advises BLM on issues including ANILCA implementation. I regularly meet with Alaska Native organizations, conservation, state groups, and industry to hear their concerns. We are proceeding on plans for visitor facilities in several areas that will involve Native Alaskan organizations.

Over $18 million in contracts and grants have been obligated to Alaska Native entities by the National Park Service in the last two years. The Wrangell's Visitor Center is currently under construction with AHTNA Native Corporation doing the construction. The Bristol Bay Native Corporation is currently constructing viewing platforms and boardwalks at KATMAI. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes road at Katmai National Park was rehabilitated last year under a contract to an Alaska Native owned construction company. In addition to these obligations,

about 7 percent of the NPS workforce in Alaska are Alaska Natives. Over 33 percent of the permanent employees and 42 percent of the temporary employees in the NPS are local hires.

Through the work of the Administration and the Alaska Congressional delegation, other facilities throughout the State are being constructed or improved to ensure visitors have meaningful and enjoyable visits to our parks and refuges. Enlarged campgrounds, trails and wayside exhibits are under construction at Denali.

The Talkeetna mountaineering center is now open for visitors; restoration has been completed and historic buildings at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park are open to the public; and at Sitka National Historic Park construction of an expanded visitor center and parking lot will begin in FY 2000. The NPS is paving Exit Glacier access road at Kenai Fjords National Park this summer. The Nome Creek Road, providing access to BLM's White Mountains National Recreation Area, was completed in 1998.

Every fiscal year since FY 96 the Department of the Interior has held annual training seminars for Interior Department land managers that work in Alaska. As part of these seminars, employees learn about the content of ANILCA and, just as important, they hear from speakers throughout the Alaska community about the effect of ANILCA implementation. Speakers represent a wide range of Alaskan interests: the State of Alaska, the Native community, as well as environmental, fishing, mining, and other interest groups. On April 27, 1999 we held an ANILCA Seminar for Washington, D.C. employees that work on Alaska issues. We were pleased to have Senator Stevens give the keynote address at that seminar.

In summary, we can and will continue to work successfully within the existing laws to resolve conflicts. We will continue to work on specific administrative actions that enhance the implementation of ANILCA for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire Nation.

We look forward to hearing the issues that your panels will be discussing today

Thank you.