Wilderness is a legal term defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act which limits access to land to non-mechanized transport only.  It is a strict land use definition which prohibits any industrial development.  Nine million acres of ANWR’s 19.5 million acres is already declared Wilderness. 

Representative Millet is a freshman representative from Anchorage and was supported in her resolutions by a near total majority of the Alaska State House of Representatives.  Both resolutions passed with a 32 yea – 2 nay vote.  The Alaska State Legislature has passed resolutions supporting the opening of the 10-02 Area of ANWR nearly every year since the debate began in the late 70s.  Seventy-five percent of Alaskans strongly support the opening of the 10-02 Area.  This support is equal across all party lines.  Representative Millet stated “100 reasons” to open the 10-02 Area listing the job benefits, the economic benefits, the care and protection of the environment, the national security benefits and even the potential to pay for all the alternative energy provisions in the current stimulus package being levied by Congress.  HJR 7 and HJR 18 are a continuation of the 29 years of Alaska’s direct message to Congress and to the nation, that opening the 10-02 Area of ANWR is a win-win situation for all. 

For over 30 years Alaska has supplied over 15 billion barrels of oil to the nation saving America $735 billion dollars in imports at today’s per barrel price.  Today the Trans-Alaska Pipeline carrying that oil is one third full and is in desperate need to receive new inputs of oil.  Congress is the only entity blocking that oil from being accessed. 

America currently imports 60% of its oil costing it $922,072,320 per day or $38 million per hour.  Add to this the imports of refined oil and petroleum products and the figure is well over $1 billion per day.  Alaska today supplies the nation with 16 % of its domestic oil and yet holds more conventional oil reserves, both proven and unproven, than any other state or area in America.  The 10-02 Area alone represents the single largest potential accumulation of conventional oil in the nation yet it cannot be tapped without the permission of Congress.

The two resolutions will both be sent to the Department of Interior and the White House to try and urge them to do the right thing on ANWR.  
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                           
PRESS RELEASE
 
MILLETT’S ANWR RESOLUTIONS PASS HOUSE FLOOR
HJR 7 & 18 focus on 1002 Area of ANWR
 
Thursday, March 19, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Two resolutions urging the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, sponsored by Representative Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, today passed the Alaska State House.
 
House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7 urges the United States Congress to pass legislation that would allow development in the 1002 Area of ANWR. It further states the Legislature’s opposition to any reduction in royalty revenue from exploration and development of the coastal plain.  HJR 18 urges Congress not to designate 1002 Area as wilderness, preventing exploration, development and production.
 
“I think it is vitally important that Alaska continues to make our voice heard in Washington, D.C. on the issue of ANWR,” Millet said. “Anything we can do to discourage a wilderness designation for the 1002 Area, while encouraging Congress to allow us to open ANWR for development is critical.”
 
Both resolutions will be sent to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, US Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, the Alaska Congressional delegation and a number of other national leaders.
 
To contact Rep. Millett, please call 1-907-465-3879.