Murkowski Details Plan for Job Creation in Ketchikan Area

Press Release

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski today said that in a new term she will redouble her efforts to aid economic development in Southeast Alaska by pushing for a revival of the Southeast timber industry and by promoting renewable energy and transmission, better transportation, and mineral industry development in the region.

"We all know that times have been tough for the timber industry in recent years, for the Seley mill in Ketchikan in particular, and for other timber-dependent businesses. But even though we have differences with the Forest Service under the existing Administration we should be able to reach an accord to help revive a timber industry in the region," said Lisa Murkowski.

Murkowski, who will be unable to return to Ketchikan for another campaign swing prior to Nov. 2's election, said she will work next year to propose a new state forest in Southeast that could provide a more dependable timber base for the industry. She said as part of such a bill she would work to protect key fishery watersheds, besides moving significant commercial lands into state hands. She also said that in the bill she will attempt to settle the many controversial Tongass forest issues that are outstanding including the "Landless" Natives issue where Ketchikan was one of five communities in Southeast that did not gain Native village or urban corporations when the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was approved in 1971.

She said other issues that need addressing are a Mental Health Trust land swap to protect timber lands in Ketchikan, the Native veterans allotment legislation that needs to be fixed so more Southeast Natives qualify for and can select Tongass lands, and municipal entitlement and expansion issues.

"I also will work to settle differences on a Sealaska land exchange bill. I know there are still issues over fishing sites, some sacred sites, access and other problems that need to be worked out, and I will hold new hearings on the bill early next year that I hope will finally pave the way for changes and for its passage. The timber industry needs Sealaska to remain in business for the timber industry in the region to remain viable and Sealaska shareholders have waited long enough to gain their lands," said Murkowski.

She said she hopes to revise the bill and reach agreements to allow for passage relatively soon next year, if she is re-elected.

The Senator, who is conducting a write-in campaign to win re-election to the Senate, said she also supports the concept of building more renewable hydroelectric projects, plus wind, geothermal , biomass and future marine hydrokinetic (ocean) energy projects in the region. She also wants to push to finish the Southeast Intertie and a branch transmission line into Canada to allow for the export of surplus electric power to the Pacific Northwest.

"Clearly Alaskans deserve to benefit from lower-cost electricity first, but if there is surplus power, its sale could provide a new economic engine for the region," said Murkowski, who noted there are nearly 400 megawatts of hydroelectric power than can be produced in the region without environmental damage based on existing feasibility reviews.

Murkowski in 2007 won approval for a Renewable Energy Deployment Grant program that could help fund future hydroelectric projects throughout Southeast. She said she will make it a priority in the future to gain funding to implement the Department of Energy program, and also to seek more federal aid for transmission line construction.

Murkowski this session also introduced a series of bills to improve infrastructure in Southeast. She introduced a $200 million ferry system improvement bill that she hopes will be included in next year's likely reauthorization of a six-year federal highway funding bill. She also will again attempt to revise her Southeast Alaska Timber Retooling and Restructuring Act to gain aid for companies to revamp operations to utilize young-growth timber or to diversify into other businesses. The proposed $40 million aid bill was halted this session by Senator Barbara Boxer of California, the chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Murkowski on minerals this summer introduced legislation to provide loan guarantees, to improve permitting and to require the federal government to purchase Rare Earth Elements (REEs), legislation that should improve the chances for development of the Bokan Mountain REE deposit on Prince of Wales Island outside of Ketchikan. Given china's recent embargo of REEs to the United States, minerals that are vital in defense, telecommunication and other high-tech applications, the bill could pass during a lame duck session of Congress this fall or be considered early next year.

In a new term Murkowski said she will work to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Program, whose school and road aid is now set to expire after next year. She is working to craft a new funding formula to try to protect as much aid for Alaska schools as possible.

"As a Southeast girl that lived as a child in Ketchikan, I have a track record and want to help Ketchikan," said Murkowski, who secured an extra $2.5 million for Tongass pre-sale timber planning and layout just last year, while winning budget language to require the U.S. Forest Service to offer profitable tracts of red cedar timber to Alaska mill operators.

During her term, the Senator in 2005 won $$22 million for improvements to the Ketchikan shipyard to pay for the dry-dock at the facility. She also won $5 million, the first of federal money she gained, to help with completion of the Walden Point Road that is finishing its construction at Metlakatla. In 2009 she gained $1 million for the facilities and equipment at Ketchikan General Hospital and $500,000 for replacement and rehabilitation of municipal bridges in Ketchikan. She also last year gained $350,000 for the University of Alaska Ketchikan, Small Business Development center.

"While there is a federal budget deficit, the federal government still has a responsibility to help the regional economy, given that the federal government "s change in policies to promote restoration and young-growth from an old-growth timber industry is what has pulled the rug out from under a viable timber industry in this town. I really hope that the Department of Agriculture will do more to promote development in Wrangell," said Murkowski, noting that the Rural Development Administration recently did provide some aid to the region with the hope that more will be on the way.

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