S-2087               _______________________________________________

                                          SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 8015

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Bottiger and Johnson

Read first time 3/2/87 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 19 million acres of land, amounting to approximately five percent of the entire state landmass; and

          WHEREAS, The ANWR Coastal Plain is approximately eight percent of the refuge and is considered to be highly promising for the discovery of large quantities of oil and gas; and

          WHEREAS, Congress has reserved the discretion to decide if the ANWR Coastal Plain will be opened to further exploration, development, and production; and

          WHEREAS, National energy security depends on the development of domestic oil and gas resources to replace depleted United States reserves; and

          WHEREAS, The United States must prepare to develop domestic petroleum resources if it is to prevent overwhelming dependence on foreign petroleum sources in the 21st century; and

          WHEREAS, The nation will derive substantial revenues, including portions of bonuses, royalties, and rents, from oil and gas development; and

          WHEREAS, The petroleum industry has consistently demonstrated its ability to operate in conditions similar to those found on the ANWR Coastal Plain in a safe, responsible manner without significant adverse environmental impacts; and

          WHEREAS, Opening the ANWR Coastal Plain to further exploration, development, and production will greatly enhance the economic development of the State of Washington by generating increased employment and business opportunities;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Congress of the United States open the ANWR Coastal Plain to environmentally responsible oil and gas exploration, development, and production.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.