1995-24 Urging Congress to Exclude the State of Alaska from the No-Net Loss Wetlands Policy.KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 95 -24
Introduced by: Assemblymember
Hancock and Mayor Selby
Requested by: Assemblymember
Hancock and Mayor Selby
Drafted: Alaska State Legislature
and Mayor Selby
Introduced: 05/18/95
Adopted: 05/18/95
RESOLUTION NO. 95 -24 URGING CONGRESS TO EXCLUDE
THE STATE OF ALASKA FROM THE NO -NET LOSS WETLANDS POLICY
WHEREAS, in 1972 the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 -1387) allowed a
broad expansion of federal jurisdiction over wetlands by modifying the definition of
navigable waters to include all waters of the (Jnited States; and
WHEREAS, in 1975 the United States Army Corps of Engineers expanded wetlands
regulations to include restricted discharge of dredged and fill material into wetlands;
and
WHEREAS, wetlands regulations have been expanded further to include isolated
wetlands and those not adjacent to navigable waters; and
WHEREAS, the expansion of the regulations governing wetlands by federal agencies
exceeds what the Congress intended when it enacted the Clean Water Act; and
WHEREAS, the State of Alaska contains more wetlands than all other states
combined; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately
170,200,000 acres of wetlands existed in Alaska in the 1780s and approximately
170,000,000 acres of wetlands exist today, representing a loss rate of less than
1 /10th of one percent in a decade through human and natural processes; and
WHEREAS, approximately 98 percent of all Alaska communities, including 200 of
209 remote villages in Alaska, are located in or adjacent to wetlands; and
WHEREAS, with negligible benefit to the environment in Alaska, the expansion of
wetlands regulations has placed an increasing and unnecessary burden on private
landowners, Native organizations, and local and state governments by inhibiting
reasonable community growth and environmentally benign, sensitive resource
development; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. 95 -24
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WHEREAS, all seven of the communities on Kodiak Island are located on or adjacent
to wetlands, which causes a great deal of extra expense and time delays for
community projects to complete the current permitting requirements; and
WHEREAS, the communities on Kodiak Island have an outstanding record of wisely
developing around high -value wetlands, avoiding impact to these actual habitat areas;
and
WHEREAS, 88 percent of Alaska's wetlands are publicly owned, while only 26
percent of wetlands in the contiguous 48 states are in public ownership; and
WHEREAS, more than 60,000,000 acres of Alaska's wetlands are known to be
conserved in some form of land designation, including federally designated wilderness
land, federal park and refuge land, and state park and refuge land, that restrict
utilization or degradation of wetlands;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH THAT the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly respectfully request the United
States Congress to exclude the State of Alaska from a "no -net loss" policy associated
with the federal Clean Water Act and to amend the federal Clean Water Act to modify
the wetlands regulatory program to provide flexibility in Alaska wetlands permitting,
commensurate with the large amount of wetlands set aside in Alaska and the low
historic rate of wetlands loss in Alaska, and to relax the restriction on the use of
wetlands in Alaska.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK
ISLAND BOROUGH THAT the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly respectfully request
the United States Congress to recognize the unique contribution the citizens of Alaska
have made to wetlands conservation and Alaska's outstanding record of wetlands
conservation.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MAY, 1995.
ATTEST: Mary A. Monroe, Presiding Officer
Donna F. Smith, CMC, Borough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Jero M. Selby, Boroug
lC 1l��caG-
Resolution No. 95 -24
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