[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7941-S7942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 1311. A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency to establish an eleventh region of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, comprised solely of the State of Alaska; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.


                             EPA REGION 11

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
to create a new regional office for the Environmental Protection Agency 
to be based in Alaska. I have been concerned for some time about the 
relationship between the federal government and my constituents. Alaska 
has always provided unique challenges for federal regulators. Its 
weather, remoteness, and the special problems caused by them have often 
resulted in a disconnect between federal regulators and my state. 
Currently, Alaska is part of Region 10 of the EPA based in Seattle. 
While it rains a lot in Seattle, the environment of Washington state is 
much more similar to Oregon and Idaho than Alaska. Alaska comprises 17% 
of America's total size and faces climactic extremes unheard of in the 
lower 48.

[[Page S7942]]

  For example, many people have heard that the unique geography of Los 
Angeles creates extreme atmospheric inversion conditions that 
contributes to its air pollution. However, I have been told that my 
home town of Fairbanks actually has a greater inversion problem than 
not only Los Angeles, but also anywhere else in the world except for 
the South Pole.
  I also believe that the cost issue is an important one since creation 
of a regional office would lower the tremendous travel and temporary 
duty costs faced by lower 48 based EPA staff who must fly back and 
forth to Alaska. Basing them in Alaska should significantly reduce 
these travel costs.
  I recognize that some may feel that the creation of a new regional 
office in Alaska is unwise. I would point out that I do not believe 
that the Seattle office has regularly handled Alaska issues poorly, but 
I do believe that these issues could be handled better if there was a 
regional office located in Alaska. Alaska faces wetland challenges like 
no other state. Our nation has seen a tremendous loss in wetlands in 
states such as California that has lost over 80% of its original 
wetlands. In comparison, Alaska has lost less than half of one percent 
of our nation's wetlands due to development even though we are a large 
producer of our nation's natural resources. Alaska is a state where 
wetlands banking is not an appropriate solution to address the loss of 
wetlands in California. Alaska's wetlands are also very different than 
those found in California or anywhere else in our nation. Much of 
Alaska's wetlands are frozen for all but a few months of the year.
  Even the Clean Air Act has a different application in Alaska. Low 
sulfur diesel in the lower 48 for on-road usage is not appropriate for 
my state where the percentage of diesel used for on-road uses is 
minuscule compared to that of the off-road uses. This situation is 
reversed in every other state. Fortunately, the EPA has seen fit to 
waive the low sulfur diesel requirement until a new lower national 
standard for both off and on-road diesel is in place during the next 
decade. However, we need to ensure that all federal regulations put 
into place reflect the realities of every state in our nation. Creation 
of a new Alaska based regional office of the EPA would be a firm step 
forward towards this goal.
  In conclusion, Mr. President, I encourage my colleagues to support 
this bill in order to make the EPA more efficient and responsive to 
some unique environmental challenges in my state.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be included in the 
Record.
       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF EPA REGION FOR ALASKA.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency shall establish--
       (1) an eleventh region of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, comprised solely of the State of Alaska; and
       (2) a regional office for the region located in the State.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

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