[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9873-S9874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-184. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to the St. Croix River; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, the passage of alewives, or ``gaspereaux,'' 
     upstream of the Woodland Dam and Grand Falls Dam on the St. 
     Croix River is a matter of mutual concern to the communities 
     of the St. Croix River; and
       Whereas, the United States Government, the State of Maine, 
     the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick 
     have not yet completed a formal agreement regarding the 
     release of alewives, or ``gaspereaux,'' in the St. Croix 
     river; and
       Whereas, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans 
     has begun to truck and release hundreds of alewives, or 
     ``gaspereaux,'' around the Woodland Dam: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That We, the Members of the One Hundred and 
     Twentieth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in 
     the First Regular Session, recognize that it is the best 
     interest of the United States Government, the Government of 
     Canada and the Province of New Brunswick to hold public 
     hearings and consult with interest private and public 
     entities and Native Americans to address and resolve the 
     issues surrounding the release of alewives, or 
     ``gaspereaux,'' above the Woodland Dam and Grand Falls Dam; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of 
     Canada, the Premier of New Brunswick, the President of the 
     Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States, each Member of the 
     Maine Congressional Delegation, the Speaker of the Senate of 
     Canada and the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, the 
     Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, the Speaker of the New 
     Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the Canadian Department of 
     Fisheries and Oceans, the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources 
     and Energy and the Chairs of the Joint Standing Committee on 
     Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Chairs of the Joint 
     Standing Committee on Marine Resources within the Maine State 
     Legislature.
                                  ____

       POM-185. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Alaska relative to digital orthoimagery and 
     digital elevation data; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                              H.J. Res. 19

       Whereas reliable, current, statewide base geographic 
     information is essential for public safety and continued 
     economic development of our resources and to increase the 
     livability of our state; and
       Whereas orthoimagery and elevation data are considered the 
     foundation of the framework of base geographic data; and
       Whereas Alaska does not have digital orthoimagery or 
     accurate elevation data; and
       Whereas Alaska's statewide base geographic information is 
     very poor; United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps of 
     Alaska are over 40 years old, lack statewide coverage, and do 
     not meet National Map Accuracy Standards; and there is no 
     existing or planned program to replace them; and
       Whereas the current imagery of Alaska acquired through the 
     Alaska High Altitude Aerial Photography Program is over 20 
     years old, not in digital form, and therefore not available 
     for modern technological use; and
       Whereas leading state policymakers defined topographic and 
     other basic mapping as the number one mapping need at the 
     December 2000 meeting sponsored by the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration; and
       Whereas funding situations in federal and state agencies 
     have not allowed Alaska to be a participant in the National 
     Aerial Photography Program and the National Digital 
     Orthophoto Program providing complete aerial photography and 
     orthoimagery coverage for the lower 48 states on a regular 
     basis; and
       Whereas NASA's 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission for 
     producing elevation data for topographic mapping covered 80 
     percent of the world but less than 20 percent of Alaska 
     because it did not map above 60 degrees North latitude; and
       Whereas new orthoimagery and elevation data provide common 
     data foundation layers

[[Page S9874]]

     that would show current conditions and trends on the Alaska 
     landscape and are the layers from which many types of 
     geographic information are extracted and to which many types 
     are registered that will allow Alaska agencies, Native 
     corporations, and private organizations to better use 
     Geographic Information Systems technology to aid in 
     responsible decision-making; and
       Whereas the Alaska Digital Orthoimagery Initiative prepared 
     by the Alaska Geographic Data Committee outlines the need for 
     high-resolution digital orthoimagery and digital elevation 
     data for Alaska; and be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     Congress of the United States to pass legislation to fund the 
     acquisition of high-resolution digital orthoimagery and 
     digital elevation data for the entire state of Alaska as 
     outlined by the Alaska Geographic Data Committee.
                                  ____

       POM-186. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Alaska relative to the transport of firearms 
     through Canada; to the Committee on Finance.

                               Resolution

       Whereas Alaska is separated from the 48 contiguous states 
     of the United States by Canada, and many Alaskans travel the 
     Alaska, Taylor/Top of the World, Skagway/Klondike, and 
     Cassiar Highways and other highways in Canada to reach the 48 
     contiguous states of the United States; and
       Whereas Alaska borders the Yukon and British Columbia, 
     Canadians engage in recreational activities in Alaska, and 
     Alaskans engage in recreational activities in Canada; and
       Whereas, in pursuit of these recreational opportunities, 
     Alaskans enter Canada at locations, some of which do not have 
     a border station or customs personnel permanently stationed; 
     and
       Whereas Alaska and the United States do not impose a fee 
     for Canadians to transport firearms into Alaska or the United 
     States to engage in recreational activities; and
       Whereas the government of Canada recently adopted new 
     regulations that require visitors to Canada not having a 
     valid Canadian firearms license to declare their firearms 
     before entering Canada at a Canadian customs station, 
     complete a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form, and pay a 
     $50 (Canadian) confirmation fee; and
       Whereas the imposition of this fee on Alaskans and those 
     traveling to and from Alaska is inconvenient and unexpected, 
     especially when considering that neither Alaska nor the 
     United States has a reciprocal declaration and fee 
     requirement; and be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges President 
     Bush, the United States Department of State, and the United 
     States Congress to intervene and negotiate with the 
     government of Canada to remove the declaration and fee 
     requirements in a manner that allows Alaskans to engage in 
     routine recreational, transport, and travel opportunities in 
     Canada.

                          ____________________