HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes1976-935
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ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF THE MINUTES OF THS}EWARD CITY, COUN~L-V01UME 17
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L City Clerk-Treasurer d d
Jll't.ro uce :
C I T Y
1 / 12 / 76
o F
B Y B. C.
HULM
SEWARD
ALASKA
SEW A R D C I T Y C 0 U N C I L RES 0 L UTI 0 N N O. 9 3 5,
A RESOLUTION REAFFImmIG OUR ORIGINAL STAND IN OPPOSITION 'IO THE HARDING
ICE FIELD / RENAl FJORre NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL ( DES No. 73 - 86 )
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SEWARD CITY COUNCIL:
WHEREAS, the National Park Service' proposal recognizes that the
Harding Ice Field/Kenai Fjords area has not been completely explored for its
mineral potential (USGS Richter says "moderate potential for small deposits" -
land Use Planning conmdssion states "high potential") yet the National Park
Service' proposal concludes the area's mineral resource is meager and not
feasible for development; and
W'HEREAS, the National Park Service' proposal infers that mining is
unlikely and unfeasible, timber harvest is not feasible and hunting is
minimal, yet their report concludes that MUltiple Use Management would likely
create significant disruption of resources and ecosystems. The inhereht
facts in this case does.!!2!. support their conclusions; and
WHEREAS, $27,000 in Gold was taken in 1973 from a mining operation
within "the area of ecological concern" along the Kenai Peninsula's Southern
littoral, where an investment of $230,000 has been made in this operation in
recent years; and
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WHEREAS, the National Park Service' proposal states: "of all the
vegetation cover in the Harding Ice Field/Kenai Fjords area, only one-half
of 1 % is suitable for timber harvest (1500 acres), the National Park Service
would prohibit the cutting of timber and other uses (?) which may lead to
massive destruction of plant life in the monument." If one-half of 1% or
1500 acres of timber were cut under MUltiple Use Management, th)8 COULD
NOT BE CONSIDERED "massive destruction" of plant life in a 300,000 acre
area; and
WHEREAS, contrary to the National Park Service' proposal, common
knowledge dictates and it is axiomatic that biological productivity of any
given area DOES NOT lend itself to permanent perpetuation because of the
establishment of a national monument by the enactment of legislation.
Biological productivity IS dependent upon factors such as HABITAT, PREDATION,
.
DISEASE and HUNTING PRESSURE on a particular species; and
WHEREAS, the SmvARD CITY COUNCIL and the CITIZENS of the Seward
area support the concept of a SEWARD NATIONAL RECPEATION AREA for the HARDING
ICE FIELD/KENAI FJORDS area because of the unique terrain characteristics
which lend themselves so well to year-round boating activities, professional,
amateur and cross-country skiing, and many other snow-oriented recreational
events; and
WHEREAS, Seward has been officially designated by the State of
Alaska as 'THE FUN CAPITAL OF ALASKA' because Nature provided such outstanding
surrounding sea and land characteristics so suitable for recreational purposes,
which have and will continue - GIVEN A CHANCE - to enhance Seward's, the
Kenai Peninsula Borough'S, and the State of Alaska's economic future; and
WHEREAS, THE STATE OF ALASKA, THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH and TdE
CITY OF SEWARD have, over the past several years, expended approximately
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$ 400,000 in a co-operative effort in the construction of the Resurrec~on
River Road from the Seward area to the foot of Exit Glacier (see II&p), wmh
beaver-tails out of the Harding Ice Field, for the purpose of _king the
unique area accessible to surface transportation; and
WHEREAS, o!bcials of the National Fark Service DID NOT officially
contact the SEWARD CITY COUNCIL, SEWARD'S ADVISORY PLANNING and ZONING
COMMISSION, the KENAI PENINSUIA BOROUGH PIANNING and ZONING COMMISSION, the
KENAI PENINSUIA BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION, or the KENAI PENJNSUIA BOROUGH
ASSEMBLY in an effort to determine OUR INPUT for the best use of the Harding
Ice Field/Kenai Fjords area.
N<W THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the will of this seward
City Council that we official1y GO ON RECORD FOR THE SECOND TDIE vH'nUR A
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'lWO-YEAR PERIOD IN FULL OPPOSITION to the Harding Ice Field/Kenai Fjords
national monument proposal by the National Park Service because WE SUr'PORT
THE HULTIPIE USE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY FOR THIS UNIQUE RECREATION AREA.
COPIES of this Resolution No. 935 shall be transmitted to the
Honorable Gerald Ford, President of the United states; the Honorable Earl
Butz, Secretary of Agriculture; the Honorable Thomas S. Kleppe, Secretary
of the Interior; the Honorable Mike Mansfield, Senate Majority Leader; the
Honorable carl Albert, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chairman of
the U. S. Senate and U. S. House Interior and Insular Affairs Conunittees;
the Honorable l.r;ike Gravel; the Honorable Ted Stevens; Honorable Don Young,
Alaska's Congressional Delegation; the Honorable Jay Hammond, Governor of
Alaska, and Mr. Theo~~!{: Swem, Chairman, Alaska Planning Group, U. S.
Department of the Int~riG~'
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ClL THIS 19 DAY OF JANUARY 1976
Is/Richard A. Neve'
Mayor of Seward
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