The Observer, May 2007

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Council contingent visits capital

In early March, several representatives from the citizens council traveled to Washington for visits with the Alaska Congressional delegation – Rep. Don Young, and Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski – as well as staffers in several other offices and agencies.

Council participants included Blake Johnson from the board of directors; John Devens, executive director; and Stan Jones, director of external affairs. Council board member Dorothy Moore, who was in Washington for the City of Valdez, also attended some meetings on behalf of the council.

During this trip, the council became aware that one of its issues appears to be coming to life in the newly Democratic Congress. That issue is combating non-indigenous species, long a council concern because of the risk that Prince William Sound could be colonized by alien marine species arriving in tanker ballast water.

In other areas, alien invaders like the zebra mussel and the European green crab have harmed native species and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Several bills on non-indigenous species have been introduced in the new Congress, though it’s not yet clear which is most likely to become the chief vehicle for legislation in this area. Accordingly, the council will continue tracking the issue and related legislation very closely.