DonYoung

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Washington, D.C., May 2, 2007 - , D.C. – Legislation designed to conduct studies on Alaska’s groundwater resources and water treatment needs was approved today by the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.  The bill will also improve streamflow information in Alaska to improve flood forecasting, resource extraction and fire management. 

            The legislation – “The Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007” (H.R. 1114) – was introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee.  It was approved by a voice vote.

H.R. 1114 directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to conduct studies on groundwater resources, water treatment needs and desalination in the State of Alaska.

“Over the last 25 years, there have been numerous studies of aquifer systems by the USGS on a regional scale but Alaska has not been significantly included in these studies,” Young said.  “These studies are needed in Alaska, which is rich in energy resources such as oil, natural gas, coal, and coal bed methane.  Development of these resources may require the use or disposal of large amounts of groundwater.  

“I appreciate the support of my colleagues on this legislation.

“This important bill seeks to expand Alaska’s water supply system and reduce flood threats.  Alaska’s combined water bodies comprise one-third of all the fresh water in the United States, but many of our communities are struggling to provide drinking water due to an outdated water distribution system and lack of adequate information on ground-water resources.  For this reason, this bill will include a survey of potential water supplies on the City of Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the City of Fairbanks, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 

“The bill will also improve streamflow information to improve flood forecasting, resource extraction and fire management.   Streamflow information in the form of USGS streamgaging stations is insufficient in Alaska compared to other states.  In fact, Alaska only has 100 streamgaging stations, which provides less than 10 percent of the information available in many other states.  This bill will help alleviate this situation.”

Some of the major provisions included in the Alaska Water Resources Study are:

• A survey of accessible water supplies, including aquifers, on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Municipality of Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the City of Fairbanks, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough;

• A survey of water treatment needs and technologies, including desalination, applicable to the water resources of Alaska;

• A review of the need for enhancement of the streamflow information collected by the USGS in the State relating to critical water needs in areas such as:

- Infrastructure risks to State transportation

- Flood forecasting

- Resource extraction

- Fire management.

For more information, access the Committee on Natural Resources’ Minority website at:

http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.shtml

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