The Alaska State Legislature created the Potter Point State Game refuge in 1971, later expanding it to form the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (ACWR) in 1988. ACWR runs 16 miles along Anchorage's coastline, from Point Woronzof to Pottery Marsh. It is one of the few coastal salt marshes in Cook Inlet, in part because Fire Island protects the refuge from the ice scour that ravages other Cook Inlet shorelines.

I have introduced this legislation in an effort to provide legislative oversight to protect this refuge. HB 48 requires that any final action to acquire or create a right-of-way or other easement for surface transportation within the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, other than for the Seward Highway or the Alaska Railroad, cannot be taken until 45 days after the agency has submitted notice of the proposed action to the legislature.

I encourage your support of this legislation.

ED 1: 02/25/03

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