Walker's 2nd Letter

Dear Honorable Governor Bill Walker;

As the subject of a “Natural Gas Pipeline” will most likely be one of your administration's most tested challenges, I hope that when it is all said and done that whichever project meets the desires of the state and interested backers, it also meets or exceeds criteria required under current “Public Law”. As it exists today and administered under the “Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2004”, specifically of interest is documented under Section 111 ~ SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING USE OF STEEL MANUFACTURED IN NORTH AMERICA & NEGOTIATION OF A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. It is the sense of Congress that (1) an Alaska natural gas transportation project would provide significant economic benefits to the United States and Canada; and (2) to maximize those benefits, the sponsors of the Alaska natural gas transportation project should make every effort to (A) use steel that is manufactured in North America; and (B) negotiate a project labor agreement to expedite construction of the pipeline. We must adhere to these principles without dereliction or compromise. I firmly believe that the “original intent” of Congress and sitting U.S. Presidents during the time this project was of interest over the past 35-years with respect to “Alaska's Natural Gas”, any “Transportation” project was supposed to benefit America, specifically the lower-48 states in efforts to ease energy supply and demand considerations. With the most recent license issued for this project by the DOE allowing Alaska's “Stranded” Natural Gas to be exported to FTA nations and a request to expedite approval of that same export to non-FTA nations, the size of this project for export considerations(20M Metric Tons/Year for 30-years) may indeed short-circuit its intent and America's interest may get side-stepped - in efforts to allow for such “exporting” over keeping it safe for future use in the contiguous 48 states, the original intent of the “Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act” of 1976(ANGTA). The State of Alaska by virtue of resource ownership and as an “owner partner” in this project stands to receive generous revenues, as do the major supporters once this gas is transported as LNG. Especially now that the license has been issued for exporting this commodity, and lifting the “Export Limitations” as focus now heads to the FERC for other construction approvals. So it appears as though momentum is growing and during your term as Governor of Alaska, we may see on your watch the first ditch and first pipe, and hopefully that pipe will be stamped “Made in America” and that shovel in the hands of a member of the “Union” as is so recommended and the way I see it, required also as part of the existing “Law” - until such time all options have been exhausted and finds that it cannot be enforced. That can only come about through “Greed” and disrespect our “Brothers & Sisters” so engaged in the trades and keeping America strong. If we start now to make sure these conditions are paramount, we gain a whole lot of respect but must begin today to make sure these requirements are not apprehended for other conditions inconsistent with the intent of Congress. With that said, I hope that you remain vigilant and that the “Sense of Congress”, which is still in effect be not altered in any way shape or form in efforts to reduce the costs of this project, by allowing the use of foreign made steel from plants that find no labor laws and with construction through open sources without wage concessions, by not affiliating with organized labor and instead agreements with organizations that care not about worker safety along with substandard wages. From my following of this $45 to $65-Billion dollar project, it appears the emphasis today by the private backers is one of cutting costs, and no easier place can cost reductions be accomplished be that in materials and labor. Even though there exists secrecy behind this project, the reduction from 64 to 45, well that is explained by imported steel and non-binding labor agreements, yes through cheap steel and cheap labor. In fact, Americans have much more to loose if the “Modules” required for this “Mega-Project are build overseas, as has been already suggested. And “material and labor” appears to be the target set in such secrecy behind closed doors in efforts to move this project along with a smaller price tag. If cost reductions target the steel and labor, then as a Governor, this project should not be allowed as it does not benefit anybody but the backers and Alaska should recuse itself from participation. America loses out, again. So please, do not let us down with respect to these two all important issues. Any attempt could find strong opposition, and delay this project even further and any attempt to circumvent by changing the “Sense of Congress” on this issue through interference by Alaska's delegation and the “Lobby”, it is UN-American! Thanks... S. Pam McGee

cc: Leo Gerard, United Steel Workers