Bob Herron looking for action on Arctic

Bethel Democrat says state’s Arctic Policy Commission learned a lot in 2 years, will have recommendations to Legislature in January

Steve Quinn

For Petroleum News

House Rep. Bob Herron may be running unopposed and not having to devote any time toward re-election, but he’s been plenty busy as co-chair for the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.

The group recently held hearings in Kotzebue and Nome and will hold their last round of hearings late November in Anchorage. Then it’s back to Juneau where the panel submits a final report and proposed legislation ideas to the Legislature.

Herron, a Bethel Democrat, spoke to Petroleum News about the commission’s work and how Alaska will soon be on a national stage once the United States becomes the chair of Arctic Council,

Petroleum News: The Alaska Arctic Policy Commission has been at it for nearly two years. What do you believe you’ve accomplished?

Heron: Well, like any subject, you just can’t learn things with the snap of your fingers. There has to be several conversations going on all at the same time and you want to be inclusive. Some of the best meetings are the ones that were on the road. It’s easy to have meetings in Juneau during session and it’s important to have meetings in Anchorage because it’s the urban center for all of Alaska.

But whether you go to Unalaska or Barrow or Nome/Kotzebue, you get the perspective that many people have. The challenge for the Alaska Arctic Polity commission is not only to become schooled in what Arctic means - just like shades of gray there are 256 shades of Arctic - but to also bring it together in a short document and submit it to the Legislature.

It would be nice if all legislators and all Alaskans understood how important the Arctic is to Alaska and to the United States, and what role the Alaska Legislature should play in it. Just like the president of the United States and the governor of Alaska, their executive branch responsibilities are about putting into a working manner the policies. It doesn’t matter what the policies are.

Now with this new challenge, or at least the challenge we’ve come to understand that we must learn about, is how does the legislative branch understand the Arctic in making those decisions. The Legislature doesn’t want to get out in front of the governor.

They just want to be a very strong partner with the executive branch, so we can understand where we’re coming from, and understand the environment we are in today. That is the challenge and the responsibility of the Arctic Policy Commission when it returns to Juneau in January.

Petroleum News: So what do you believe you’ve achieved so far?

Heron: Well we achieved a good relationship with the White House and the United State’s State Department and we have a really good relationship with our neighbors to the east in Canada, and because of the North American Arctic Council chairmanship, both countries realize that this is a key time to have our own paths to figure out. Just that alone is going to be helpful for Alaskans because Alaska legislators, at least in part - some have a good understanding, and some have a yearning to be that way - understand what it means to be an Arctic nation and as you know Alaska is the only Arctic state.

If you look at our logo, you see a view from the North Star looking down on the world, Alaska in so many aspects strategically very, very important not only to the United States but many other parts of the world.

Petroleum News: You mentioned Canada, what have you folks leaned from Canada, especially as the chair migrates this way?

Herron: Two things. One, their prime minister wants the communities in the high north to be sustainable and to help them not only develop the resources that are up there but make it a safe place to be. The other thing that is remarkable from the Canadian perspective is that though they are a separate country, we have so much in common. Sure they have parliament and we have Congress and we do things differently. Historically you can’t separate us. We have the one thing in common. They want to take care of people of the north. That’s a responsibility Alaska understands, but I don’t believe that’s true with our neighbors in the Lower 48. It’s hard for them to connect the dots to make it where those 726,000 people in Alaska are important, too. I think that is basically why I’ve learned to appreciate the Canadians.

Petroleum News: Why did you visit Nome and Kotzebue this round and save them for one of the last trips?

Herron: We wanted to save Nome and Kotz for this time of year, knowing the Bering Straits is such a strategic chokepoint. We wanted to have Nome and Kotzebue give us perspective. They not only spoke from the heart, they spoke from a position of knowledge from their heads, too. I’m not just talking about the regional leaders, but other people who came forward. One particular person said, ‘you say you want to have transparency; you want to have inclusion. That’s good coming from the state of Alaska, the Legislature. What about the business people who come up here, the developers, how about the federal government, what about the executive branch?’

The example they gave when the Burger field had its issues and some of the fallout, the residue that came over into the Northwest Borough, they felt the effects of that. The EPA fined them (Shell) but did the local people get any of that money?

The other was when Shell came into the country and went around into the villages and explained to them they are going to be in the area. People asked them what are you going to be doing up here? They said we need a safe harbor. We need a place to get to out of the danger zone. They said what are you going to bring to us? They said we are going to shop in your stores.

It was interesting having a local person say we are not against development but where do we get the benefit? It seems like everybody else gets the benefit, not the local people. I’m not even doing it justice the way he described it with common sense testimony.

All of these trips have been good: Anchorage; Fairbanks; Nome; Kotz; Barrow; Unalaska. Fascinating places all around the state that are so interconnected with the Arctic. Then you go to Fairbanks: The research our university does, especially on the Arctic, is world class. It’s opened up so many irons for so many people.

Petroleum News: Speaking of common sense testimony, one of the things you and your co-chair explained to me was you wanted Alaska’s voice to get stronger with common sense testimonial. Is that happening?

Herron: In my opinion, yes. The commission, as it’s not only the co-chairs having these conversations and it was the Northern Waters Taskforce before us, so these four years of conversations has worked. We believe we have a very good relationship with the White House and the State Department on Arctic issues. When Admiral Papp was up here, he made sure he got to visit with us and many other people. They have learned to appreciate that the Arctic boots on the ground are just as important as the Arctic theorists who live elsewhere.

Petroleum News: talk about Admiral Papp. You got a chance to meet him not too long ago. What are your impressions?

Herron: Well, obviously a very successful career in the Coast Guard; he knows the lay of the land down there and how to get around and he has the confidence of Secretary Kerry. The part that I came away with is that he’s not overbearing, he’s down to earth, he wants to learn and like any good leader, you have to have confidence in your staff. He was special rep to the secretary. Then you have Ambassador Bolton and Julie Gourley, the senior Arctic official and they have both been in the business a long time. It’s easy to see that he takes their counsel seriously. Having Fran (Ulmer) as a special advisor while keeping her chairmanship at the Arctic Research Commission is only a benefit.

The only thing I shared with the admiral is our disappointment - and not that the admiral isn’t more than qualified to do it or not that Fran isn’t a talent that the State Department can’t use - it’s just that of those two top positions there wasn’t an Alaska indigenous person. He said we recognize that. He told me he needs a couple of Alaskans, preferably Alaska indigenous people to serve on his senior level staff. They are starting to recruit and starting to have conversations.

I think it’s consistent with the national strategy in the two entities the White House and the State Department need to consult with: the state of Alaska and Alaska indigenous people.

When I say the state I don’t mean just the executive branch. That’s what me and Lesil (McGuire, Herron’s co-chair) - and all members of the commission - have always strived for. When you are going to have conversations with the state of Alaska, you must have it with the people’s representatives, the Alaska Legislature. It’s not our job to get out in front of the executive branch. Our job is to be that strong, supportive partner with the executive branch to look out for Alaska’s best interests.

Petroleum News: You noted Fran Ulmer. What do you like about having her in the advisor role while still holding her position with the Arctic Research Commission?

Herron: By her still being the chair of a group of talented scientists and, of course we have our own people on there with Mary Peat, Edward Itta and Dave Benton, so we’ve got some real skill. Whether he (Papp) goes to her or she comes to him in saying here’s what I think, it isn’t just her. It’s the commission and the talent they have. Just like the admiral, she’s had many responsibilities in her career like Obama tapping her to be on the Gulf aftermath. It’s a well rounded buffet of skill that any leader would want. They don’t want the sorta kindas. They want people who are solid. She’s got that.

Petroleum News: Shell recently announced its plans for returning to the Arctic. Given what you’ve heard in Nome and Kotzebue, what are your thoughts?

Herron: Everybody is wary but they see they have an opportunity to be in a meaningful partnership with them. It’s only when it’s meaningful and it’s well thought out. I think they are confident. It was clearly spoken, they have no plans to sit on sidelines and watch from afar. They want to be in the mix of it. It’s their front yard and they will insist on it being done correctly.

Petroleum News: You noted the report due in January. You issued a preliminary report last winter. How can you assure people that the report has heft to it that will be acted upon rather than say collect dust in Juneau?

Herron: We’ll have an executive summary and a body of work that fleshes out all the details, but also two other documents. We’ll have an implementation plan that’s pretty aggressive. It has to be nimble. It can’t be rigid. The second document is we would like to introduce an Arctic policy legislation. It would set broad parameters but it will refer back to the implementation plan. Probably one of the first things we’ll have to do is what is the future of the Arctic Policy Commission? What role are they going to play in bird-dogging Arctic Policy?

Arctic policy is not going to go away. Is it going to be a committee, a continuing commission, something that will have a platform that makes sure the dialogue isn’t going to go away or doesn’t just come back when there is a crisis? We might have a new governor. If we do, is his look at the Arctic going to be the same as the current governor? Of course not. We’ll have new legislators. What will they bring to the table? Hopefully with this summary, the final report, the implementation plan and the legislation that will maybe set in place Arctic policy.

Petroleum News: Now we’re told the report will cover for broad areas. They are: a renewed focus on the state’s “infrastructure gap”; a boost to Arctic science and research; increased response capacity for a more active Arctic maritime environment; and a focus on sustainably developing Arctic resources with an eye to Alaska’s unique cultural, social, and environmental needs.

Herron: They are the four visions. The Arctic has to be sustainable; not only sustainable for resource development. That has to protect the environment. It has to protect its people. It has to protect its people. What does that mean? What about our safety? What about our security, both at the state level and at the national level? Moving forward that we are involved in the decision-making and we are not being just people you can pat on the head and say we’ll take care of you. We want to take care of ourselves. Again, as long as we remember that, don’t forget where we came from, don’t forget what’s best and not be seduced by things that are not relevant and not important to Alaska, then we’ll be OK. We’ll make the right decisions.

Petroleum News: Among those four, is there a priority for you?

Herron: Well, when you list them on paper, something has to be first and something has to be fourth, but I don’t really think so in this case. You can’t have one without having the other be successful. It’s just like your kids, they are all No. 1 in your eyes. If you had four kids they would all be No. 1. It’s how the relationship between the four visions and how they interact.

Petroleum News: So you’re down to one more meeting before returning to Juneau for the session?

Herron: There are more than a couple of things. First of all we need to make sure the draft implementation makes sense. Then of course work on the proposed legislation for the next Legislature to consider. Make sure it’s relevant, but not do too much, either, because as you know the perfect piece of legislation can be introduced on day one and on day 90, it comes you with no resemblance to how it first looked. You can introduce a shack and it comes out a mansion; you can introduce a mansion and it comes out a shack.

The Legislature, not only the people who are returning but have been on the commission and the peer experts who will be part of the process, they will have to mold it into what makes sense for them at that particular time.

Finally, the executive report itself. It has to be a document that if there is a commission or if there is a committee that can go forward, it has to become something that becomes a living document. It can’t be so rigid that you try to improve a piece that doesn’t lose its original flavor. We are all busy. November is going to be incredibly busy. There will be new dynamics regardless of how the election turns out. So it’s going to be an exciting time. It will be a busy two days the third week of November after all of the excitement wears down with the latest news (new governor ticket featuring Bill Walker and Byron Mallot).

Petroleum News: So, so given your deference to the executive branch, which branch would you like to see introduce any legislation in January?

Herron: We’ve got a good relationship with the executive branch on this. We wanted to wait until after August and the Kotz meeting. We’ve put in a request to meet with the governor to brief him. Our executive director has met with Stephanie Moreland, the governor’s lead on the Arctic. The recommendation has been the governor and members of the commission - not the whole commission - sit down with him and talk about what’s the next step - what does the governor want to do, what do we want to do - and let’s put together a plan.

Petroleum News: As the Legislature goes, you’ve got a lot of your plate these last few years with oil taxes and the LNG bill, can you see next session with a strong focus on Arctic policy?

Herron: I think it will because as you know the Canadian chairmanship will be right at the end of April, so in theory we will be out of session. It’s a complete awareness that these next couple of years will be conversation on Arctic policy. Most of the Arctic Council meetings, they are anticipating 20 meetings over two years, and Admiral Papp says they anticipate 15 or 16 are going to be in Alaska. The world of the eight Arctic nations and all of their observers, they are going to be coming here. They are going to have some in the Lower 48 because not only do we need to be responsible as an Arctic state need to be responsible for the United States but we need to educate our friends in the Lower 48 so there will be some high-profile meetings around the United States. Then at the end of those two years and that’s when we hand it off to Finland and our ministerial will be in Alaska.