In regards to SB 312, I would like to say that we are very happy that Senator Ogan has finally recognized that coalbed methane development in the Mat-Su Valley is likely to have negative consequences on the lives of those of us who live here and therefore needs to be a regulated industry.

Unfortunately, this realization, in the form of SB312, comes too late for Senator Ogan’s constituents. It, in fact, comes too late for all the constituents of all MatSu legislators who, in my mind, stand equally culpable of allowing the legislative process to be so grossly manipulated, for allowing the public process to be so grossly avoided, in the interest of benefiting one industry at the expense of all competing industries and interests in the Mat Su Borough and throughout the State of Alaska where cbm extraction is slated to take place.

You state, Senator Ogan that this bill is intended to "undo" the unintended consequences of your earlier actions in regards to the cbm industry. It in fact does not do that, it does not UNDO anything.

The reality is, the unintended consequences of Senator Ogan’s earlier legislative actions are that valley property owners lost the right to control their own property. The unintended consequence is that this loss of control over activities occurring on private property happened without public notice and without any true ability to participate in development of a regulatory regime that would have required a best interest finding to be conducted BEFORE any leases were let.

While SB312 provides the beginnings of a modicum of protection for future cbm leases. SB312 is unacceptable as it is written (it is unacceptable as it has been amended) because it provides nothing for the leases that occurred when Senator Ogan, Representative Kohring and Evergreen Resources were huddled in the back rooms of the State Capital, cleverly crafting legislation that would allow unfettered cbm development across the State of Alaska.

In order for cbm Legislation on the cbm industry to be acceptable, it MUST include a complete remedy for the property owners sitting on top of the existing leases; it must include a maximum benefit finding that is to be conducted PRIOR to any leases being let, it must include provisions for state supported local control over the industry; and it must include baseline data collection and adequate bonding for damages that are almost certainly to occur somewhere due to the technologies used in extracting cbm from our subsoils.

Thank you.