598 



Senate Energy Sub Committee 



On Public Lands, National Parks and Forests 



Senator Dale Bumpers-Chairman 



Honorable Senators , 



My name is Steve Brenner and I thank you for the 

 opportunity to address you on this important issue. 



First of all let me say I support Senate Bill 

 237 and I am against Senate Bill 346. 



I have lived in Alaska over 25 years and have lived 

 in the following communities, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Anchorage, 

 and now Sitka. 



Ke live in Sitka because we want to live here, not 

 because we have to. We love this community. My v;ife, 

 Bonnie was born and raised here. She remembers well 

 the dairy that was located on the present site of the 

 Pulp Mill. 



One of the reasons we came back here to make our home 

 is because Sitka has a balanced economy, one not dependent 

 on just oil or one single factor. Sitka has a society in 

 balance and is a good place to raise a family. VJe have two 

 children, who we believe will also make Sitka their home 

 v/hen they are adults. 



P.ight now my wife and I are faced with one of the 

 largest economic issues in our lives. After working for 

 all our adult lives, we have the opportunity to purchase 

 the building she operaters her clothing store out of. The 

 thought of buying the building and then having one of the 

 communities main economic engines shut down is not a 

 particularly happy one. This would probably cause us a lot 

 of grief, but we are not alone. It would also affect the 

 people she has working for her, as some would probably lose 

 their jobs as business is sure to be slower. 



When is a deal a deal? Are "ethics" a word that is 

 in the dictionary but used only when it pertains to the 

 "other guy"? We think not, especially here in Sitka. 

 Many deals are consumated with a hand shake and people are 

 taken on their word and trust. This is a family town with 

 many of us going back two or three or more generations. 



