THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY
ALASKA CHAPTER

RESOLUTION OF THE ALASKA CHAPTER OF
THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

A RESOLUTION URGING THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL COUNCIL TO WORK
WITH THE UNIVERSI'I'Y OF ALASKA ON A PLAN TO ENDOW UP TO 20
ACADEMIC CHAIRS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES TO FULFILL THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THE SETTLEMENT.

WHEREAS, the biological resources of the northern Gulf of Alaska were severely impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill,

WHEREAS, baseline scientific data were inadequate to positively assess the damage and are inadequate to realistically restore the environment, and

WHEREAS, future shipwrecks and oil spills in the area are a realistic probability, and

WHEREAS, the accumulation of scientific knowledge and advancement of scientific technology make enormous advances each year and will continue to do so into the centuries ahead, and

WHEREAS, endowed academic chairs will provide continuing quality scientific investigation, scientific publications, and excellence in training that will be needed by the agencies and companies responsible for resource management and development in perpetuity, and

WHEREAS, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is charged with restoring, rehabilitating, replacing, enhancing or acquiring equivalent resources and services in the oil spill region and could benefit from better means to accomplish these goals, and

WHEREAS, with scientific advancements in the decades or centuries ahead eventual enhancement of many of the biological resources will be possible, and

WHEREAS, concentrating a major center for advancement of the biological sciences at the University of Alaska is in the best interests of all Alaskans injured by the Exxon Oil Spill, and

WHEREAS, the University of Alaska already has an appropriate Foundation for managing endowed chairs;

NOW IT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ALASKA
CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY:

1. To urge the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council to instruct their Restoration Team to contact and cooperate with the University of Alaska in developing a plan for establishing up to 20 endowed chairs in the biological sciences that will fulfill the intent of the settlement.

2. That such a plan be included in the Restoration Plan and Environmental Impact Statement being prepared this year by the Restoration Team.

Adopted this 20th day of April 1993.