In search of evidence.

• Author: Brelsford, Harry
• Position: Trade and commerce between Alaska and the Northwest

As this column begins its fourth year, it is a valuable exercise to step back and review the original mission statement of bringing readers the stories behind trade and commerce between Alaska and the Northwest. One has to ask the question, "What is the current status of these inter-regional economic links?"

Happily, I can report that a wide body of evidence exists for the strength of these ties. Recent developments in several economic sectors of interest to both Northwesterners and Alaskans are:

OIL AND GAS

The oil and gas sector placed high in the value-added category in the 1987 Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce study that discussed the relationship between Alaska and Seattle. Today, this sector continues to play an important regional economic role, as the Puget Sound economy adjusts to the local economic slowdown caused in part by the 1993 Boeing production cuts.

A July 1993 article in the Seattle Post Intelligence (PI) suggested Arco's new commitment to develop Alaska's oilfields, including its Cook Inlet (Sunfish) field, could help stimulate regional economic activity. Arco spent billions of dollars building oilfield modules over 12 years at the Port of Tacoma, creating up to a reported 3,000 jobs at a time. Future Arco-related development work should benefit the Northwest in a like manner. Arco later announced that the Kuvlum field was not commercially viable, but the company is pursuing further drilling on the North Slope and anticipates new productive fields.

The North Slope and Sunfish news comes at a good time. Another PI article recently detailed the "painful" decline of North Slope oil production, suggesting the Northwest will feel some of the pain. The analysis discussed Alaska's state government-related spending, a subject viewed with interest by Northwest readers. Washington state has just emerged from a bruising legislative battle over how to close a billion dollar state budget deficit. This budget dilemma resulted in citizens introducing Initiatives #601 and #602 in the fall elections. Both initiatives roll back spending to previous lower levels.

Another Alaska oil-related topic being tracked in the Northwest: tanker safety regulations in the Straits of Juan De Fuca. This body of water, separating the Washington coastline and Canada, has notoriously hostile weather. Many view Northwest tanker safety standards and regulations as too lax.

Finally, there are concerns about the Ferndale refinery in Whatcom County, north of...