Comment from Sam Rose

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to support regulations designating areas of Cook Inlet critical habitat for Beluga Whales. While I believe these regulations were promulgated using good science, I have a personal reason for supporting them. I have seen the numbers of Beluga whales diminish over time in Cook Inlet. I was born and raised in Anchorage and remember being thrilled to see pods of Belugas in the inlet right in Anchorage, near Pt. Warensof as well as when driving down the Seward Highway to Girdwood or Portage Glacier. I think we need the designation to protect the existing whales while we continue to study why their numbers have declined. I think the outcry of some politicians is due to fear of preventing or limiting development in and around the Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska region. To that I say, so be it. Any development need not be stopped but with the designation, at least the impact of any big projects on the Belugas would at least have to be considered. Since their numbers are already in decline, I feel it is prudent not to add to anything that might increase that decline. I also feel the Municipality of Anchorage should be forced to bring it's water treatment up to standards that befit being the biggest city in Alaska but that is beyond the purview of these regulations. However, it does seem like it might impact the Belugas.