A letter outlining concerns with passport requirements the U.S. intends to implement has been sent to Washington by Premier Dennis Fentie, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.

'We are particularly concerned about the unintended impacts that these measures may have on remote and border communities, where people regularly cross the border to shop, see a doctor, go to school or visit family and friends and where first nation citizens have been exempt from passport requirements,' says the letter to Michael Chertoff, the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The letter goes on to say if the U.S. moves ahead with requiring passports as the only acceptable ID to enter the country, the decision could seriously impact routine cross-border activity and business travel.

The political leaders of the four jurisdictions recommended the U.S. consider the use of lesser documents, like birth certificates.

They also suggest that any new requirements for secure documents as required ID be tested at specific areas rather than implemented across the board all at once, so that any kinks can be worked out before general implementation.

Fentie, Murkowski, Klein and Campbell met Monday in Vancouver.

In addition to the letter regarding their passport concerns, the leaders signed an agreement to work together in support of the proposal to build a natural gas pipeline along the Alaska Highway corridor and up to Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope.