Golf tournaments eyed in corruption case 11/18/2007
The Justice Department is investigating whether an Alaska oil contractor used golf tournaments to funnel cash to U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, people close to the corruption investigation said. The c...

Numbers will hurt proposal to lock up ANWR 11/11/2007
The latest bid by Congressional Democrats to permanently block energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge stands no better chance of success than earlier efforts to open the refuge's co...

Palin: Ben Stevens should step down 09/23/2007
Alaska's Republican governor urges former state senator and son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to give up national GOP position
The son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens should give up his position as a committee member for the national Republican Party, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said. Ben Stevens, former Senate president, and his father...

Judge links Ben Stevens to FBI probe 09/02/2007
A federal judge has linked former Alaska Senate President Ben Stevens to an FBI corruption probe. At the same time, a federal prosecutor revealed there are "multiple, ongoing nonpublic investigations...

PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: Company news in brief 07/22/2007
Acuren recognizes significant personnel changes
At the end of May, Kim Harker, managing director for Alaska, wrapped up his time in Alaska with plans to leave the state. George Bryant was promoted from alternate project manager for the North Slope...

Alaska industry groups issue action alerts 07/22/2007
RDC, Alliance ask members to oppose NMFS' proposal to list Cook Inlet belugas as endangered species, contend numbers increasing
The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a proposed rule that would put Cook Inlet's beluga whales on the endangered species list, a move industry groups say may have severe economic impacts t...

After 2-month delay, Stevens releases report 07/22/2007
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, filed the annual report on his personal finances with the Senate Ethics Committee July 17 after receiving a two-month extension to fix what he called a few simple tech...

Senator wants new icebreakers in Arctic 07/15/2007
Murkowski urges international cooperation, supports involvement in international initiatives, stresses importance of Arctic to Alaska
In a July 10 speech at the National Ice Center and U.S. Arctic Research Commission's "Impact of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations" symposium, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alask...

U.S. lawmakers propose cap on emissions 07/15/2007
The nation can begin to address the risks of climate change while avoiding harm to the economy, senators said July 11 in unveiling anti-pollution legislation. The bill would establish a mandatory cap...

Alaska labor department gets $7.5M for natural gas line worker training 07/08/2007
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $7.5 million competitive grant to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to help the state train the 8,300 workers that will be needed to c...

Judy Brady gets the magic wand at her final AOGA-chamber luncheon 07/01/2007
The oil and gas luncheon hosted annually by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce was several magic wands short this year. Traditionally, AOGA Executive Director Jud...

Palin freezes energy lobbying, ad contract 06/03/2007
Questions about how Pac/West Communications spent funds raised; no-bid $3M award an issue for some from the beginning
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has frozen the contract of a firm originally hired with a no-bid contract to push for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to petroleum drilling. Palin at first supporte...

Stevens, Bush concur on Law of the Sea 05/27/2007
United States has not ratified a U.N. Convention that includes international rules for extending continental shelf jurisdiction
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has issued a statement supporting President Bush's May 15 appeal to the U.S. Senate to approve U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea...

Murkowski, Stevens promote renewable energy construction funds 05/20/2007
Hoping to increase funding for renewable energy power projects, Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens, both Republicans, have succeeded in attaching an amendment to comprehensive energy legislat...

Stevens, Murkowski introduce legislation to revive Denali Commission 05/20/2007
On May 11 U.S. Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, both Republicans, introduced federal legislation to reauthorize and amend the Denali Commission Act of 1998. The legislation would reauthorize the...

Public corruption scandal erupts in Alaska 05/13/2007
Former, current state legislators arrested and Veco's Allen confesses in federal probe; PPT and oil field contractor under cloud
In the latest chapter of a political scandal that began unfolding last summer, three Alaska politicians and two oil industry executives are facing federal criminal charges that could earn them stiff f...

Senators move to speed Alaska gas line 04/15/2007
Murkowski, Stevens propose legislation to streamline federal leg of approval process for construction of pipeline; Palin pleased
Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens introduced legislation April 11 designed to accelerate the federal government's push to build an Alaska gas pipeline. The bill provides the Office of the F...

Groups lobby against Bristol Bay leasing 04/08/2007
MMS final decision expected around May 1 on whether to include North Aleutian basin in 2007-12 five-year offshore leasing plan
Fishermen and environmentalists teamed up recently for a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., in hopes of discouraging support for offshore oil and gas leasing proposals in Bristol Bay, one of the wo...

Odds against ANWR reserve 02/25/2007
Consultants: Making refuge part of U.S. emergency petroleum stockpile impractical
Consultants in Alaska most familiar with the controversial debate over drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge applaud the notion of considering all avenues to find a viable path to de...

Bush: ANWR still in the picture 02/11/2007
Despite Democratic-led Congress, White House tenders controversial petroleum development provision in fiscal 2008 budget proposal
President Bush inserted oil drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into the $2.9 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2008 that he unveiled Feb. 5. But the move likely wi...

Alaska senator seeks to 'REFRESH' energy policy 01/21/2007
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski promotes bill in Congress to spur development of renewable fuels, cut carbon dioxide emissions
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation in Congress Jan. 16 aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by developing additional forms of renewable e...

Dems float bid to lock up ANWR's coastal plain 01/14/2007
Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, proposes ban on oil drilling in 1002 Area; Ted Stevens offers plan to raise CAFÉ standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2017 to reduce greenhouse gases
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., one of the most strident voices against oil drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is now pushing legislation to convert the 1.2 million-acr...

PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: Hotel Captain Cook nears completion of guest room upgrades 12/10/2006
Family-owned and operated since 1965, Hotel Captain Cook is preferred home to Alaska residents and state, national and international travelers
Q: Where is the hotel located? A: We have just one location - 939 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Q: Who heads up your operation and who is on its senior management team? A: Walter J. Hi...

White House confirms Bristol Bay oil and gas leasing ban might be lifted 12/10/2006
President Bush is considering lifting a ban on oil and gas leasing in federal waters off Alaska's Bristol Bay in the North Aleutian basin. Leasing was stopped nearly two decades ago following the 1989...

Oil Patch Insider 12/03/2006
Truth or chatter? President to lift Bristol Bay drilling moratorium
Depending on who you talk to the rumor that President Bush will lift the Bristol Bay drilling moratorium is either a formal request from the Department of Interior he is planning to grant in time for...