North Slope residents want Alaska Highway gasline route

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The governor’s office said July 20 that at a July 19 meeting of the governor’s Alaska Highway Natural Gas Policy Council in Barrow, Gov. Tony Knowles and members of the council heard from local government and North Slope village leaders that they supported a natural gas pipeline only if it follows the Alaska Highway.

“We applaud the governor for his early and firm support of a highway route,” said Molly Pederson of the North Slope Borough Assembly who spoke on behalf of Borough Mayor George Ahmaogak.

Speaking on behalf of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, Charlie Neakok, vice president of the Barrow Whaling Captains Association said, “We support this Alaska Highway route. … the AEWC and the whaling captains from all 10 North Slope villages will oppose, absolutely, any attempt to build a pipeline through our Beaufort Sea.”