AOGCC, NPR-A grant bills both pass

A bill Petroleum News described in the May 7 issue as stuck in committee early in May was actually moving.

House Bill 300, introduced by Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, in 2005 specifying qualifications for the public member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, moved out of Senate State Affairs, had a reference to Senate Resources waived, and passed the Senate May 9.

The bill originally had specific requirements for a legal or business management background for the public seat. It was amended to require “training or experience that gives the person a fundamental understanding of the oil and gas industry in the state.”

The Senate bill on use of federal grants for National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska impacts, Senate Bill 171, as amended in the House, also passed the Senate May 9. This bill, introduced last year by Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, was significantly amended in the House (see story in May 7 issue of Petroleum News), removing a legislative committee to determine grants. The bill requires that 25 percent of the gross of the grants goes to the Permanent Fund.

Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, said on the Senate floor that a compromise had been reached, and recommended passage of the House substitute.

—Kristen Nelson