|
Alaska officials unhappy with decision
Statements from Alaska’s elected officials in response to the denial of ConocoPhillips’ CD-5 permits were negative.
“I am alarmed and amazed by this short-sighted decision, which totally ignores the economics of future energy development in all of northern Alaska,” said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
Murkowski noted that a road across the Nigliq Channel is widely considered to be a step in oil and gas development within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
“If allowed to stand, this myopic decision will kill all future oil development from the nation’s largest designated petroleum reserve and probably stop all future natural gas production from the area as well,” she said.
“Today’s announcement by the Army Corps that Conoco-Phillips’ permit is not approved is obviously disappointing to me and the many Alaskans who are eager to develop the oil and gas potential in the NPR-A,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska.
“After the parties worked together for years to get agreement on NPR-A development, I am deeply disappointed the first project just got knocked off track,” he said.
Begich said the decision shows “that Alaska needs a comprehensive plan to allow development in the NPR-A to happen expeditiously and responsibly.”
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said the denial was part of a pattern of federal delays.
“Just in the last six months, we’ve fought the federal government for tying up Outer Continental Shelf leasing, and for adding bureaucratic nightmares and costs with Endangered Species Act listings and critical habitat area designations. We’ve seen the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency show reluctance to approve anything related to jobs in Alaska,” Parnell said.
“And then — first by delay, and now, through their decision — the Corps of Engineers continues to set back our nation’s chances for economic recovery, domestic energy production, and Alaskans’ prospects for jobs.”
State legislators also displeased Alaska House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and House Resources Committee Co-Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, also commented on the corps’ action.
Chenault said ConocoPhillips has permits to explore in NPR-A.
“The last remaining obstacle was the bridge permit for the Colville River. This is a project that garnered widespread support from the outlying communities, within the industry, and stood to finally open up the reserve for development,” Chenault said, calling the denial “another example of administrative obstruction.”
Johnson said the decision was “another sign that Alaska’s clearly not open for business, through no fault of our own” and “sends a terrible message to companies who want to help open up the known reserves on federal lands.”
—Kristen Nelson
| 