Alaska intervenes with feds over NPR-A

The State of Alaska has intervened on behalf of the federal government in the latest lawsuit over oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Seven environmental groups are challenging plans by the U.S. Department of Interior to develop the northeast area of the 23.5 million acre reserve along the Arctic Coast.

The groups contend that oil development in the wetlands surrounding Lake Teshekpuk in the northeast corner of the NPR-A would harm wildlife there.

The lake region includes one of the most important molting areas in the Arctic for wild geese and areas sought out by caribou herds for calving.

The plan calls for opening seven leasing areas, from 45,000 acres to 60,000 acres, north of the lake and other acreage south of the lake to oil and gas development.

Mark Morones, spokesman for the Alaska Department of Law, said the state opted to join the lawsuit because it has important economic and non-economic interests in the reserve, including 50 percent of the royalty interests from oil and gas production and wildlife habitat and subsistence issues.

The government estimates that the areas surrounding Lake Teshekpuk contain about 2 billion barrels of economically recoverable oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

ConocoPhillips and Anadarko are also seeking to intervene in the lawsuit.

Another lawsuit challenging the department’s environmental impact statement for the area is currently pending in a Washington, D.C., court.

—The Associated Press