State requests Chukchi reconsideration

The State of Alaska has also weighed in on the U.S. District Court injunction against exploration activities under oil and gas leases in the Chukchi Sea.

“There are enormous consequences for Alaskans if this development is stymied,” Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said in a statement. “The public interest is in preventing the hardship Alaskans will suffer from lost jobs and economic growth if the injunction remains in place.”

Alaska is an intervening party in the lawsuit, arguing that the balance of interests weighs heavily in favor of the jobs, economic development and state revenue at stake, as opposed to minimal environmental risks with exploration.

Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan said that where jobs are affected but “risks to the environment are minimal … the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that injunctions are not appropriate.”

In its brief requesting reconsideration the state noted that a lease confers the right to conduct only very limited activities, such as seismic testing, and that further administrative approval would be required for full-blown development.

—Kristen Nelson