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NEWS BULLETIN

January 23, 2020 --- Vol. 26, No.06January 2020

USGS assesses 3.6 billion barrels of undiscovered oil in central North Slope

The U.S. Geological Survey has published a new assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in central North Slope of Alaska. The agency estimates mean resources of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the region. The region is bounded on the west by the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and on the east by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It runs south from the nearshore state waters of the Beaufort Sea to the northern border of the Gates of the Arctic National Park. The assessment does not include potential further oil and gas discoveries in the Torok and Nanushuk formations of the central North Slope that have been the focus of recent major oil finds - these exploration plays were recently fully considered in the USGS assessment for the NPR-A.

- ALAN BAILEY

DNR approves ROW for gas line to Donlin Gold Project

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources issued a final commissioner's decision Jan. 22 in favor of offering a right of way over state lands to Donlin Gold LLC for a natural gas pipeline from Beluga on Cook Inlet to the company's proposed mine site near Crooked Creek.

The decision, signed by Commissioner Corri Feige, proposes to offer the lease over 207 miles of state lands for 30 years, the maximum period allowed by law.

Feige found that Donlin is "fit, willing and able to properly construct, operate, maintain and terminate the Donlin Pipeline."

The decision follows a series of public notices, hearings, community outreach and comment periods which began in 2014.

In addition to review of the pipeline application, the state participated as a cooperating agency in the National Environmental Policy Act process which resulted in modifications of the preferred route to minimize overlap and impacts to the Iditarod trail and Dalzell Gorge.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, lead agency of the NEPA process, authorized Donlin's preferred route based on the final environmental impact statement.

DNR received comments requesting that the pipeline be relocated north of the Alaska Range to low lying black spruce forests over concerns for wildlife habitat, slow growing vegetation, heavy snowfall and avalanche risk, subsistence and traditional uses, headwater streams, and effects on permafrost.

DNR said the route along the face of the Alaska Range is fairly direct from its exit near Farewell westward to the mine site, adding that the soils on the North Face of the Alaska Range have fewer wetlands and less permafrost than the lowlands in the black spruce forest.

The pipeline will be buried along most of its length in the area.

Buried pipelines don't prevent animal migration, grazing or calving post construction, DNR said.

Restoration and re-vegetation of disturbed areas and stabilization, rehabilitation and reclamation will be required following construction.

DNR also received comments of support, including those for new job opportunities in the area, burial of the line to minimize impacts to land users, excess capacity in the line to facilitate gas supply to other users in the area, a well designed pipeline, and Donlin's community outreach during exploration and project development.

Noting that a mine site is energy intensive, comments praised the use of natural gas, rather than diesel as a fuel due

to cleaner power generation.

- STEVE SUTHERLIN

See stories in Feb. 2 issue of Petroleum News, available online Friday, Jan. 31, at www.PetroleumNews.com

For information on PN's news bulletin service, call 907-522-9469.

PO Box 231651, Anchorage, AK 99523 - 1651

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