Forest Service approves plan of operations for Katalla drilling
The Chugach National Forest said Dec. 12 it has approved Cassandra Energy Corp.’s plan of operations for oil and gas drilling near Katalla. Chuck Frey, planning staff officer for the Chugach National Forest, said work could begin as soon as March 27 if the agency’s decision is not appealed and, if appealed, the decision is upheld on all points.
After a 45 day appeal period, which began yesterday, the Forest Service will have 45 days to respond to all appeals. Fifteen days from the end of the response period, work can begin at Katalla.
The project is nearing what appears to be successful completion of the state Division of Governmental Coordination’s Alaska Coastal Management Program review, a DGC official told PNA. The Forest Service permits will not be issued until that review is final and the project was found to be consistent with the ACMP.
There are two major components of the plan of operations: (1) exploratory oil and gas drilling operations, and (2) access to the drill site and crew camp site which consists of barging equipment and supplies up the Katalla River from the Gulf of Alaska. It also involves construction of 550 feet of new temporary access road, establishment of a temporary staging area, and use and maintenance of an existing temporary access road on National Forest System lands.
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