The U.S. Department of the Interior signed the record of decision yesterday on the final environmental impact statement for ConocoPhillips Alaska's Willow master development plan. 
The Bureau of Land Management said in a press release posted today that the ROD deferred a decision on portions of the proposal, including drill sites BT 4 and BT 5 and associated gravel roads and pipelines, a deferral requested by ConocoPhillips to allow it to conduct additional outreach to affected communities about those components. 
BLM said the deferral does not alter the current proposal. 
The ROD allows for construction of up to three drill sites and associated processing facilities, including gravel roads and pipelines, allowing for "responsible oil and gas development and operations," the agency said. The ROD adopts modifications reducing impacts based on input from tribal governments, cooperating agencies and various other stakeholders. 
BLM said the project, with a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels of oil per day, could produce up to 160,000 bpd and has an anticipated 30-year life. 
"This decision strikes an appropriate regulatory balance," said BLM Alaska State Director Chad Padgett. "The project is an important job creator for families in Alaska, with more than 1,000 jobs expected during peak construction and more than 400 jobs during operations, creating more revenue for the State, and offering protections for important resource values such as caribou and subsistence activities." 
- KRISTEN NELSON

See story in Nov. 1 issue of Petroleum News, available online Friday, Oct. 30 at www.PetroleumNews.com


For information on PN's news bulletin service, call 907-522-9469.
PO Box 231647, Anchorage AK 99523-1647