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Resource sub-cabinet, producers discuss off-ice deadlines for slope State officials have told PNA that the North Slope Borough is looking to expand the boundaries of the coastal zone on the North Slope Kay Cashman PNA Publisher
Marty K. Rutherford, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Natural Resources, told PNA Sept. 7 that the state resource sub-cabinet is currently working on permitting issues that have arisen in the last year between state agencies and Alaska's oil and gas companies.
PNA asked Rutherford specifically about differences between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Phillips Alaska Inc. regarding permitting an exploration well in the Beaufort Sea McCovey unit. (DEC's proposed stipulations for that project, which would have required operator Phillips to be off the ice in early April, contributed to Phillips' decision to declare the project uneconomic and halt the permitting process in May.)
McCovey not specifically discussed “We haven't really dealt specifically with the McCovey issue,” Rutherford said, although she did say the deputy commissioners who make up the sub-cabinet were discussing the issue of off-ice deadlines: “We are still actively working that issue, but we're dealing more with onshore … within the coastal zone.”
State agency sources have told PNA that the North Slope Borough is looking to expand the boundaries of the coastal zone to include most of the North Slope.
The representatives from DNR, DEC, the Department of Fish and Game and the Division of Governmental Coordination who sit on the resource sub-cabinet, are “providing an opportunity for the companies to talk about their concerns … about issues that need cross-agency resolution,” she said. “We're dealing with a full gamut of cross departmental issues."
Rutherford said the sub-cabinet hopes to have the question of off-ice deadlines resolved by mid-November in time for the 2001-2002 exploration season.
“Phillips is planning a very active exploration season," she said. "We're very happy about that."
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