Walker proposes legislation, withdraws lawsuit on Point Thomson settlement

Following up on statements made Feb. 11, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has introduced legislation and withdrawn a lawsuit he filed against the Point Thomson settlement prior to his election as governor.

House Bill 109 has referrals to the Resources, Labor and Commerce and Judiciary committees; Senate Bill 52 has referrals to Resources and Judiciary. The bills were filed Feb. 13.

In a Feb. 13 statement Walker said: “This legislation safeguards the public’s interests in oil and gas development while assuring that our state’s tremendous resources are developed fairly and without harmful compromise.”

In his transmittal letter Walker said the bill would require the attorney general “to approve settlements related to matters involving disputes over oil and gas resources.”

Walker said the bill would protect the public interest by requiring the attorney general to determine that a proposed settlement “is limited to issues necessary to settle the action, does not settle unrelated matters, and does not alter constitutional, statutory, or regulatory procedures required by law.”

The governor went on to say that the requirement did not apply to settlements of oil and gas pipeline tariff matters, tax matters or matters where the Department of Law “performs the function of public advocate for regulatory affairs in matters before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.”

Motion for dismissal

The motion says that Walker continues to maintain that positions stated in the appeal “correctly state Alaska law and sound public policy for the development of natural resources,” and that as governor he will continue to work to see the Point Thomson field developed to maximize benefits to Alaskans, “as well as to ensure that any future agreements concerning the development of our natural resources meet the high standards and fiduciary obligations set forth in Alaska law.”

Walker had said he planned to drop his appeal, and laid out his reasons for so doing in remarks to the House Resources Committee Feb. 11 (see story in Feb. 15 issue of Petroleum News).

- Kristen Nelson