EPA administrator foresees jump in oil, gas and mining permits in Alaska

A federal Environmental Protection Agency official says the demand for permits from the oil, gas and mining industries in Alaska will grow tremendously in the next few years. A gas pipeline would require permits for roads and other infrastructure, said Marcus Peacock, EPA’s Deputy Administrator based in Washington.

The agency will be looking at a possible increase in the number of EPA employees in the state to handle the workload, he said.

Peacock said the agency is trying to make sure the permitting process is timely, while still protecting the environment. Peacock on Dec. 6 visited the EPA office in Alaska for the first time since his appointment in August.

With 40 people, it’s the largest EPA presence in any state. In an interview with The Associated Press, Peacock also noted that the effects of a warming climate are more pronounced in Alaska than in the Lower 48. He said the agency is also working to make sure Bush villages have more access to clean running water and ways to dispose of solid waste and trash.

—The Associated Press