Workshop set on land management regs

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a public workshop on proposed regulations revamping the review process for oil and gas exploration and development on state land. DNR also has extended the deadline to Sept. 20 for submission of public comments on the regulations.

The regulations spring from enabling legislation (House Bill 129) state lawmakers passed in April. The new law allows DNR to approve exploration and development generally across large lease areas. This will cut out “repetitive” steps under current procedures geared toward individual project approvals, state officials have said.

The workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 in room 602 of the Atwood Building, 550 W. 7th Ave., Anchorage.

“DNR encourages, but does not require, written submission of questions about the regulations that members of the public intend to ask at the workshop,” the department said. “This will facilitate DNR’s ability to provide responses when the questions are asked at the workshop.”

The draft regulations, and more details about the workshop, are available online at dog.dnr.alaska.gov.

—Wesley Loy