Young amendment would ban over-the-top gas pipeline route

Petroleum News Alaska

Alaska Congressman Don Young said July 19 that the House Energy and Commerce Committee has agreed to an amendment to its energy package which would prohibit authorization for construction of a natural gas pipeline taking a northern route through Alaska and into Canada.

Young said the amendment was introduced by Chairman Billy Tauzin, R-La., on Young’s behalf, during the committee’s markup of the “Energy Advancement and Conservation Act of 2001.”

The amendment states: “No license, permit, lease, right of way, authorization or other approval required under federal law for the construction of any pipeline to transport natural gas from lands within the Prudhoe Bay oil and gas lease area may be granted for any pipeline that follows a route that traverses (1) the submerged lands beneath or the adjacent shoreline of the Beaufort Sea; and (2) enters Canada at any point north of 68 degrees north latitude.”

Young said: “A gas pipeline that stays in Alaska, creates jobs in Alaska and provides gas for Alaska is the right thing to do for Alaska. This resource belongs to the people in my state and the people of America and they’re the ones that should benefit from it. The Alaska state Legislature has already said they will not tolerate a northern route and the governor has said he will not back a northern route. I agree.”

Young said that even if the northern route is cheaper, that doesn’t mean it could be built. “A north-south route through the state is the most realistic way to build a gas pipeline and it’s the most realistic way to ensure that Alaska gains the most benefit from its own gas,” he said.

The Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to the amendment by voice vote.