State, federal agencies sign memorandum of understanding

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management-Alaska and the State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office, Alaska Department of Natural Resources signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 3 describing responsibilities and procedures for renewal of federal and state rights-of-way for the trans-Alaska pipeline and related facilities.

The memorandum notes that because BLM and DNR administer different segments of the same pipeline system, cooperation between the two agencies is essential to consistent and coherent trans-Alaska pipeline management.

Goals of the cooperation are to: avoid duplication of efforts; promote open, clear and consistent communications; help assure that any renewed grant and lease and future oversight will be similar; and help assure a thorough, high quality renewal process.

The DNR commissioner and the BLM state director will serve as co-leads over the renewal process and will work cooperatively with state and federal agencies, respectively, during the renewal process.