Coughlin takes job with state Senate

Petroleum News Alaska

Patrick Coughlin is leaving his position as deputy director of the Division of Oil and Gas to become a consultant to the state Senate. His contract was approved by the Senate Rules Committee Jan. 30.

“The decisions related to the proposal for a natural gas pipeline and related infrastructure are some of the most important decisions that this Legislature will face,” Sen. John Torgerson, R-Kasilof, chairman of Senate Resources, said in a statement.

“We felt it necessary to have someone in-house who is intimately experienced with oil and gas legislation, not only to advise us on the best course of action, but also on Alaska’s interests in Washington D.C.”

Coughlin has been an attorney for more 20 years, and has worked on oil and gas issues for the last 10 years, first as a state assistant attorney general and then in the Division of Oil and Gas.

Torgerson said both the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1977 and the treaty with Canada for a natural gas pipeline along the Alaska Highway “will need to be updated to reflect changes, including those in environmental laws, that have occurred in the last 25 years. Mr. Coughlin will be an invaluable resource to the Senate as these rewrites are completed.”

“The experts we hired served us well during the BP/Arco merger discussions,” said Sen. Drue Pearce, R-Anchorage, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee.

“It was due to information that we developed alongside the consulting team that we were able to provide for continued competition on the North Slope even in the face of the governor’s quick accession to BP’s desires. We are bringing Mr. Coughlin on to give us the same expert advice.”