Alaska Republicans applaud draft environmental impact statement for oil and gas leasing program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Rep. Don Young, and Gov. Michael J. Dunleavy (all R-AK) recently issued statements applauding the release of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“One year ago, Congress directed the Department of the Interior to open the Coastal Plain for responsible energy development, and today marks a major step forward to making this a reality,” Murkowski, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said. “I appreciate the extensive time and attention the Department has dedicated to gather and consider feedback from all Alaskans, particularly the Inupiat and other stakeholders in the Alaska Native community. This input and cooperation will ensure we build a strong leasing program that helps us realize our tremendous energy potential without harming our environment or way of life.”
Murkowski authored the second title of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Congress advanced one year ago. The Act allows surface development of 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain to be used for responsible energy development. Projections suggest this development could bring as much as 10.4 billion barrels of oil to market.
“This is a significant milestone in Alaska’s long journey to responsibly explore and develop the 1002 area in ANWR,” Dunleavy said. “The potential oil discovered will spur new jobs and investments for generations to come, extending the life of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.”
The draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 28, beginning a 45-day public comment period that will close on Feb. 11, 2019. Public hearings will be held throughout Alaska and in Washington, DC.
