Virtually the entire economy of Alaska, as we know it, depends on ‘throughput’ of a strong, dependable 
stream of crude oil traversing Alaska via the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). As State government spending expands at unsustainable double digit rates, pipeline throughput declines at a 5-6% rate. ANWR, adjacent to Prudhoe Bay, has the potential to increase and sustain pipeline throughput for many years to come. A part of ANWR, the 1002 area, was designated by Congress for ‘future’ oil and gas development. The Obama administration via the US Fish and Wildlife Service, is considering whether to recommend that Congress transform the 1002 area of ANWR into a wilderness designation that would prevent exploration and production of the 1002 oil reserves. Meanwhile, Obama’s departments and agencies are working hard to ‘inventory’ areas within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska for non-development and have slowed down and threatened the potential for an Arctic OCS exploration program that could funnel hundreds of thousands of jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars into America’s struggling economy. Yesterday, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee heard testimony (See Rep. Charisse Millett’s testimony) on ANWR as the US Fish and Wildlife Service took testimony in Anchorage (NGP Photo following testimony by Anchorage Chamber President Sami Glascott and Consumer Energy Alliance – Alaska President, Jason Brune). -dh
Here are links for you: ADN story by Lisa Demer; News Miner Editorial by Dermot Cole re: Governor Parnell’s ANWR initiative;
Our House Natural Resources Committee staff friends, Spencer Pederson, Crystal Feldman or Jill Strait, sent us this report which we have edited slightly to fit here:
Yesterday, during a Full Committee oversight hearing on “ANWR: Jobs, Energy and Deficit Reduction,” Members of the Committee heard testimony from a number of local Alaskans who would be directly impacted by increased American energy production, job creation and economic growth with the opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Below are excerpts from their testimony as they describe the benefits of opening ANWR to local communities, tribes, businesses, Alaska and the nation.
Fenton Okomailak Rexford, Tribal Administrator for the Native Village of Katovik:
· “We would not favor development of the Coastal Plain unless we were confident that development can occur without jeopardizing our way of life.”
· “Responsible development of ANWR is a matter of self-determination for my people.”
· “Responsible ANWR development means my people will continue to access to running water and flush toilets throughout the region…”
· “Development of the North Slope enables our community to sustain a local school.”
· “Development will continue to provide search and rescue, police and fire protection for our North Slope communities.”
· “Development of the Coastal Plain of ANWR is a win-win situation for the American people, particularly for those of us who call this area home.”
Carey Hall, Carlile Transportation Systems, Ice Road Truck Driver:
· “ANWR is crucial to keeping oil in our pipeline. Without ANWR we have the threat of our nation’s pipeline—The Trans Alaska Pipeline shutting down.”
· “People care about their own backyard more than they care about their neighbors—that is why Alaskans support ANWR opening—it’s our backyard.”
· “We know that ANWR will produce tens of thousands of long term jobs; we know that infrastructure will be built; we know that tanker ships will be needed, pipe will be manufactured, and services will be contracted.”
· “ANWR is not a bandaid for our debt and economy; it is a long term sustainable solution.”
· “The oil and gas industry represents the corner stone of our business. It is not only important to contractors and vendors such as a trucking company but to all our citizens in the State of Alaska and as a nation. It produces jobs, lots of jobs, we need jobs!”
· “ANWR is about careful planning, environmental stewardship, and looking to the future. Alaskans know this will be done right and overwhelmingly support this cause.”
Tim Sharp, Alaska District Council of Laborers, representing approximately five thousands Alaskan Union members:
· “…development would generate thousands of needed jobs, and the leverage and impact the foreign producers could have on us would lessen.”
· “ANWR would be a great opportunity for the environmental community and the oil industry to work closely together and show what American technology and ingenuity could do.”
· “I am addressing today the need for political action to offset our dwindling energy reserves in the next five to ten years but equally important the need for jobs today.”
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