Can one day change the course of history?  Help us!

Friday, February 25, 7:00 p.m., 3801 Centerpoint Drive (off 36th Avenue), Anchorage

Here is some background information for you to use in your planning.  And…in case you can’t join us at one of the the actual hearings, here is how you can easily comment online!  Here is an email provided by an NGP reader this week that is written by a ‘Field Organizer’ of the Sierra Club using sophisticated techniques to organize testimony designed to shut down the economic hope and promise of Alaska.  -dh

Commentary:  Many single days in history have dramatically affected the future and Friday the 25 will be a big milepost in Alaska’s history.  That night the Interior Department agency (BOEMRE) responsible for creating five-year lease sale plans will hold a hearing.  The hearing will establish a public record of the interest here in lease sales.  While BOEMRE is responsible for developing 5-year lease sale plans, it is also responsible for implementing those plans with actual lease sales, then issuing permits to those who in good faith have purchased leases.  So far, the federal government has a very bad track record with Alaska–issuing leases for exploration of Alaska’s highly prospective Chukchi and Beaufort Sea basins but causing unnecessary delay after delay in the issuance of exploration permits and the large array of associated permits.  

So, some Alaskans may say, "We’re tired of commenting when we know this Administratrion will just use the regulatory process in arbitrary and capricious ways to stop exploration anyway."  That attitude has a basis in truth but the reality is that Alaskans must assure that the record reflects good citizen support for reasonable development.  Without a legal record establishing citizen support, the agency will find it much easier to block exploration of Alaska’s vast energy frontiers.

And, a lot’s at stake for our families for generations to come.  Our oil pipeline is our economic lifeline, providing almost 90% of Alaska’s operating fund and supporting over a third of the economy in so many direct and indirect ways.   The pipeline is 2/3 empty now and losing throughput at a rate of 6-7 % per year.  This week we heard the Kenai LNG plant will cease operating soon and that the mothballed Agrium fertilizer plant will be moved to Nigeria.  Someday soon, state law will require Trans Alaska Pipeline owners to (DR&R) dismantle and remove the pipe infrastructure and restore the right of way.  Some day soon…that is…unless we get more oil into that pipeline, and we may not have more than a few years to accomplish that feat.

One immediate way citizens can help with this challenge to affect how history plays out is to show up at the BOEMRE hearing in Anchorage on Friday, February 25 before 7 p.m. and testify.  It could be a big night for Alaska and for those who participate.  For sure, it will be memorable.

Readers near Lower 48 hearing locations or those living in Alaska village hearing locations should try to affect history by attending those hearings.

We’ll provide more help as the hearings approach.  Meanwhile, here is some background information for you to use in your planning.  And…in case you can’t join us at one of the the actual hearings, here is how you can easily comment online!  Here is the copy of an email we received this week from a reader.  The email is written by a ‘Field Organizer’ of the Sierra Club using sophisticated techniques to organize testimony designed to shut down the economic hope and promise of Alaska.  -dh

(NOTE: Please send us copies of your testimony and we will document it here.  It is especially important that elected officials participate!   And, it is important that elected officials of all parties participate!)