Background: HP's piece yesterday begins, "A DeSmogBlog investigation reveals that Robert Bauer, former White House Counsel and President Barack Obama's personal attorney, works at the corporate law firm Perkins Coie LLP, which does legal work for TransCanada's South Central LNG Project, formerly known as Alaska Gas Pipeline Project.

Furthermore, Dan Sullivan, current Commissioner of Alaska's Department of Natural Resources, and former Alaska Attorney General and former Assistant Secretary of State in the Bush Administration, is a former Perkins attorney.

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Our friend, Brad Keithley, is one of Alaska's premier oil and gas attorneys.  During the days when I served as a commissioner on the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, I regarded him as one of the most lucid, well studied and helpful attorneys practicing before us.  He now serves in private practice and writes an energy blog that he calls, "Thoughts on Alaska Oil and Gas".

In a recent posting, he noted that, "In my opinion, Perkins Coie is in the top tier of Alaska law firms and it has been an honor over the past five years to partner not only with some of the most skilled lawyers in Alaska, but also the nation.  …  In another posting, he said that, "Those of you who read these pages will know that I am transitioning from my role as Partner and Co-Head of the Oil & Gas Practice at Perkins Coie, LLP, to my own consulting firm effective at the beginning of June….  I am looking forward to the transition and having more time to focus on, write about — and work to provide leadership on — what I believe are important issues facing Alaska.  This week I agreed, for example, to move from a bi-monthly to regular monthly column in theAlaska Business Monthly effective July 1, and expand the column to include fiscal issues.

We have appreciated the role Perkins Coie has played in Alaska and Mr. Keithley's particular role.  We hope that both continue in their Alaska practices for a long time to come.  -dh

Comment:

We are wary of on-line efforts, like the Huffington Post's (HP) to demonize organizations and individuals.  

While we have no issue with HP creating objective and factual in depth pieces, to go on then and intimate wrongdoing before any tribunal has adjudicated bad behavior is not journalism as I am acquainted with it.  

While Alaskans and Canadians who are closely watching both the Keystone XL and Alaska gas pipeline projects will read HP's piece, we caution readers to suspend judgment until such time as more facts are known.  -dh

CBC.  Energy company TransCanada says it may want to move crude to eastern Canada after converting one of its natural gas pipelines — one that runs through Harbour Landing.  -dh

Petroleum News Alaska by Wesley Loy.  

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has rejected Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell’s proposal to conduct seismic surveys and exploratory drilling on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain.

The governor, however, is continuing to pressure the Obama administration to allow exploration.

On July 9, Parnell and his natural resources commissioner, Dan Sullivan, announced they had applied to the Interior Department for a “special use permit” to carry out an abridged version of the proposal offered in May.

Under the new plan, the state would conduct a 3-D seismic survey across the coastal plain from 2014 to 2017. No drilling would be involved.

State seeks to keep up pressure on gas line – Ventura County Star – Sean Parnell, urged the companies to unite behind a project that allows for LNG … Larry Persily, federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas pipeline …

Sarah Palin is back in the spotlight – Kansas City Star
Carolyn Kaster — AP Former Gov. of Alaska Sarah Palin speaks during the Faith …. Alaska could provide for the rest of America, a natural gas pipeline to …