BOEM Skeptic I Am – Comment I Will  -Yoda (NGP Photo)

Commentary and Call To Action

by

Dave Harbour

Yesterday BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, etc.) provided us with an advance copy of a flyer (i.e. subject to change) announcing yet another set of public hearings scheduled for Alaska in November: 11-1, Kotzebue; 11-2, Point Hope; 11-3, Point Lay; 11-4, Wainwright; 11-5, Barrow; 11-9, Anchorage.

These hearings are for the purpose of getting input on a draft supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) relating to Chukchi Sea Sale 193.  The SEIS answers concerns expressed in a July 21, 2010 decision of the U.S. District Court in Alaska which sent the Chukchi Sale process back to the BOEM.  While the SEIS addresses issues raised by the Court, we can expect to see a wide variety of "opinions" vented at the hearings about OCS in general and this sale in particular.  

  • When BOEM Director Michael Bromwich (NGP Photo-l)appeared in Anchorage last August he stressed that no moratoria designation applied to Alaska.  See PNA Story by Alan Bailey.
  • When DOI Secretary Ken Salazar (NGP Photo-r) appeared before the Senate and later at an Anchorage Press Conference, he stressed that a moratorium did apply to Alaska.

This writer approached the new Administration with a naive sense of hopeful expectation for Alaska issues–particularly when two such outstanding Alaskan policy makers had been chosen to represent Alaska within DOI: former lawmaker Kim Elton and former Commissioner of Natural Resources Pat Pourchot.

Since those innocent days, the Federal Government has treated the Governor, Legislature and people of Alaska — except for a minority cabal of environmental and rural activists — as enemies.  Virtually every Federal regulatory action affecting Alaska in the last two years has worked toward destruction of the economy.  We have commented for months on the cumulative effect of this economic death by a thousand cuts leveled on Alaska by the DOI, BOEM, EPA, NOAA, USFWS, BLM, USA Corps of Engineers, etc.  Our gentle readers have endured many "calls for action" like this one.  While they and we are tempted to succumb to "policy fatigue" as our federal adversaries certainly must hope, we must not give up.  If we hope for a prosperous future for Alaska, the United States and for North America in a broader context, we must continue to meet the challenge of a thousand cuts.  We best do this by fully participating in all of these hearings.  If we do not participate, the activists who do will succeed in providing their colleagues within the federal agencies with sufficient ‘public record’ for justifying a shut-down of Alaska’s economy.  

So, while some readers might share with me a sentiment of skepticism, perhaps our greatest challenge is to remain focused on the ball: helping to develop a public record that supports appropriate development of Alaska’s economy.  

We’ll provide more information and help for those who decide to participate.  Keep tuned to this station!  -dh

 

(Note:  This was our 4-09 posting: 

4-14&16-09 New Afternoon Commentary:   (Listen to this outstanding audio, as RDC’s Jason Brune (NGP Photo-l) describes the activities of 4-14, followed by a thoughtful presentation from Kim Elton (NGP Photo-r), Senior Advisor to Secretary Ken Salazar regarding Alaska Affairs.  You will learn much….