An Evil Uncle Sam Continues the Alaska Assault - Here's What We Can Do!

CBC. New federal Environment Minister John Baird will take over the Mackenzie Valley pipeline file from Jim Prentice, CBC News has learned.

Our Jobs and Kids’ Futures May Depend On Federal Bureaucrats’ Chukchi Sea Decisions

Information and comment by

Dave Harbour

Meet at the Chukchi public hearing and testify: Tuesday, November 9, 7 p.m. Anchorage, 3801 Centerpoint Drive

Send Us Your Comment and We’ll Print It!

Many of us — all our lives — have revered the many symbols of America: including the Uncle Sam character. We have always assumed that our regulatory agencies were at least supposed to seek rational outcomes. Alaska has two years of hard evidence that our federal government is now in the hands of Strange Uncle Sams who pervert the rule of law and the intent of Congress. Who are they? They are the alphabet agencies led (or directed) by folks who act in arbitrary and capricious ways: the White House CEQ, DOI, DOC, BOEMRE, BLM, NOAA, USFWS, EPA, and even the formerly reliable but now co-opted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

They clearly follow anti-resource development scripts. While more and more citizens are onto their game, we must nevertheless continue to participate in their public hearings and comment periods — knowing their kangeroo court intent — for when we fail to show up the legal record tilts totally toward the socialist and environmental activists, leaving a legal rationale for closing down resource development and untold hundreds of thousands of family futures.

We urge our readers to stay engaged in spite of disappointing federal management of our land, for too many have worked too hard and paid too high a price for us to give up. Not writing comment letters and not appearing at the federal hearings is giving up. Survival is at stake. Outrage is justified. Surrender is unthinkable. Calm and strategic response is essential. -dh

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For those who care at all about jobs or their kid’s future in Alaska – or America’s national security — it’s time to jump into action. Chukchi Sea development may well be the most immediate and surest way to extend the life of the 2/3 empty Trans – Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). TAPS provides access to about 85% of the State’s revenue and 1/3 of our state’s economic activity. Federal bureaucrats are working to restrict access to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 development area (ANWR), the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), Cook Inlet, and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Choking off resource development could kill Alaska’s economy in the next 5-7 years. Alaska’s economic survival is truly endangered.

Last summer, the U.S. District Court for Alaska bounced the Minerals Management Service (MMS, now BOEMRE) Environmental Impact Statement on Chukchi Sea Sale 193 back to the agency to address some of its “concerns” – arising from environmental lawsuits. (See a great background piece here, from Resource Development Council for Alaska)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has now produced a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Instead of simply providing it to the court in response to the court’s order, it is scheduling hearings. It looks like another Alaska resource development delay tactic to us. One supposes that if the environmental network around the world chimes in loud enough, BOEMRE will have reason to further hamper Chukchi activity.

Since the agency is employing the public hearing tactic, it is important for all Northern Gas Pipelines readers to chime in so that a one-sided comment record by environmental activists does not give the Obama Administration pretext for further delay.

There are two ways for citizens to participate: by 1) appearing at the public hearing next Tuesday in Anchorage (today in Barrow) and, 2) by commenting in writing.

1. All citizens who can attend one of the hearings below should plan do it — and prepare a few sentences of comment relating to your viewpoint (i.e. “Save Alaska’s Economy – Support OCS”, or “The Federal government has an obligation and ability to properly develop Alaska’s federal resources in the public interest; you should immediately submit your SEIS to the Court,”) You could talk about the ISER study that estimates 35,000 jobs annually are at stake. You could consider the indirect impact on balance of payments deficits, indirect service and manufacturing jobs throughout America, our nation’s economic recovery, etc.)

2. Our readers throughout North America could also chime in with a letter. It doesn’t have to be long, technical or dramatic. From your viewpoint, why should Chukchi Oil and Gas development occur—or not (fair and balanced)? Here are a couple ways to be heard:

a. Click on this link and edit this Consumer Energy Alliance letter to be dispatched to the correct address, or

b. Reprint this ‘comment card’ and circulate it to friends and family to sign and mail BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER.

c. or send your own letter today – OR AT LEAST BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER– to:

John Goll, Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM)

3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500

Anchorage, Alaska 99503

ALL MEETINGS BEGIN AT 7 P.M.

Nov 1…..Kotzebue: Middle/High School

Nov 2…..Point Hope: Tikigaq School

Nov 3…..Point Lay: Point Lay Cmmty Ctr

Nov 4…..Wainwright: R James Cmmty Ctr