Comment:  We’ve consistently urged Alaska’s Legislators to comment during Federal comment periods.  Here is an email alert we provided to thousands of NGP readers on our mailing list — including Alaska’s Lawmakers.  Over the last couple years, we’ve seen a few Legislators join hundreds of citizens at Federal hearings on matters affecting Alaska’s future.  Thousands of Alaskans and a very few legislators have given written comments during comment periods on such issues as: lease sale plans, exploration permits, restricting energy exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and ANWR, etc.  Most Legislators, regrettably, have simply not participated.  If Federal policy ends up prohibiting exploration of Arctic areas, we could see an early end to the Trans Alaska Pipeline which sustains 90 % of the State’s Operating Budget and 1/3 of the entire economy.  Every school teacher, parent, government worker, private employer and health care worker should be alarmed.  Next week the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) concludes a comment period affecting next summer’s Beaufort Sea exploration program.  If a preponderance of comment opposes exploration, the legal record will give the FEDs more justification for delaying Arctic exploration and development.  Today, we once again asked Alaska’s Lawmakers to weigh in and will be interested in the result.   We hope to add comments of Legislators on this webpage as they weigh in on this critical issue.   -dh

Lawmaker links, for reference:

  • Senate Majority: "The Bipartisan Working Group is composed of ten Democrats and six Republicans in the State Senate.  BUILD • ENERGIZE • PROTECT    Focusing our efforts on building Alaska’s economy and education programs, conserving state financial resources and protecting the safety and health of all Alaskans."
  • Senate Minority: "The four members of the Senate Republican Minority intend to draw on their expertise to promote back-to-basics government characterized by fiscal restraint, principled conduct, cooperation and progress on issues vital to Alaska."
  • House Majority: "We look forward to doing the business of the people over the course of the 26th Alaska Legislature."
  • House Minority:  Various links.