Governor Parnell Submits ANWR Plan
July 10, 2013
“The 1002 Area of ANWR holds enormous promise for Alaska and for our nation,” Governor Parnell said. “Federal law provides clear direction and mandates a number of actions that the Interior Secretary must take upon the submission of a 1002 Area exploration plan. We look forward to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s prompt review and approval of this exploration plan.” On May 18, with support from North Slope Borough Mayor Charlotte Brower and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Rex Rock, the State of Alaska submitted a detailed 1002 Area exploration proposal and offered to help finance seismic studies in the 1002 Area. In late June, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell completely rejected the State’s proposal and offer of funding support. Therefore, the State is submitting a formal exploration plan and special use permit application for the 1002 Area. “ANILCA requires the Secretary to take formal action on this exploration plan,” said Natural Resource Commissioner Dan Sullivan, noting that the U.S. Department of Interior approved 1002 Area exploration plans in the 1980s and that the law does not contain a sunset provision and therefore is still on the books. “This 240-page, world-class document meets all the statutory and regulatory requirements for a 1002 Area exploration plan contained within the Code of Federal Regulations and in ANILCA. If an exploration plan meets all of these requirements, the Secretary is required by law to approve it.” The exploration plan and accompanying special permit application builds upon the detailed proposal the State submitted in May. The plan will take advantage of current technology, which will have significantly less environmental impacts than the exploration activities approved and conducted in the 1002 Area during the 1980s. The 1002 Area is thought to be one of the most prolific regions for undiscovered oil in America. The State seeks to conduct low-impact, three-dimensional surveys across the 1002 Area from 2014 to 2017. This work will only be done during the winter, with very limited impact to tundra, fish and wildlife. “I am renewing my pledge to seek support from the Alaska Legislature during its 2014 session to fund a 3-D seismic program for the 1002 Area,” Governor Parnell said. “If this plan and permit application is promptly reviewed and approved as required by ANILCA, I will request a minimum of $50 million to execute this plan.” Representative Ben Nageak, D-Barrow, who was born 63 years ago in the territory that is now ANWR, thanked the Governor and Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan for submitting their plan. Nageak said in a prepared statement, “ANWR’s 1002 Area is one of the last great untapped natural resource basins, and I have worked – and will continue to work – with stakeholders to unlock its potential. The federal government has continually worked against the interests of the State of Alaska and those of us in the area that would welcome responsible exploration and development. If they won’t do the work, then they need to follow the law and allow the State to move forward. I applaud the Governor and Commissioner Sullivan for their commitment to providing this opportunity to the region, and to the stakeholders like Mayor Brower and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President Rex Rock for their support as well. ANWR exploration and development would be a significant source of jobs and opportunity for not only our region, but all skilled workers in Alaska; it’s a generational opportunity that we must continue to champion.” U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday voiced her continued support for the state of Alaska’s plan to fully assess the potential oil and natural gas resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) coastal plain. Murkowski is the senior senator from Alaska and the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “The coastal plain holds valuable oil and natural gas resources, which is why Congress reserved it for oil production more than 30 years ago,” Murkowski said. “Any effort to change the way the area is managed must only be considered with the best available information. Gov. Parnell’s offer to help pay for a full resource assessment of the coastal plain using 3-D seismic is generous, sensible and legally allowed under the 1980 lands act.” The ANWR coastal plain offers the United States’ best chance of a major onshore, domestic oil and natural gas discovery. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the coastal plain has a 50 percent chance of containing 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 8.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, resources worth more than $1 trillion at current market prices. Those estimates are based on old two-dimensional seismic studies done in 1982-1983. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is drafting a new management plan for the refuge, which is expected to include new wilderness designation recommendations for the coastal plain. Such a recommendation without knowing the full potential of the coastal plain is irresponsible, Murkowski said. “The problem with Fish and Wildlife Service’s work on a new management plan is that it fails to consider the potential economic benefits of oil and gas production. They claim that’s because development would require an act of Congress, but, of course, so would a wilderness designation – their argument doesn’t hold up,” Murkowski said. “Instead of trying to lock up our resources, we should develop them as part of a balanced energy plan that creates jobs, invests in research and technology, and bolsters our economy.” U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the Parnell administration’s request for federal funding to help conduct additional 3-D seismic work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to determine oil and gas potential: “The Obama administration is wrong in opposing oil and gas exploration and development in the Arctic Refuge, which I’ve been telling them for five years. Alaskans have proven we know how to responsibly develop oil and gas in some of harshest conditions on earth. “Numerous assessments by state, federal and university geologists say the oil and gas reserves believed to lie beneath ANWR are enormous – up to 10 billion barrels of oil and nearly 4 trillion cubic feet of gas. America’s long-term energy future should be centered on increased domestic production. “There is no immediate threat to add additional wilderness in the Refuge. Along with Governor Parnell, Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young, I will continue to push the Obama administration to allow seismic work and exploration in ANWR. This is a sound proposal to move forward with greatly improved science and technology.” Regarding Alaska Governor Sean Parnell’s latest step in assessing the potential oil and gas resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Alaskan Congressman Don Young said in a prepared statement, “I commend Governor Parnell for his continued and aggressive efforts to move forward in responsibly developing ANWR. Today’s exploration plan by the State of Alaska to conduct 3-D seismic in ANWR’s 1002 area will provide an up to date, 21st Century assessment, of the resources found beneath the coastal plain," Rep. Young said. "Regardless of one’s stance on opening ANWR, Alaskans and Americans deserve to know what they own. A good, responsible land manager should share this curiosity, and I look forward to Secretary of Interior Jewell’s response to this reasonable request.” Congressman Young has successfully passed legislation to open ANWR to development out of the U.S. House of Representatives 12 times, as recently as 2012, but it failed when considered in the Democrat controlled Senate.
Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews
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