Senator Murkowski Urges Alaskans to Make Feelings Known About Potential OCS Oil Development

SENATOR MURKOWSKI URGES ALASKANS TO MAKE FEELINGS KNOWN ABOUT POTENTIAL OCS OIL DEVELOPMENT

Urges Interior to Protect Key Whaling Waters in Beaufort Sea from Leasing

Noting that the U.S. Department of the Interior Monday formally sought public comment on which areas should or should not be opened to offshore oil and gas leasing, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski today urged Alaskans to express their feelings - whether in opposition or support - of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing during the 50-day public comment period that closes in mid October.

The Interior Department said it will take public comment through Oct. 11 on which areas it will propose for inclusion in a new 2007-2012 OCS oil and gas leasing program. The Department said it is seeking initial comments on whether to continue the current Presidential moratorium that prevents leasing in a host of areas, including Alaska's Bristol Bay (the North Aleutian Basin). The Department is also seeking comment on whether to create gas-only leasing, where natural gas could be tapped, but not oil production in specific offshore oil basins.

"Alaskans in the past have had strong feelings about OCS development, especially in Bristol Bay and in the Beaufort Sea, but also in Lower Cook Inlet and the Chukchi Sea," said Senator Murkowski. "With the fluctuation in fishery incomes and harvests, some Alaskans over the past few years have shown support for potential OCS development. Others have expressed opposition to offshore oil exploration. Now is the time for Alaskans to clearly express themselves as to whether they support or oppose future oil or gas-only leasing in federal waters. This is when your current views will count," said Senator Murkowski.

Interior said it intends to review comments and by next winter craft a proposed five-year OCS sale program that will again be open for a 60-day public comment period. After those public comments, a final program and related Environmental Impact Statement should be finished by next summer for public review. The new leasing program will go into effect on July 1, 2007.

Murkowski said she will write Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton during the public comment period to urge her to continue protecting whale waters in the Eastern Beaufort Sea from any oil and gas leasing during the next five-year lease program. Interior during the past five years prevented leasing of over two dozen tracts off the Village of Kaktovik and more than two dozen tracts off of Barrow to protect waters used by Native subsistence whalers from disturbance that might interfere with the annual whale hunts.

"Subsistence whaling is a key cultural aspect for North Slope Alaskan villagers and is also vital economically for their way of life. Besides seasonal restrictions to prevent noise or other disturbances that could impact whaling, it is perfectly appropriate that the Minerals Management Service prevent oil development in areas where whales have been landed in the past to prevent conflicts between whaler boats and offshore oil facilities. I will urge the Secretary to again protect these tracts, especially since we have more promising on-shore leasing areas to explore, such as the Arctic coastal plain," said Senator Murkowski.

Murkowski noted that in the most recent March 30, 2005 OCS Sale in the Beaufort (Lease Sale 195) that deferrals happened in 25 near shore tracts north and east of Barter Island/Kaktovik and in 25 tracts east of Barrow toward Dease Inlet in the Beaufort Sea.

"While OCS development has occurred with the acceptance of North Slope villagers for two decades in the Beaufort, still active whaling waters must be protected in the future, as they have been in the past," said Murkowski, noting that whaling waters have been protected in all eight previous lease sales in the area.

Murkowski said comments on the next five-year OCS sale can be sent electronically through the Public Connect Online commenting system at www.mms.gov/5-year/2007-2012main.htm or traditionally by mail by sending comments to: 5-Year Program Manager, Minerals Management Service (MS-4010), Room 3120 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170.

http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=244907