Alaska Senator Vows to Fight ‘Assault’ on State

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U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is asserting that President Obama and Interior secretary Sally Jewell have launched “an unprecedented assault” on Alaska that will have long-lasting effects on the state’s economy and the nation’s energy security. In coordination with the White House, Jewell recently outlined plans to lock up 22 million acres of Alaska’s energy-rich lands and waters.

In separate announcements, Interior sought to designate nearly all of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness, adding more than 12 million acres and including all of the coastal plain, which is likely to hold 10.3 Bbbl of oil. The department also proposed placing another nine million acres in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas off limits to oil and gas exploration, preclud­ing future leasing in the part of the Chukchi most likely to hold oil and natural gas. Interior also added requirements to development in the 48% of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska still open for oil and gas activities that may make development uneconomic.

Murkowski called those actions “a stunning attack” on Alaska’s sovereignty. “This administration is treating Alaska as a territory. The promises made to us at statehood apparently mean nothing to them,” she said. Interior plans to immediately begin managing the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain of the ANWR as wilderness. Wilderness status would permanently place off-limits one of the nation’s most promising onshore oil prospects.

Under the terms of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, additional wilderness designations are barred in Alaska without the express approval of the U.S. Congress. Murkowski said such approval would not be forthcoming or likely be granted. But because of the moves by Interior and the White House, areas under consideration will now be managed as wilderness indefinitely due to the study proposals. The senator notes she has attempted to work with the Obama administration, but has seen good faith efforts go nowhere. “We are left with no choice but to hit back as hard as we can,” she said.

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