Alaska Senator Pushes to Create Arctic OCS Coordinator Job

Sen. Mark Begich says the position would streamline federal agency regulation, consequently expediting oil and gas development in the Arctic outer continental shelf.

Tools

By Natalie Travis

Story Created: Apr 18, 2011 at 7:38 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 19, 2011 at 4:35 PM AKDT

U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) explained a bill on Monday that he claims would reel in federal red tape when it comes to oil and gas development in the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf.

At a press conference at the Resource Development Council in midtown Anchorage, the senator introduced the Outer Continental Shelf Permit Processing Coordination Act.

A facet of the bill is the creation of an Arctic OCS coordinator position to streamline federal agency regulation. Sen. Begich says this in turn would expedite oil and gas development in the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf and fill the pipeline.

Begich compares the “business as usual” mentality of the regulation process to a game of Whac-a-Mole. “I mean, every time we hit one regulation, get it out of the way, another one pops up,” he continued. “We want to throw this game out.”

The key to getting rid of federal Whac-a-Mole, according to Begich, begins with the Outer Continental Shelf Permit Processing Coordination Act. In addition to creating an Arctic OCS coordinator position, it would also create a lease and permit coordination office for the Alaska region of the OCS.

If the bill passes, the project could be authorized to spend up to $2 million funded by a contribution by all agencies or development on the OCS.

Both ConocoPhillips and Shell support the bill, hoping it will hasten project goal dates.

“It is my hope that a dedicated federal OCS regional coordinator for Alaska will add much needed accountability to the regulatory process and allow Shell industry to achieve our ultimate goal of drilling in 2012,” said Vice President of Shell Alaska Peter Slaiby.

Besides coordinating federal agencies' permitting in the OCS, Begich says the legislation would resolve litigation over permitting more quickly by moving jurisdiction to the federal district court in Washington, DC.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

viewer1 said on Monday, Apr 18 at 9:16 PM

way to go mark, thats all we need is more goverment........

65233887
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.