U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced the OPENS Alaska Act (S. 883), a bill that would repeal President Obama’s indefinite withdrawals of the Chukchi Sea and most of the Beaufort Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing, require lease sales in the Chukchi/Beaufort Seas and Cook Inlet, establish 20-year lease terms for Chukchi and […]
Continue reading "U.S. Senator Introduces Offshore Energy Bill"
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) today introduced the “Icebreaker Act” (H.R. 1816), a bill that would authorize the Navy Secretary to enter into a contract for the procurement of up to 3 heavy icebreakers and up to 3 medium icebreakers.
Continue reading "U.S. Congressman Introduces Bill to Require Icebreaker Procurement"
President Trump today issued an executive order on “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.” Among other things, the order directs agency heads to immediately review all agency actions the potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources, and suspend, revise, or rescind those that unduly burden domestic energy resource development beyond the extent […]
Continue reading "President Issues Executive Order on Energy Independence"
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced the “Unleashing American Energy Act” (S. 665), a bill that would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize the addition of lease sales to approved five-year oil and natural gas offshore leasing programs.
Continue reading "OCS Leasing Reform Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate"
UPI today reported on NASA’s efforts to conduct aerial 3-D views of Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, noting that the activities will be expanded to include the Arctic Eurasian Basin for the first time. The survey, to be conducted in spring 2017, will include two research flights based out of a Norwegian archipelago in the north Atlantic.
Continue reading "UPI: Aerial Survey of Polar Ice Expands to Arctic"
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) today introduced the “Marine Access and State Transparency Act” (H.R. 1489), a bill that would reform the Antiquities Act to require congressional and state approval and certification of National Environmental Policy Act compliance for designations of national monuments, as well as public review periods and congressional approval for restrictions on the […]
Continue reading "U.S. Congressman Introduces Bill to Reform Antiquities Act"
The Juneau Empire today reported on this week’s gathering of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials and representatives of indigenous Permanent Participant organizations to discuss a variety of topics. The meeting, which will cover areas including scientific cooperation, Arctic economies, renewable energy, marine biodiversity, and black carbon emissions, will set the stage for the Arctic […]
Continue reading "Juneau Empire: Arctic Council Meets in Juneau"
The Coast Guard today announced that it awarded five contracts worth $20 million for heavy polar icebreaker design studies. Subject to appropriations, the Coast Guard plans to award a contract in FY 2019 for the design and construction of the lead heavy polar icebreaker.
Continue reading "Coast Guard Awards $20M in Contracts for Heavy Icebreaker Design Studies"
In a report released today, the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure analyzed the challenges and opportunities in realizing the next generation of U.S. Arctic infrastructure. The report concludes that failing to support economic development and fund military priorities in the Arctic could cost Alaska and the federal government $6.3 billion in needed infrastructure investments.
Alaska State Sen. Mike Dunleavy (R) today introduced a resolution co-sponsored by 11 colleagues in support of Alaska energy development in the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The resolution also underscores the need for due process in federal permitting processes and expanded revenue-sharing. The resolution urges the Trump administration […]
Continue reading "AK State Senator Introduces Pro-Energy Resolution"