In a reversal of our normal Friday award – we want to take the opportunity this week to recognize the GOOD bill of the week: HJR 20, introduced by Representatives Tom Baker, Frank Tomaszewski, Zack Fields, Stanley Wright, George Rauscher, and Tom McKay.
HJR 20 is a resolution for the legislature to consider, urging “ withdrawal of proposed Bureau of Land Management regulations affecting the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; and urging meaningful engagement with tribes, local governments, and affected communities.”
Some background:
- The proposed ruled was announced on September 6, 2023 (the same day that Kaktovik landed its first whale of the fall whaling season)
- The 9 federally recognized tribes who are directly impacted by the decision have the legal right to consultation on such matters.
- The tribes were left out of the decision-making process
- The federal government clearly violated their legal obligation to consult with federally recognized tribes.
- On September 8, 2023, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register with only a 60-day comment period ( a request for a 30-day extension was later granted).
- In the Federal Register publication, the drastic changes to land management were ruled “not economically significant.”
- There are several hundred existing leases in the NPR-A and oil production in the Greater Mooses Tooth and Colville River area and major future production on deck from the Willow development- aka ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT!
- The proposed rule would have a major negative impact on any new activity or development in NPR-A.
When the rule-makers become rule-breakers, who don’t follow their own rules of consultation and ignore the significant economic impacts of their proposed rule, they should be challenged.
Kudos to the legislature for the resolution doing just that! We expect it to move quickly and receive strong bi-partisan support from our Alaska legislators.
If you would like to send a note of support for the resolution – you may do so by emailing: