DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
CIVIL WORKS
108 ARMY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20310-0108
Nov. 1, 2011
Representative Les Gara
Alaska, State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Dear Representative Gara: [ PDF available here ]
I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter of February 28, 2011, to the Honorable Kenneth Salazar, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Honorable Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and me, regarding the proposed CD-5 Alpine Satellite Development located within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A). I am sending identical letters to the 13 other members of the Alaska State Legislature who co-signed the February 28, 2011, letter with you.
I appreciate hearing your views on the importance of this proposed project as it relates to Alaska's economy and the nation's energy security. I have shared your public comments from the Alaska Congressional delegation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District.
The Alaska District believed it had all of the necessary documentation by the middle of September 2011, to revise the Record Of Decision (ROD) and prepare an initial permit decision. However, after recent meetings between Conoco Phillips Alaska, Incorporated (CPAI) and other agencies, CPAI informed the Alaska District that it would submit project design changes. These changes were received on October 19, 2011, and must be assessed as part of the final ROD decision. I have asked my staff to continue to monitor the progress of this action and report to me.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Your staff may also contact Mr. Chip Smith, my Assistant for Environmental, Tribal, and Regulatory Affairs, at (703) 693-3655, for more detailed information.
Very truly yours,
[signed]
Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Civil Works)
