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ALASKA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2012 House Democrats Call for Firm Timelines on Pt. Thomson Development Without work schedules, continued delay likely
JUNEAU – Today, nine members of the House Democratic Caucus called on the Department of Natural Resources to require firm timelines and work schedules before approving Exxon’s most recent Plan of Development for Pt. Thomson. In their official comments submitted today, the lawmakers said that without a timeline for Exxon to complete the work, this Plan of Development is likely to result in the same delay and inaction that has kept the resource undeveloped for over thirty years.
“Given Exxon’s history of not developing this huge resource, Alaskans deserve to know not just what they plan to do, but when they plan to do it. Otherwise, our resource could sit in the ground for another thirty years, and we cannot accept that,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau).
Recently, the Parnell administration negotiated a settlement to resolve litigation over Exxon’s prior delays, but many experts have concerns that the settlement gives away too much and could result in significant portions of Alaska’s resource being left undeveloped.
“The lack of firm timelines and schedules in the [Plan of Development] are a significant concern and cast doubt on whether this document or the recent settlement will lead to timely development at Pt. Thomson,” the lawmakers state in their official comments.
House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula, House Democratic Whip Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage), Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), Representative David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks), Representative Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage), Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks), Representative Bob Miller (D-Fairbanks), Representative Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage), and Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) signed on to the comment letter.
Read the complete comment letter here: http://www.akhouse.org/docs/062212_pt_thomson_comment_ltr.pdf ###
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