The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas is hosting an open house style public scoping meeting to solicit public input on DNR's oil and gas leasing regulations in 11 AAC 83 TODAY, June 23, 2014, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the Kahtnu Room, 2nd floor of the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage: http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Notices/Regulations.htm.  Call 907-269-8800 to register.

Matthew Cronin, National Security, University of Alaska, Biologist, Polar Bear, Photo by Dave Harbour, ArcticA Proposal To Enhance National Security
Guest Editorial
 
By 
 
Matthew A. Cronin
 
In Congressional hearings top military leaders have issued serious warnings about the impact of budget cuts and sequestration on the U.S. military that threaten readiness, training, equipment
maintenance, and most importantly the morale of our military personnel.
 
This is a serious threat to our national security.
 
At the same time, the federal government is using wildlife and environmental regulations to deny Americans access to vast natural resources on federal land including oil, gas, timber, rangelands, and minerals.
 
As a scientist at a Land Grant University with experience in these issues, it is apparent to me that natural resources can be developed with limited environmental impacts, but
that regulators, scientists, and environmental groups stop development by predicting negative impacts on fish and wildlife with the selective use of science.
 
These two issues may seem unrelated, but I have developed a proposal for immediate Congressional action to alleviate the threat to national security caused by budget reductions to the military and restore sound natural resource management on federal lands.  
 
This proposal seeks to:
 
1) Provide immediate funding for the U.S. military for fuel and personnel costs;
 
2) Immediately develop oil resources on federal lands with the revenue from the sale of oil going directly and exclusively to the Department of Defense (DOD) U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Coast
Guard (USCG) for two purposes: fuel costs and a 10 percent across the board pay raise for all military personnel.
 
How would this work?
 
Alaska’s North Slope oil is the first operation, as it can provide 11 billion barrels of oil from recoverable federal reserves. Other states and other resources (e.g., natural gas, minerals, livestock grazing, and timber) can be added to the program in the future.
 
There are extensive onshore oil and gas prospects in Northern Alaska under federal government control including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR, 10.36 billion barrels) and the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA, 0.9 billion barrels).
 
Congress should pass a law, with the approval of the
State of Alaska legislative and executive branches, to do eight key things:
 
1. Begin immediate and extensive exploration for oil in ANWR and NPRA in 2014.
 
2. As this action is for national security, it will use existing environmental assessments and impact statements and as such will not require additional research, permits, or
regulation, and will not allow lawsuits to prevent exploration and development. The activity will be exempted from all regulatory permits, and will comply with standard safety and environmental management practices currently in use.
 
3. An exploration plan will be developed by the State of Alaska, in partnership with the energy industry and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Resources Program. Private sector oil industry experts will design development operations to maximize oil production and minimize environmental impacts. North Slope residents and experienced oilfield personnel will advise with local knowledge.
 
4. Upon the discovery and delineation of oil reserves, immediate leasing and rapid production will commence, with oil being transported to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) for delivery to the Valdez oil terminal.
 
5. The above actions will occur under accelerated leasing to the private-sector oil industry.
 
6. Oil lease receipts and a per-barrel royalty will be allocated to the military (DOD and USCG) to be used for fuel and pay raises for all military personnel. Current DOD and USCG funding will not be reduced as a consequence of this oil revenue.
 
7. No federal government agency actions will be taken, or costs incurred, other than DOD, USCG, and State of Alaska direct costs to administer the project.
 
8. The goal is to have exploration completed no later than the spring of 2015, with production and first oil as soon as possible in 2015-2016.
 
Such a specific plan would do several positive things:
 
  • It would enhance national security by enabling the military to train and conduct operations.
  • It would improve military personnel morale, and
  • it would demonstrate that the American people appreciate their service.
  • It would demonstrate that our country has the resolve to maintain its military capability and develop our natural resources for our own use.
  • It would accelerate our energy independence, help our trade imbalance, strengthen the dollar and reduce our financial investment in hostile regimes around the world.
  • It would establish, in a new way that could serve as a model, the federal government as a participant with, rather than hindrance to, the States and the private sector in resource development.
  • Finally, it would provide economic growth for the country and good private sector jobs for young Americans.
If the timeline of development seems ambitious, it is. But national security and the well-being of our military personnel warrant ambitious and aggressive action.
 
Consider that the Alaska Highway was built in 7 months (April-October 1942), and World War II was won in three years and eight months (7 December 1941-14 August 1945).
 
Although the President and Congress have been unable or unwilling to deal with these issues, we can do this. We can develop energy resources, through a national security framework, quickly and safely, and use the revenues to strengthen our military.
 
When considering my plan, think of our troops and veterans who have been deployed, are deployed, or are preparing to deploy to war.
 
Ask them if it’s time we stop talking and take action to adequately fund our military and create private-sector jobs in America.
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