MMS Deadline TODAY - NO Combined Denali-TransCanada In the Cards?

Commentary.  The MMS has been seeking comment until TODAY (June 30), on its OCS leasing plan for the period 2012-17.  Its decision could shut down this true economic stimulus for years to come.  It could cause the economic downfall of Alaska by constricting Trans Alaska Pipeline replacement oil throughput and lowering the potential for gas pipeline throughput.  A restrictive lease sale program could harm most other states in varying, significant degrees.  In large part, this decision process depends on your weighing in.  To have your opinion counted, please go to this page for an easy way to participate in the remaining hours, today.

 
Tomorrow we will post letters from other commenters, including several dedicated, non-profit associations and elected officials.  If you send in a comment, copy us and we'll post it.    -dh  (Actually, I can't imagine any Alaska citizen -- especially elected officials -- not commenting one way or another during these Federal agency comment periods that can so significantly affect the future of the State.  But, that's just me.  Scroll down for more commentary on this subject of economic survival and citizen apathy.  -dh)
 
Commentary.  Yesterday we reported a news item out of Canada suggesting that actual talks between the Denali and AGIA gas pipeline project proponents was underway.  Today, we have this report:  TransCanada Corp (Toronto:TRP.TO - News) would offer equity stakes in its $41 billion Alaska gas pipeline to companies proposing a rival project, but there have been no talks to date, a TransCanada executive said on Tuesday.
 
Additional commentary for Alaskans specifically and all citizens in general.  We hope that government and industry employees by the thousands comment on the MMS 2012-2017 leasing program--from homes and offices right NOW!  Or, do Alaska oil company employees and shareholders not care?  Do Alaska Native corporation shareholders not care?  Do Alaska's elected leaders, municipal and state employees, students and teachers and school boards -- that are almost completely dependent on declining oil revenue -- care?  Do business and non-profit trade associations and labor unions care?  Fishermen, miners, artists, musicians, medical workers, retailers, air and land transporters?  If enough do not care enough to comment, OCS and ANWR may not happen.  If we don't have more discoveries, the Trans Alaska oil pipeline will peter out within a decade--or turn into the world's longest piece of licorice as throughput and temperatures decline during our cold winters.  Alaska's oil-dependent economy will devolve into a pre-pipeline population and a colony mentality, complete with a big new tax burden on individuals and enterprises.  A depleted permanent fund can sustain our unsustainable government for several years.  But then, what's left of our political system will reorganize to serve federal government programs.  Without a concerted effort by Alaska's people to assert our support for oil and gas development and then defend our turf amid a constant barrage of attacks from hostile environmental and federal governmental activists, a dreary outcome is logically undeniable.  -dh