One Federal Comment Period Ends As Others Arise: The Federal-Enviroactivist Strategy To Kill Alaska's Economy Continues
NGP READERS: PLEASE COMMENT. This coming Friday, July 15, comes the next deadline for comments about an Environmental Assessment regarding Beaufort Sea OCS development. Then, lock and load for the next wave of regulatory onslaught: the July 25th deadline public comment on Revised Beaufort Sea Exploration Plan (EP) and associated Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP). Please send your comment to the agency, then send us a copy for posting here, where your position becomes Internet searchable. Here is the brief testimony your author filed today. -dh
Commentary: Monday was the deadline for commenting on the BOEMRE's Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Chukchi Sea. We are proud of NGP readers and citizens in general for commenting. We know of over 130,000 comments that urged the BOEMRE to expedite its too-long delayed work. Those comments came in the form of personal letters, comment cards, hearing testimony and electronic submissions. The categories of comments were, in general, two: those supporting Arctic natural resource development and those opposing it. Both sides launched sophisticated arguments and both sides expressed general opinions more related to their positions on development than technical comment on the SEIS. We are very proud of the citizens who turned out to fight the well-organized enviroextremist oppostion. Virtually all were normal work-a-day Alaskans and Americans who see first hand how the Federal 
administration is outsourcing American jobs overseas, causing a decrease in domestic production and an increase in foreign energy imports, diminishing national security and devaluing America's currency. We hope that normal citizens are energized by their success, not wearied by the effort, for in the war being waged on Alaska by the Federal government, defenders cannot let down their guard for a moment lest the attackers break through the barracades and take control. Here is the complete report on the impressive citizen effort to defend jobs and economic recovery. Here is another comment we received today from NGP reader Reed Christensen (NGP Photo). In part, Christensen testified, "Offshore oil and gas development in the Chukchi Sea, as well as the Beaufort Sea, has the potential to help the United States meet its energy demand, create jobs, and grow the economy. Proceeding with Lease Sale 193 is in the best interest of all Americans. There has been ample opportunity for environmental review and public input on Lease Sale 193. Therefore, upon conclusion of this public comment period, I urge BOEMRE to move forward so that Americans can reap the economic and energy security benefits 
of Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf."
A few minutes ago, a reader sent us the Alaska Miners Association comment by its Executive Director, Steve Borell (NGP Photo), who says in part that, "The United States must responsibly move forward with domestic offshore energy exploration and development to meet our future energy needs. OCS Lease Sale 193 is a step in the right direction. We also encourage BOEMRE to include revenue sharing...."
In that spirit, we encourage citizens to rise up and comment on the two new federal comment period initiatives headlined above...remembering that the bureaucrats are establishing a legal record upon which decisions will be based. -dh
