Sen. Murkowski Comments on BLM’s Decision to Take Next Step on NPR-A Development
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct an environmental review for a proposed oil and gas development project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).
“I am extremely pleased BLM is taking this vital first step toward additional development in the NPR-A. The initiation of the permitting process for the GMT-2 project builds on the success we have all fought for and achieved in recent years," said Murkowski. "At the same time, I remain concerned about ongoing permitting and mitigation delays that could still risk an entire season of development. That is why I led a delegation letter expressing our concerns to Interior Secretary Jewell just two weeks ago. Alaskans must continue to work closely with BLM to ensure a thorough and prompt review is conducted, and encourage the agency to grant timely permits for development in NPR-A and throughout our State.”
Murkowski is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and has been a consistent champion for responsible energy development in NPR-A, which was set aside by the federal government for that purpose. A copy of the recent congressional delegation letter that she led can be found here.
The first commercial production in NPR-A began late last year at CD-5. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, NPR-A contains an estimated 896 million barrels of oil and 53 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
