News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senator Drue Pearce Champions Resolution to Support

Areawide Oil and Gas Leasing Program

For Immediate Release: January 13, 1998 Contact: Krag Johnson, 465-6594

Juneau – Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage) introduced a resolution Tuesday in support of the State’s current Areawide Leasing Program created by legislation passed unanimously by the 19th Alaska State Legislature and signed by the governor in 1996.

Senator Pearce, Co-Chair of Senate Finance and member of the Energy Council, said recent attempts to dismantle this important program by groups opposed to all oil development prompted her to introduce the measure.

"We all voted to put areawide leasing into place in 1996 because it would provide a cost and labor saving approach to offering lease sales in areas of Alaska already subjected to extensive leasing," Pearce said. "The program has been a positive component of the State’s oil and gas policy and should not be threatened by a few special interest groups that would prefer to see it eliminated."

In an effort to educate the public and State agencies involved with leasing decisions, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance plans to implement a full educational campaign designed to inform citizens of the facts and to encourage industry to provide input. The Alliance was active in the Cook Inlet areawide lease sales and will also be active in the Beaufort Sea and North Slope sales.

General Manager of the Alliance, Karen Cowart was excited that Senator Pearce was assisting in their efforts.

"We must get out in front on this public campaign -- so people understand that areawide leases are in the best interest of Alaskans and do not change the way the public process is performed," said Cowart.

Ken Freeman, Executive Director of the Resource Development Council said it is important our state leaders stay united in support of responsible oil development. "The Legislature has tried to create a strong pro business environment to encourage long term investment into our state. This is exactly what the areawide leasing program does -- it creates a predictable, consistent program that encourages development."

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