Yearly Archives: 2015

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted her efforts to lift the outdated ban on domestic crude oil exports as the Senate considers the omnibus budget bill that includes a provision to lift the ban. During her remarks Thursday on the Senate floor, Murkowski touted the benefits for Alaska and the nation as a whole that come with domestic crude oil exports

“The President’s own State Department said this project would have little to no impact on the environment, yet they chose to kill this project to score political points with the anti-fossil fuel movement. What’s seen as a major victory by the nation’s most extreme is actually a major blow to the U.S. economy, responsible resource transportation and infrastructure, and energy security.”

“Congratulations to Mr. Richart, a long-time proponent of energy efficiency. As a former employee of Interior Weatherization he has direct knowledge of the importance of energy efficient construction, especially in the Interior. As a builder, he now has an opportunity to work with energy efficiency solutions from day one of construction,” said Bryan Butcher, AHFC executive director/CEO.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski held a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on legislation to expand the generation of affordable energy from renewable hydropower in Alaska. “Hydropower is a major part of meeting our energy needs in an affordable, reliable and clean way. That is true nationally and it is certainly true in Alaska,” said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Repsol E&P USA, Inc. agreed to pay a penalty for alleged Clean Water Act violations at an oil exploration well pad on the North Slope, Alaska. According to a settlement announced on August 26 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company’s exploration well drilling equipment leaked well testing fluids onto the frozen, snow-covered arctic tundra in April of 2013.

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today hosted a joint Senate oversight hearing in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to examine the effects of the federal government’s regulatory practices, including mitigation and land use requirements, that often delay or prevent the development of energy projects in Alaska.

In an effort to create a more equitable and commonsense wetlands mitigation process, Alaska Congressman Don Young recently introduced legislation to expand compensatory mitigation options as they pertain to Clean Water Act (CWA) section 404 permitting on State, Indian, and Alaska Native owned wetlands.

Senator Lisa Murkowski cast her vote today for the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act, a bill featuring several benefits for Alaska’s military community, construction sector and small businesses. It provides three months of critical federal funding for transportation projects across Alaska that need the resources to continue for the remainder of this construction season. The bill also transfers $3.4 billion from the VA Choice Card Program to keep the nationwide VA healthcare system open through September 30th

Two bills cosponsored by Alaska Congressman Don Young were considered in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard Subcommittee today – one to update the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 as it relates to foreign spills, another to establish a funding process for the alteration, renovation, lease or charter of a U.S. built icebreaker.

Alaska Congressman Don Young, former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement after House passage of H.R. 3038, the Highway Transportation Funding Act of 2015

poisons, disinfectants, solvents, herbicides, used oil, flammable liquids (gasoline, diesel fuel, Blazo, etc.), paint products, paint thinner, furniture stripper, antifreeze, acids, cleaners, pesticides, transmission fluid, wood preservatives, floor wax, printing and photographic chemicals, Ni-Cad and lithium batteries, auto batteries, and mercury.

Rep. feels it is inappropriate for AHFC to use public funds, employees on event Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, today voiced her disappointment over the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) hosting a charity golf tournament in the midst of massive budget deficits.

Residents impacted by Alaska’s Sockeye and Tanana Slough Fires should seek safety when asked to evacuate. Once evacuated to a safe location, residents should save receipts for expenses and contact their insurance companies through their toll free claims telephone numbers as soon as possible to begin receiving assistance if their home is damaged, said the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Card Street Fire, burning in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.

the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on the Obama Administration’s proposed Arctic Rule and its potential impacts on offshore energy development to native Alaskans, the State of Alaska, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and to our nation’s goal of energy security.