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.

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Manager, John Parrott, has been elected to serve on the American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Board of Directors.

Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in the full Senate Appropriations Committee for the 2016 Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains several Alaska priorities she added and gathered support for. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee – which passed this bill earlier this week – Murkowski used her position there to raise the profile of Alaska’s military concerns, given the state’s rising significance in light of threats to the west and growing Arctic activity.

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives and Alaska Congressman Don Young passed H.R. 2577, the Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act, by a vote of 216 to 210. During consideration of H.R. 2577, Congressman Young mounted several notable fights to defend Alaskan aviation interests

Alaska’s Congressional Delegation received good news today from the United States Army, that Fort Wainwright will be the home base for nine “Gray Eagle” Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles. This announcement solidifies the Department of Defense’s investment of manpower and infrastructure in Alaska, the “most strategic location in the world.”