Press Release: Legislature Hires Expert Advisors

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Ron Irwin, Press Secretary
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For Immediate Release: January 30, 2001

Contact: Senator Rick Halford at (907) 465-4958
Senator John Torgerson at (907) 465-2828
Senator Drue Pearce at (907) 465-4993

(JUNEAU) -- The Senate Rules Committee heard and approved contracts for two consultants to the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday.

"Hearing and approving contracts of this sort falls under the responsibilities of the Senate Rules Committee," said Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), chair of the Rules Committee. "Senators Halford and Torgerson have requested specialized expertise to advise the legislature."

Emil Notti, former commissioner for the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs, has been brought in to advise the House and Senate on statewide issues, especially those affecting urban residents and Alaska Natives. He has held many positions including president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, senior vice-president of Doyon Limited, and deputy commissioner for the Department of Health and Social Services. Notti was a key participant in the negotiations that culminated in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

"Emil's ability to work with communities throughout the state will be a significant asset to the legislature as we work on rural and federal issues," said Halford. "Emil brings a wealth of professional experience, as both a leader in the Alaska Native community and from his work in both the private and public sectors."

Patrick Coughlin, a lawyer and oil and gas expert, has been hired as a consultant for the Senate. He has been an attorney for over 20 years, and has worked on oil and gas issues for the last 10 years.

"The decisions related to the proposal for a natural gas pipeline and related infrastructure are some of the most important decisions that this legislature will face," said Senator John Torgerson (R-Kasilof). "We felt it necessary to have someone in-house who is intimately experienced with oil and gas legislation, not only to advise us on the best course of action, but also on Alaska's interests in Washington D.C.

"The United States passed the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act in 1977 and negotiated a treaty with Canada for a natural gas pipeline along the Alaska Highway," said Torgerson. "These will need to be updated to reflect changes, including those in environmental laws, that have occurred in the last 25 years. Mr. Coughlin will be an invaluable resource to the Senate as these rewrites are completed."

"The experts we hired served us well during the BP/Arco merger discussions," said Pearce. "It was due to information that we developed alongside the consulting team that we were able to provide for continued competition on the North Slope even in the face of the governor's quick accession to BP's desires. We are bringing Mr. Coughlin on to give us the same expert advice."

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