Ron Irwin, Press Secretary 716 W Fourth Avenue, Suite 540 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0257 Fax: (907) 269-0255 Web: www.akrepublicans.org Actualities Send E-Mail    or    E-Mail List: subscribe

Legislature Forms Committee to Review Pipeline

(JUNEAU) - The Alaska Legislature passed a resolution on Tuesday creating the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipelines to review and further efforts to commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas reserves. The committee will study issues relating to a proposed gas pipeline and consider what legislation should be proposed during the next session.

"Technological advances and increased demand have created this window of opportunity to bring our natural gas to market," said Senator John Torgerson, chair of the Senate Resources Committee. "We do not have the luxury of waiting until next January to resume our study of project proposals and how we can facilitate them, so we're creating the committee to continue working over the interim between legislative sessions."

The members of the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipelines will be selected evenly by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. The committee will have the authority to take appropriate action to ensure the best interests of the state are protected in any gas-line development, and will represent the Legislature in dealings with the government authorities in Canada and Washington D.C., as well as the governor's office and independent interests. The committee may also hold hearings and hire consultants and experts as needed.

"The North American Gas Pipeline Group, Yukon Pacific, Foothills, the LNG Sponsor Group and other private interests are all going to be moving forward during the summer and fall to hopefully submit applications for processing our gas," said Torgerson. "It is important not only that the Legislature has a seat at the table, but that we are available over the interim to help this process in any way we can."

# # #

Attachments:

• Print Friendly Version
  requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 75 K

| Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipelines' Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters