2013-02-20                     House Journal                      Page 0328
HB 129                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 129 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to approval for oil and gas or gas only                                                                    
    exploration and development in a geographical area; and                                                                     
    providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

2013-02-20                     House Journal                      Page 0329
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 18, 2013, follows:                                                             
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Chenault:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to approval for oil and                                                         
gas or gas only exploration and development in a geographical area.                                                             
This bill will reduce the time required to get oil into production and                                                          
flowing through TAPS, while protecting Alaska's environment.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Under current procedures, the Department of Natural Resources                                                                   
(DNR) grants lease exploration and development approval in                                                                      
conjunction with individual plans of operation for a lease or project.                                                          
As such, a separate public notice is required for each approval, often                                                          
resulting in repetitive approvals within the same geographical area. In                                                         
order to streamline the State's permitting process, this bill allows DNR                                                        
to comprehensively evaluate oil and gas exploration and development                                                             
in a geographical area, and define the criteria by which specific                                                               
projects are evaluated and approved. Approvals made under the                                                                   
provisions of this bill are valid for up to ten years as specified by                                                           
DNR's Director of the Division of Lands.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Creating economic opportunity in Alaska requires a clear, predictable,                                                          
and timely permitting process that encourages resource development                                                              
while protecting the environment. I urge your prompt and favorable                                                              
action on this measure to create a streamlined permitting process in the                                                        
interests of increasing oil throughput and growing Alaska's economy.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sean Parnell                                                                                                                    
Governor"