The Obama Administration's decision to remove two Alaska oil lease sales – one each in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas – from its “Proposed Final Program” for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing for 2017-2022, is drawing sharp criticism from Congress and a national veterans group.
“President Obama is well aware that the vast majority of Alaskans want OCS development, and I am infuriated that he has once again ignored our voices to side with the factions who oppose it,” said U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, in a statement condemning the announcement.
“We have shown that Arctic development is one of the best ways to create jobs, generate revenues, and refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Why the president is willing to send all of those benefits overseas is beyond explanation,” added Murkowski.
Capt. James McCormick, USA (ret), a 3-time bronze star, silver star and purple heart recipient, and program director for Vets4Energy, agreed with Murkowski’s comments.
“By not allowing America to explore, we are only decreasing our national security, removing our influence in the area, and deciding to give all the economic benefits to other countries instead of keeping them for ourselves,” McCormick told American Security News. “At a time when more growth, new jobs and additional government revenues are so important, I do not see the reasoning behind taking the Arctic off the 5-year plan.”
Vets4Energy is a national coalition of U.S. military veterans who advocate for policies that increase America’s energy independence.
“Arctic resources will still come out of the ground, just via other countries who may not take as much care as us — and they will be reaping all the benefits,” added McCormick.
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), joined in his colleague’s criticism of the Obama Administration’s announcement.
“With this action, the Obama Administration is once again capitulating to the demands of extreme environmental groups over Alaskans and their fellow Americans who want good-paying jobs, energy independence and a strong economy,” Sullivan said. “For nearly eight years this Administration has given lip service to an ‘all of the above energy strategy,’ when their actions say the opposite.”
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK), agreed, calling President Obama’s decision “politically driven and meant to appease the nation’s most extreme environmental groups .”
“I truly wish I could say I was surprised, but this administration has never been serious about Arctic OCS development,” said Young. “With the writing on the wall, we’ve taken numerous steps in Congress to enhance Arctic lease sales – going as far as passing an amendment to the House Interior Appropriations bill that would have prevented this lease removal from taking place.”
Added Young, “Make no mistake, this blatant disregard for Alaska’s social and economic future will be overturned. The Obama Administration has simply added one more obstacle to the list.”
McCormick pointed out that Russia, among other countries, are already exploring in the Arctic.
“Some believe that the stopping of any fossil fuel development or transportation will save the planet, but all they are doing is keeping America from participating in the development,” said McCormick. “The world is developing oil and natural gas as fast as they can, and America is going to keep using it. So all they are doing is working against American resources and saying they would rather buy it from other sources.”
According to a statement released by the Alaska congressional delegation, the U.S. Interior Department’s own analysts report that “the Beaufort and Chukchi seas form one of the most prospective basins in the world,” projected to “hold 23.6 billion barrels of oil and 104.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.”
They also point to a 2011 analysis by Northern Economics, which found that energy development in those seas would “create an annual average of 55,000 jobs over a 50-year period.”
Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), released a statement saying the Obama Administration's announcement "is a short-sighted decision that ignores America’s long-term energy security needs” said Gerard.
“Our national energy security depends on our ability to produce oil and natural gas here in the U.S., and this decision could very well increase the cost of energy for American consumers and close the door on creating new jobs and new investments for years," said Gerard. "We are hopeful the incoming administration will reverse this decision – consistent with the will of American voters."
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