The American oil and gas industry is set now with more than 9,000 leases on federal public lands and waters that are already approved. But the vast majority are not being used. The industry should develop these leases first before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEAM, offers up any more outer continental shelf oil and gas leases in the currently proposed BOEM National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program and draft environmental impact statement.
The lower Cook Inlet Lease Sale 267 is being proposed in this 5-year plan in 2026. No new leasing should occur. The no-action alternative is the best alternative.
I ask: Where is the industry interest in all of this? The industry has a shrinkage of workers and jobs, due in part to automation. Investors are being restrained and reluctant to invest due to the many defaults in the industry and recognizing the climate-changing impacts from the industry. About one-quarter of all U.S. climate-changing emissions are from federal public oil and gas leasing.
I am tired of the industrial whining that wants more and more without even using what they have. In June of this summer, 110 square miles were leased on federal lands in seven western states. I could go on and on about the negative impacts to habitat, our fish and wildlife populations, quality of life and pollution, to name a few. But the simple issue is that this 5-year proposed plan is industrial overreach. It is unnecessary. Please comment at www regulations.gov by Oct. 6 on BOEM-2022-0031-0001. There should be no new leasing in lower Cook Inlet.
— Becky Long
Talkeetna
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.