Begich Welcomes Interior Secretary Salazar for Alaska Visit
Press Release
Begich Welcomes Interior Secretary Salazar for Alaska Visit
Senator Mark Begich today welcomed the announcement by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that he will visit Alaska next month, less than four months after he became the top federal official over Alaska land issues.
Salazar will preside over an Interior hearing on Continental Shelf (OCS) resources April 14 at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. Begich will join the secretary to hear from Alaskans about their views on how off-shore oil and gas development should proceed in Alaska.
"Secretary Salazar is keeping his promise to me and to Alaskans to visit our state to hear first-hand about Alaska's major industry," Begich said. "I'm pleased that he'll visit Alaska so soon after becoming secretary and that he's willing to personally listen to Alaskans. I believe most Alaskans support additional oil and gas development in state, but on terms where we safeguard the environment and protect our resources for other uses, such as subsistence."
Interior is undertaking a four-part strategy for developing a new comprehensive energy development plan for the U.S. OCS. The Alaska meeting is part of a public comment period of 180 days lasting until September 21, 2009.
Open for public comment, the Anchorage meeting is tentatively scheduled to start at 9 am. Elected officials, private citizens, organizations, energy producers, advocacy groups and local governments are all invited to attend, offer comments, and ask questions of the Interior Department. The in-person comment period is anticipated to last until 5 pm.
"All interested Alaskans should attend this event and offer their views to the Interior Department," Begich said. "This represents a unique opportunity to speak directly to representatives of the federal government about resource development, subsistence resources, Alaskan wildlife, and Alaskan lands."
Comments will be accepted by mail to Ms. Renee Orr, Chief, Leasing Division, Mineral Management Service, MS 4010, 318 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4817. Participants may also wager their input through email at www.MMS.gov , "Five year Program," "How to Comment."
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