Sen. Murkowski Supports Persily for Alaska Gas Pipeline Coordinator

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding Larry Persily's nomination to be Federal Coordinator of the Office for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.

"I'm pleased that President Obama has moved quickly to fill this important position," Murkowski said. "I've known Larry for years and I'm confident he will work tirelessly to see that a North Slope gas pipeline becomes a reality."

If confirmed as federal coordinator, Persily would be responsible for integrating the activities of federal agencies involved in the permitting and construction of a pipeline to bring North Slope gas to markets in the Lower 48 states. Persily would report directly to the president.

Sen. Murkowski said of Persily: "He has solid knowledge of oil and gas industry finance and the state's regulatory process. More importantly, from his decades in Alaska he knows how vital it is that a gas line gets built so the state can quickly get its gas to market for the benefit of current and future Alaskans."

Persily has worked for more than a decade on Alaska oil and gas issues under three of the state's governors and the state legislature. He served as deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Revenue, leaving the department in 2003 after six years, and returning in 2004 to work with North Slope oil and gas producers toward developing a natural gas pipeline. In 2007, he joined the Alaska governor's Washington, D.C., office as associate director assisting with oil and gas, Arctic, commerce, transportation and tax issues.

"Commercializing Alaska's vast reserves of natural gas is vital not only for Alaska's economy, but the energy security of the nation as well," Murkowski said. "We've waited decades for this project to get underway. I have faith that once confirmed the new coordinator will do his upmost to see it completed successfully."

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