Lawmakers Urge Swift Resolution of Point Thomson Appeal
Resolution supports administration’s efforts

Juneau - Members of the Senate Republican Caucus plan to introduce a resolution tomorrow that would put the Legislature on record supporting the administration’s efforts to resolve a court appeal holding up development of Point Thomson oil and gas resources.

The resolution, which has not yet been assigned a number, asks the governor and the attorney general to allocate adequate resources and take all steps necessary to expedite the court’s consideration of ExxonMobil Corporation’s appeal of the final decision by the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to deny ExxonMobil’s proposed plan to develop the Point Thomson Unit, and to terminate the Point Thomson unit.

Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, introduced the resolution after consulting with the administration on possible problems with Senate Bill 26, which he and Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, filed earlier this session. SB 26 would have transferred judicial review of a final decision by the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources approving termination of an oil or gas lease to the Alaska Supreme Court.

“After introduction of Senate Bill 26 and meeting with the Department of Law personnel, Senator Wagoner and I have a much better understanding now of some of the legal concerns there, and we are in agreement that perhaps moving forward on that legislation would be unwise,” Therriault said. “It could be, in fact, counterproductive, for what we were trying to accomplish. Instead our plan is to introduce a resolution that supports the administration’s efforts on moving forward with the state asserting its sovereign rights on the Point Thomson leases.”

“While we have three separate branches of government, it’s beneficial from time to time for our branch to make a clear statement of support to the executive branch for actions they have undertaken,” Therriault said.

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For a sound actuality by Sen. Therriault click below:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/therriault2007021501a.mp3

To view the fact sheet on the upcoming resolution click below:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/pdfs/25/ptu_resolution.pdf