For Immediate
Release
CONTACT: Robert Dillon (202) 224-6977
(Murkowski)
July 13,
2012
Spencer Pederson (202) 226-9019 (Hastings)
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and
Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Washington, sent a letter to Dr. Jane
Lubchenco, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
and Administrator at National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), and James Watson, Director of the
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE),
asking what measures NOAA and BSEE have taken to ensure
that the planned protest activities in the Arctic by
Greenpeace do not disrupt or threaten safe operations,
disturb marine mammals or interfere with anticipated Native
Alaskan subsistence efforts.
"We share your concern for ensuring proper oversight of oil
and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf,"
Murkowski and Hastings wrote. "In that regard, we want to
be sure that you have the resources, are planning and
prepared to respond to the steps that Greenpeace is
planning to impede exploratory drilling operations in
arctic waters off the north coast of Alaska."
Greenpeace is attempting to protest and "monitor" Shell's
activities by interfering with permitted work in the Arctic
through the usage of a 216 foot ice class ship, two large
rigid hull and four small inflatables, two submarines, and
an aerial drone. Murkowski and Hastings are concerned that
federal agencies have not accounted for the likelihood that
Greenpeace's activities will cause disturbance to marine
mammals, pollution to the environment, or conflict with
Native Alaskans through the physical presence of vessels.
"NOAA's and BSEE's analysis of planned oil and gas
exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas has devoted
extraordinary and unprecedented attention to the potential
impacts of vessels and other activities," they wrote.
"Though the potential for impacts is similar, there has
been no such analysis or permitting of the planned protest
activities or the operation of the vessels participating in
them. In addition to the environmental problems presented
by the protest fleet, it seems that there are special
dangers in having multiple submarines operated by different
parties in and around drilling operations."
Murkowski is the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies. Hastings is the Chairman of the House Natural
Resources Committee.
The letters are attached.
###
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