"At the urging of the Corps, Conoco Phillips labored over a decade-long process to engage local, regional and statewide stakeholders to secure a bridge permit to access the western portion of the Alpine Development oil field. Then the Corps did the classic bait-and-switch and denied Conoco Phillips access west into NPR-A.

This is troubling on many levels. First, at the urging of the Corps, Conoco Phillips went above and beyond to educate, outreach and partner with local, regional and statewide stakeholders on this project. It is a rare occasion when you can gain agreement from the village corporation, city government, tribal council, regional corporation, regional borough and the state of Alaska. To Conoco Phillips' credit, they did just that. Rather than fulfill its signaled commitment to the people of Alaska, the Corps denied the CD-5 Alpine Development permit.

Second, the denial of Conoco Phillips' permit application also denies Alaska Natives the opportunity to explore for oil and gas on the lands granted through the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. This is significant because the profits from development on ANCSA lands are shared among every region within Alaska. They have a ripple effect throughout the Alaska economy. Therefore, if I were an Alaskan owned business like local ATV shops, for example, I would be worried about the impact the Corps decision will have on my business.

Finally, Alaskans are saddled with the suffocating cumulative impacts of federal agency decisions. They have told Alaskans not to develop ANWR, but to develop in NPR-A. Yet, when we try, we're denied. Now we face serious opposition for near-shore and offshore development because of the proposed critical habitat designation for polar bears and other species. It seems we are left without aboriginal title or the ability to develop what we were given in exchange for it."

Get the Story:
Richard Glenn: Corps does Alaska and Natives a disservice (The Anchorage Daily News 3/30)