Bill Benefiting In-State Gasline Effort Passes House

(Juneau) - The Alaska House of Representatives today passed a bill protecting the permitting process for an in-state pipeline project when obtaining a state right-of-way, saving it from frivolous lawsuits that would unnecessarily delay development.

What we don't want is unnecessary delay by outside environmental groups or those looking to sidetrack or shutdown a project.
~ Rep. Mike Chenault

House Bill 215, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, would also set the Alaska Supreme Court as the exclusive jurisdiction for disputes from qualified applicants, competing applicants or those with a direct financial interest affected by the right-of-way lease.

"What we don't want is unnecessary delay by outside environmental groups or those looking to sidetrack or shutdown a project," Speaker Chenault said. "The bill protects the process, allows the Dept. of Environmental Conservation to continue keeping on track with discharge, and keeps the focus on those people with a legitimate interest or stake in the granting of a right-of-way lease on state land."

The bill is modeled on the 1973 Trans-Alaska Pipeline legislation enacted by Congress.

HB 215, which passed by a vote of 36-3, now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.