[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6296368,"mediaKeyId","2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239","parentId",2516411,"title","Attorney general outlines statehood-defense program, cites 80-plus active cases and multiple federal challenges","audioSeconds",3245,"startMs",3245000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239&start=3245&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239/thumbnail_3245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296368/Alaska/Attorney-general-outlines-statehood-defense-program-cites-80-plus-active-cases-and-multiple-federal-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296368-fb69adc4516c8c445ac72f0cfe839499/orig.mp4?Expires=1775443049&Signature=Ha9BT5x-SQJz~3xIqXsq8Ep1N8s3s0jS8wJLV~AF0wBYhAk13aIeDuG7DlaOk46CrVAinLfSQLWaSpYX5V07KIT9UqF0SmevUZmm~tjmFwlBZFZPz6cIjHpmeaVKtLI~VXXJM3dyOMMrGSKWwWJ5o4hxhGu1VsWcH--q51CFq85h0RhhiEhbDx1d0EZDbGHyeAspef-~RiUHyLABCqRjxrQux3VYA887ybTMV9xdOt5kSRnPKZRgtGiEa1pveEBo6tkA4Z7itYQ0y~5akECTaLb6mWHHbgc6rUf512Mz~JwjP6DMfOtZURJ6dT5VmEd16bSsKTkIGdfE~2QqYlnEEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-05T15:30:00Z","article","Attorney General Tregg Taylor told the Senate Resources Committee on March 5 that Alaska’s statehood‑defense work aims to \"hold the federal government to the promises made to the state of Alaska statehood,\" protecting the state’s ability to use its lands, waters and natural resources as intended at statehood.

Taylor said the Department of Law coordinates weekly with the Departments of Environmental Conservation, Natural Resources and Fish and Game on litigation and administrative matters. Corey Mills, deputy in the Department of Law’s civil division, told the committee the litigation load has risen from an average of 30–40 matters to \"an active 80 plus cases in this arena,\" which the office is managing with a multiyear appropriation and a temporary increment added to the base budget.

What the committee heard: agencies described how statehood‑defense appropriations (first allocated beginning fiscal year 2021 and continued through fiscal 2024) support litigation, permitting engagement and technical work across multiple fronts.

- Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Acting Commissioner Christina Carpenter said DEC holds primacy for several federal programs in Alaska — programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, FIFRA (pesticide regulation), portions of RCRA (waste) and the Clean Water Act section 402 permitting program (APDES). DEC noted work on Waters of the United States (WOTUS) guidance, the Fairbanks PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP) and a previous February 2021 action in which DEC issued 548 notices of intent to sue the federal government over contaminant cleanup responsibilities tied to lands conveyed to Alaska Native corporations under ANCSA; Congress subsequently appropriated $40 million and DEC received a $7 million appropriation to inventory and track those cleanups.

- Department of Natural Resources (DNR): Commissioner John Boyle emphasized navigability and submerged‑lands determinations as a core statehood defense priority. Boyle said Alaska estimates roughly \"800,000 miles of navigable rivers and over 30,000,000 acres of navigable lakes,\" and that the federal government has formally acknowledged state title for a small share of that acreage. DNR’s public access assertion and defense (PAD) team collects navigability evidence and pursues determinations that affect selection by Alaska Native corporations and state resource management.

- Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G): Commissioner Doug Vincent‑Lang described three priorities: protecting the state’s authority to manage fish and wildlife, ensuring federal permitting uses the best available science, and challenging unwarranted endangered‑species listings and critical habitat designations. ADF&G said targeted scientific work has in some cases prevented listings or narrowed critical habitat designations (the department cited Pacific walrus work as an example) and flagged ongoing litigation such as petitions and appeals over Arctic ringed seals and bearded seals, incidental‑take rules for polar bears and Cook Inlet salmon management disputes.

Major litigation and issues identified by presenters:

- Pebble Mine/404(c): The state challenges EPA’s 404(c) determination, which covered roughly 300 square miles, arguing the agency’s action preempted state permitting and resource decisions; the state also has a Court of Claims action seeking compensation if the federal veto is upheld. Presenters said the 404(c) determination would block activity across a wide area and has prompted concurrent litigation.

- Lands into trust and native‑allotment jurisdiction: The state has litigation over the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ authority to take land into trust in Alaska and contested legal developments about tribal jurisdiction over native allotments, an issue tied to a recent administrative memorandum and to a separate Eklutna allotment/gaming dispute.

- Federal executive actions and regulatory primacy: Officials described executive orders and agency actions over recent administrations that change federal priorities or permitting practice and said state resources are being used to preserve fiscal stability and the state’s ability to manage resources. DEC emphasized the value of primacy for making locally informed regulatory decisions.

Why it matters: presenters argued that uncertain federal priorities, expansive administrative actions, and differing agency interpretations can restrict the state’s ability to permit and develop resources and that litigation and administrative engagement are necessary to secure legal certainty for resource development, community access and Alaska Native corporation selections.

Ending: Agency leaders told the committee they will continue coordination and litigation where necessary, and they noted the legislature’s multiyear appropriation and the temporary increment that together support the current case load through fiscal 2026. Committee members asked follow‑up questions on particular items — including the Fairbanks SIP, wood‑stove regulations, and funds tied to certain federal programs — and agencies said they would follow up with additional detail as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/05/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES","oneSentenceSummary","Attorney General Tregg Taylor told the Senate Resources Committee on March 5 that statehood defense is about \"holding the federal government to the promises made to the state of Alaska statehood,\" and that the Department of Law coordinates weekly with DEC, DNR and ADF&G on litigation and technical work to protect state authority over lands, waters and resources.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296372,"Expert tells Senate panel Alaska LNG could compete with Gulf Coast but hinges on capital costs and federal support",2768,451000,3219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239&start=451&end=3219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239/thumbnail_451000.jpg","/articles/6296372/Alaska/Expert-tells-Senate-panel-Alaska-LNG-could-compete-with-Gulf-Coast-but-hinges-on-capital-costs-and-federal-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296372-b55cbf3af61ad68409d1893b587182e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775443049&Signature=ctoRGFZpdlp7M2RUmp-yoVUUanRL0uOhrm~rJnusV20fqehaCTK3pD4RA1tgk64uSDpIDIEXhM5eJ7NXLA0rr~x5zJa03femh7Z92U0NEUssH1zJLag8XJffwAIfQe3-fogHh4wB2N-ZLnXVhpT3HWEDPhN-LE0p9pfDLPktKQQ7XvcmVCYJah7M1FRaib9Ua1nXKBPRLd2s3mMAFjDXsU-492ozH5jdnr-GWVUdwAvd~uDb5sWWkCevOOowxfL4pqxDHMz6fqEU7-rdUNBUXBbNMShULKGo4lvll9AbtPpggjja-2Ayrugyu0AKdJW9ab0fwb9yX9D7A7Ba2aQ~Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nicholas Fulford, senior director for LNG and energy transition at Gaffney Klein, told the Senate Resources Committee on March 5 that a commercially viable Alaska liquefied natural gas project would require a long-term view, alignment among stakeholders and careful handling of capital-cost escalation.

\"Many of these projects take a long time even to arrive at some sort of commercially sustainable structure,\" Fulford said. He told senators that global LNG markets have shifted dramatically in recent years, noting the market is roughly 400 million tonnes per annum today and that the United States has become one of the three dominant exporters alongside Qatar and Australia.

Fulford outlined supply-and-demand dynamics, project structures and cost drivers. He said Alaska’s advantage includes short Pacific shipping distances and comparatively low running costs, but that Alaska’s delivered cost will turn on capital expenditure. He summarized three common project models — integrated, merchant and tolling — and said each has trade-offs for aligning producers, investors and buyers. He also referenced enabling legislation that has been considered in earlier Alaska LNG efforts, including Senate Bill 138.

Key takeaways and figures cited by Fulford:

- Global market size: about 400 million tonnes per year; Alaska’s original Nikiski project delivered roughly 1.5 million tonnes per year, roughly the current Southcentral Alaska consumption level.
- Major suppliers: Qatar, Australia and the United States dominate current export capacity; new Qatari expansion and US Gulf Coast projects will shape near-term supply.
- Forecast variance: Fulford reviewed ten forecasts ranging from net-zero scenarios to higher-growth outlooks. He cited a recent Shell outlook that forecasts as much as 700 million tonnes per year by 2025 under more optimistic assumptions.
- Costs: Fulford used representative scenarios to show delivered-cost comparisons. Using historical Wood Mackenzie inputs, he presented Gulf Coast delivered-cost estimates in a mid‑scenario and a higher Henry Hub scenario where delivered costs can rise substantially; he concluded Alaska could be competitive in principle but ‘‘it will all hinge around the capital cost.’’
- Feedstock and state revenue: Fulford said feedstock costs proposed in scenarios are around $1 to $1.50 per MMBtu in some cases and that a 25% royalty would yield roughly $250 million per year in early runs; if the state held a 25% equity stake, he said, long‑run free cash flow could be in the $2 billion–$3 billion range 15–20 years after start-up under certain scenarios.
- Federal policy and tax credits: Fulford said the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture can materially change landed costs, estimating a $10–$20 per‑tonne equivalent impact when factored into landed Asian prices. He also said a federal loan guarantee on a multibillion-dollar project would be highly material to financing costs.

Senators asked about demand, shipping logistics and developer capacity. Fulford told Sen. Hughes that the colored bands on his chart designated existing capacity, projects under construction and projects that are announced but undated; he told Sen. Wilikowski that Alaska’s higher initial capital cost can be offset by lower running costs and shorter shipping distances, and that cost‑escalation risk — not necessarily delivered cost — is the principal Alaska vulnerability.

Fulford also discussed recent project trends: modular off‑site built liquefaction trains have reduced schedule and cost risk on some Gulf Coast projects; many projects announced worldwide have no firm start date and should not be treated as certain capacity additions.

Ending: The committee paused the presentation and asked Fulford to return to conclude remaining slides at a later meeting; no committee action or vote followed the briefing.","Nicholas Fulford, senior director for LNG and energy transition at Gaffney Klein, told the Alaska Senate Resources Committee on March 5 that Alaska’s liquefied natural gas project could be commercially competitive with U.S. Gulf Coast exports but that competitiveness depends on capital costs, project structure and federal support such as tax credits and loan guarantees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":80,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296375,"Senate Resources Committee forwards AOGCC nominee Jesse Chmielewski to joint session",109,342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239&start=342&end=451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516411-8701528637e31f2803241adb065a0239/thumbnail_342000.jpg","/articles/6296375/Alaska/Senate-Resources-Committee-forwards-AOGCC-nominee-Jesse-Chmielewski-to-joint-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296375-07290fa7e645493d7dffb9b21b0196bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775443049&Signature=Q0UeK07RYyk2BUJF2p7-HFb03kDwg4LqLkVA3UE40rPM3oFstPafTldkgoeDcdKFJnFU9-hYaiSjM-oZOqDmCoANnB9YcNdtVToTh~yaYhGqaIfFhUmNKzrrzDwFHijZrHOlPW2LhWZylLTYpPcSYOwaSXbyD5pZxVmcJrEc22dA18aU-hr-XbRmQ~UPfDZ7fHtPcxqhbHUkRVX3~gFnF8A7gKj6fvkzpGRZ-3UbKaqfAncCVbdp2uQxxbeTDRcaYChOufhLAfVQe12MVneY6mB5-BDyuf3lTrxlx363k-qjVvvD2LSRWZZLbmGIwGGpaDuM2T~B-fPggE8EDIuwQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska Senate Resources Committee on March 5 voted to forward the governor’s appointee Jesse Chmielewski to the full legislature for consideration for the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The committee, chaired by Sen. Chris Giesel, reopened public testimony on the appointment after interviewing Chmielewski earlier in the week, opened the floor and heard none, then accepted a motion to forward the nomination. \"The senate resources committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's appointee and recommends that the following name be forwarded to a joint session of the Alaska legislature for consideration,\" Sen. Wilikowski said when moving the recommendation. \"Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Jesse Chmielewski. This does not reflect an intent by any of the members to vote for or against this individual during any further sessions for purposes of confirmation.\" The committee passed the motion with no objection and agreed to sign a forwarding document before leaving the hearing.

Why it matters: forwarding a nomination sends the candidate to a joint session of the legislature for consideration by the larger body; it is a procedural step that preserves members' ability to vote on confirmation when the nominee appears before the full legislature.

Details and context: the committee recorded that it had interviewed Chmielewski on Monday and reopened the public record on March 5 for additional testimony. No one from the public appeared either in person or online to speak for or against the nominee during the second public comment period. Committee staff will circulate and sign the formal recommendation document before adjournment.

No formal confirmation vote occurred in committee. The committee’s action was limited to forwarding the nomination to the joint session for the broader legislature to consider.

Ending: With the forwarding motion approved and no public testimony taken, the committee moved on to its next agenda item.","The Alaska Senate Resources Committee voted to forward the governor’s nominee to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, opening and closing a second public testimony period with no speakers and approving a motion to send the name to a joint legislative session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Attorney general outlines statehood-defense program, cites 80-plus active cases and multiple federal challenges

Expert tells Senate panel Alaska LNG could compete with Gulf Coast but hinges on capital costs and federal support

Senate Resources Committee forwards AOGCC nominee Jesse Chmielewski to joint session