Hilcorp, BP Comment on BOEM’s Environmental Impact Statement for Alaskan Project
The Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) has released the draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the Liberty Project for public comment. It is an important step in developing a project which will strengthen Alaska’s energy future, according to the partners on the project. The Liberty Project is a partnership between ASRC Exploration LLC (AEX), Hilcorp Alaska and BP. This prospect is a proven reserve of domestic energy, which when developed, could greatly benefit Alaskans and help bolster the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) with additional oil.
Coordination and partnership with the communities across Alaska will ensure that the Liberty Project will be a generator of new jobs and new energy while building upon the success of previous offshore operations, the partnership said. Liberty Partner ASRC believes the project is important to the communities across the North Slope: “The Liberty Project represents the kind of development that Arctic Slope Regional Corporation has determined is important to our region and through local participation we can ensure that the needs and issues of our communities and shareholders are addressed,” said Richard Glenn, ASRC EVP of Lands and Natural Resources. “As a working interest owner through our wholly owned subsidiary, ASRC Exploration LLC, we will diligently review the DEIS over the next several weeks and provide comments.”
The Liberty Project partners plan to utilize proven technology to construct a gravel island in the Beaufort. Man-made islands have a long history of safe operations in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea. The planning and construction of Liberty Island will utilize the best available technology, incorporate input from the North Slope community, and will be completed by a team of experts including scientists, engineers, environmental specialists and other skilled professionals, according to Hilcorp.
The Liberty Project operator, Hilcorp Alaska, stressed the importance of developing this project right, with input from the communities and in close coordination with the regulators, stating: “Not only have similar proposals of the Liberty Project been vetted and approved before, but gravel-based energy facilities have a proven record of safe operations, with some in production for over a decade in the Beaufort Sea,” stated Dave Wilkins, Senior Vice President Alaska. “We are eager to work with the communities across the North Slope and our partners throughout the state to develop a project that will greatly benefit Alaska and bring greater domestic energy security to the country.”
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. also supports the oversight and input from the community and regulators, with BP Alaska president Janet Weiss, stating: “BP believes the Liberty project is important to Alaska’s economic future, and we support it moving forward in a manner that is respectful of the environment and of the local communities and their subsistence way of life.”
Source: www.worldoil.com
