Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy, will host Alaska Governor Sean Parnell (via video conference) for an announcement regarding Hydrocarbon Exploration on Public Lands in Alaska.
Senators Merkley (D-OR), Durbin (D-IL), Leahy (D-VT), Boxer (D-CA), Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Whitehouse (D-RI) signed a letter addressed to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar on September 21. In this letter all six senators urge the Department of Interior (DOI) to remove Arctic leases from the 2012-2017 lease program. Their request was based on concerns they have over the environment and possible effects on local communities should off-shore drilling leases be granted.