Importance of Coastal Plain development underscored by Dinkum Sands Supreme Court ruling
For Immediate Release
June 19, 1997
Contact: Cam Toohey, 563-2697
Arctic Power joined with Governor Tony Knowles and Alaska’s congressional delegation, stressing that today’s Supreme Court decision in the Dinkum Sands case reiterates how critical it is for Alaska to continue its efforts to open the ANWR Coastal Plain to oil development.
"While it’s disappointing for the state to lose the past and future revenues that were at issue in this case, the Supreme Court decision does not affect the current ANWR debate, except to make it a higher priority for Alaska," said Arctic Power Executive Director Cam Toohey.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government retains ownership to submerged lands within NPRA and ANWR.
The state is considering filing a petition for a rehearing on the issue of ownership of ANWR coastal waters, and Governor Knowles has pledged to continue to fight for Alaska’s right to develop its resources. In a governor’s office news release, Knowles stressed the "need to move forward on other initiatives regarding North Slope oil and gas development ... on the coastal plain" of ANWR.
Arctic Power intends to do just that, according to Toohey. The non-profit citizen’s organization is continuing its Washington, D.C. education and advocacy efforts on ANWR, and will be bringing members of Congress to the Coastal Plain this year.
"We’ve had tremendous success in the past bringing the D.C. decision-makers to the Coastal Plain and that effort will continue," Toohey said. "And we intend to keep educating Congress and the public on the benefits of Alaska oil. This strategy worked in 1995, with House and Senate passage of ANWR development language, and it will ultimately contribute to a positive result in the future."
Arctic Power is a non-profit, grassroots organization founded in 1992 with the purpose of securing congressional and presidential approval of Coastal Plain oil development. The organization is supported by individual contributions, Alaska Native corporations, private companies and the state of Alaska.
