Lisa's dad and daughter sadly help destroy what pristine wilderness is
left on federal land in AK.  Phyllis
FAIRBANKS — Former Gov. Frank Murkowski said “extreme environmentalists”
are responsible for stifling development in Alaska and overzealous
government regulation is the cause for slumping oil production.
Murkowski, the father of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, made the comments to the
weekly luncheon hosted by the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce on
Tuesday in a presentation titled “Who owns Alaska.”
As much as two thirds of Alaska is owned by the federal government, and
Murkowski said the government has been resistant to any development of
oil, gas or timber on its lands. He said the oil boom in the Lower 48 has
occurred almost exclusively on private land, which isn’t possible in
Alaska.
“The so-called oil boom? It’s all been on private land, nothing, zippo is
on federal land,” he said. “I suggest that Alaska is being left behind
and that Alaska’s most promising lands are being locked up. ... If these
developments were allowed to proceed they would have a profound impact.”
While most angst about development is leveled at agencies like the
Environmental Protection Agency or the Interior Department, Murkwoski
said the blame should rest with the administration and its political
donors, namely what he called “extreme environmentalists.”
“Is there any reason that (the federal government is) not pursuing
development?” he asked. “It’s not pursuing it because of the lobby
associated with America’s environmental community.”
While he agreed with the need to develop renewable energies, he accused
environmentalists of not understanding the rest of America when it
hinders development that would provide domestic sources of energy,
creating jobs and economic development.
“They have theirs,” he said. “They don’t have the same concerns that the
individual American or Alaskan has. They have a different view of the
world.”

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