Lisa Murkowski

I think that the States are doing a good job here in terms of regulating hydraulic fracking.

I do not know. Based on what you have just said, it still sounds to me like there is an expansion of that study.

I think it will be critically important that you and your staff make sure that Alaska is very much given an opportunity to weigh in as these issues move forward.

I would appreciate that.

So you are not planning on exercising a preemptive veto then.

Well, and, again, I appreciate you outlining that.

It is not an overstatement to say that recent actions taken by EPA would fundamentally change our economy and the lives of the people we are here to represent.

Alaskans are looking for collaboration from the agencies that have such a significant impact on our State.

I would like your commitment to continue the practice that we have had over the past couple of years to have your senior folks with operational authority sitting down with my senior advisers.

What that might mean for us is incredibly significant.

I would ask for a commitment that we would--that you would be able to hold at least one, hopefully more, public events scheduled in the State so that resource producers, other stakeholders can express their views and concerns.

I appreciate a desire for consistency and certainty, but you have started your comments out recognizing that there are unique to a State like Alaska.

I think it is going to be important to be able to provide data so that we can look at that as well.

But we have not seen any permits. We have not seen any application.

But if we have a process that does not allow for certainty along the way, it is pretty difficult to entice anybody to come in and put the dollars up front that would allow for a project, allow for economic development within the region…

And so, I guess my question has always been, why not wait until we know what the specifics and what the criteria are before you move to effectively veto?

I want to start my questions with an issue that Alaskans have really been buzzing about, and this is the issue of the Pebble Mine.

Unfortunately, rather than collaboration, we have been on the receiving end of what we believe to be a regulatory onslaught that threatens our economy and, in certain cases, our way of life.

I was reminded just yesterday in a video teleconference with residents in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to take you back to the Clean Water Act and the connectivity issue.

I have described this as a potential showstopper for new development in Alaska.

I think it is unfortunate that you made some comments a couple of months ago, some unfortunate comments that showed some insensitivity not only Alaskans generally, but more particularly towards Alaska native culture.

If we're going to say the Arctic is a priority, we have to match resources to the message.

I have asked every cabinet secretary as I've had an opportunity in these appropriations hearings.

I would hope that you would look to whether or not there is a possibility to do some reordering within the queue.