So with these permits that are part of this backlog, these pending permits have a 2-year life to their permit.

I'm concerned that the date for the release of the final supplemental EIS is going to slip.

I think sometimes within our agencies that presents a challenge because the real knowledgeable folks get scooped up by industry.

So if you have a continued backlog that continues for a period of years you may run your first permit period and then your extension that is allowed.

Without road access the reality is is the only alternative that is available then is by aircraft which, of course, puts greater stress on the caribou as they are traveling around, greater stress on the subsistence hunting.

But you only have a one extension.

If there's no accountability for a timely decision, if you can just continue, kind of, putting it off, putting it off.

So 3 days to 2 weeks verses 133 days? Tell me why...

Thank you, Madame Chairman.

This construction season is going to be lost and the project delayed for yet another year which, in my view, is absolutely unacceptable.

We'd like to make some improvements here.

The President continues to tout oil and gas development from NPR-A as part of his 'all of the above' energy strategy, but beyond holding lease sales, it is not clear to me what the Administration is doing to help ensure a project in the…

I guess I would just, again, reinforce the timeliness of these decisions is absolutely key because if we lose yet another season.

But once it's issued you have one opportunity for a 2-year extension?

I do think it is good, Madame Chairman, that we have been able to schedule this hearing this morning to consider the nomination for Deputy Secretary of Energy.

What I would like from you this morning is a commitment to us that you will work with us here in the Senate to do everything possible...

Many of us think that we do need to look critically at how all of these agencies interact then with this EPA rule.

I believe it is a very competitive environment. I believe we have an opportunity to lead in it.

I appreciate your acknowledgement that energy is truly a source of not only energy security, but national security.

I do think it takes us right back to the chairman's point about our opportunities with our oil and most clearly our natural gas.

I think with your expertise on nuclear security and non-proliferation that this can be an asset to us on the committee.

I think it's important to note that this morning we not only have the nominee here to be the Deputy Secretary of Energy and whose background clearly has been focused in nuclear.

We need this investigation to go forward. We need to have these ongoing remedial actions.

Would you agree that we have a limited timeframe here or a window of opportunity?

Do you support GAO's recommendation for a formal documented process between DOE, FERC and EPA to interact with respect to the impact of the EPA rules on reliability?