Idaho Statesman Logo

GAO finds issues with Alaska's Mineral Management Service | Idaho Statesman

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Boise
    • West Ada
    • Canyon County
    • Crime
    • State News
    • Nation/World News
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Idahoans in the Military
    • Weather
    • Traffic
    • Helping Works
    • In the Classroom
    • Our Community
    • Sports
    • Boise State Football
    • Boise State Basketball
    • Idaho Vandals
    • High Schools
    • Bronco Beat
    • Chadd Cripe
    • Varsity Extra Blog
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLB
    • Golf
    • Idaho Politics
    • Elections
    • Government and Business
    • Capitol & State
    • Letters from the West
    • National Politics
    • Business
    • Business Insider
    • Business Columns & Blogs
    • Personal Finance
    • Legal Notices
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Bill Manny
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Guest Opinion
    • Submit a Letter or Opinion
    • Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Arts and Culture
    • Festivals
    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Music
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Puzzles
    • Words & Deeds
    • ArtsBeat
    • Outdoors
    • Playing Outdoors Blog
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Hiking and Trails
    • Hunting
    • Winter Recreation
    • Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Treasure
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Best of Treasure Valley
    • Heart of the Treasure Valley
    • Margaret Lauterbach
    • Tim Woodward
    • Carolyn Hax
  • Obituaries

  • Contests
  • Advertise
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

News

GAO finds issues with Alaska's Mineral Management Service

Erika Bolstad - McClatchy Newspapers

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 08, 2010 04:34 AM

WASHINGTON — The Minerals Management Service was inconsistent in following federal environmental guidelines as it weighed the risks of oil and gas leases in the North Aleutian Basin, the federal government's internal watchdog said Wednesday.

The Alaska MMS office also failed to share proprietary industry information among its own staff conducting the environmental reviews, the Government Accountability Office report found.

The practice hindered the agency's ability to complete sound environmental analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act, the GAO found. It also was inconsistent with a 2008 agency directive requiring that such information be available to staffers making environmental assessments.

Because leasing has been halted in the North Aleutian Basin, the report lacks the punch it might have had if MMS were still considering oil and gas leases in the area. Last week, President Barack Obama announced that while he supports development of some oil and gas leases in Arctic waters off Alaska's northern coast, he won't allow drilling in federal waters near Bristol Bay. Those waters in the North Aleutian Basin are a "national treasure," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said last week.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

But they feel their report has relevance for future operations in Alaska's MMS office, said Mark Gaffigan of the GAO's natural resources and environment team that conducted the investigation.

"We think it's relative," he said.

Gaffigan noted that the Alaska MMS office has said it will create a Web-based handbook to ensure it follows the guidelines of the National Environmental Policy Act. The office also has pledged to follow the 2008 requirement that proprietary information be shared with all employees involved in environmental reviews.

Environmentalists said Wednesday they remain concerned about the agency's handling of leases that will go forward in Alaska, including Shell's Arctic leases. The Dutch oil giant will drill several exploration wells in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas this summer, if the federal government grants the final permits and the company withstands legal challenges from environmental groups and several North Slope villages.

"GAO confirmed what we have known all along: There is something rotten in Alaska," said Cindy Shogan, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League. "Good decision-making requires solid information, and that has been missing from the Alaska MMS decision-making for some time."

MMS officials in Alaska and Washington did not respond to phone calls or e-mails requesting comment.

  Comments  

Videos

Tim Eyman under investigation in theft of chair from Lacey Office Depot

Washington music teacher sings ‘Snow Day’ after classes are called off -- again

View More Video

Trending Stories

4 Boise teens arrested, arraigned for suspected rape of 18-year-old

February 15, 2019 11:10 AM

Big subdivisions in Nampa and Kuna. Apartments in Boise. See what’s coming near you

February 15, 2019 11:05 AM

This Northwest Boise townhouse project drew neighbors’ ire 11 months ago. Now it’s back

February 15, 2019 11:28 AM

Perfection spoiled: Eagle knocks off undefeated team for first girls basketball title

February 16, 2019 10:38 PM

53rd straight win gives Soda Springs another championship; District Three struggles

February 16, 2019 12:16 PM

Read Next

Aurora shooting raises questions over gun permit checks

Business

Aurora shooting raises questions over gun permit checks

By DON BABWIN and CARYN ROUSSEAU Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 17, 2019 08:47 AM

Authorities say an initial background check five years ago failed to flag an out-of-state felony conviction that would have prevented a man from buying the gun he used in the mass shooting in Aurora, Illinois.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE NEWS

Herbal water for babies with tummy discomfort recalled for possible choking hazard

National

Herbal water for babies with tummy discomfort recalled for possible choking hazard

February 17, 2019 07:35 AM
Hundreds stranded as British airline Flybmi collapses

Business

Hundreds stranded as British airline Flybmi collapses

February 17, 2019 05:28 AM
The Latest: Smollett says no truth he played role in attack

Entertainment

The Latest: Smollett says no truth he played role in attack

February 17, 2019 04:11 AM
This employee worried ITD’s radiation tools were missing. Then he got fired. Now, he’s suing

State Politics

This employee worried ITD’s radiation tools were missing. Then he got fired. Now, he’s suing

February 17, 2019 01:00 AM

Business

Lawmakers to talk presumptive probation, campus free speech

February 17, 2019 09:15 AM
Saudi crown prince arrives in Pakistan for regional visit

Entertainment

Saudi crown prince arrives in Pakistan for regional visit

February 17, 2019 09:09 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Idaho Statesman App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story