All Alaska gas

Mr. Berkowitz doesn’t wish to wait another 30 years for gas: Building “Our own gas line” raises some interesting questions.

If the state and its citizens with their PFD’s built the gas line, would the state of Alaska’s permitting and fee system be necessary? Would we permit ourselves or just waive the entire fee and permitting process since the state issuing permits to itself and charging itself fees seems peculiar to say the least.

Would an environmental impact statement be necessary? After all aren’t most Alaskans solidly in favor of environmental protection thereby making the impact statement unnecessary.

Who would we tax if we (the state) owned the gas line? Would it still be necessary for us (the state) to pay personal property taxes to boroughs through which the pipeline passed?

Even more interesting, who would we sue in the event of a leak or catastrophe? And who would we charge for cleanup and damages? Or, would we all just pitch in and do it ourselves?

Finally, what about economic feasibility which the big, bad oil companies have to consider since they have no tax revenue on which to depend? Probably not necessary, the state projected gas line construction could likely go forward based on the state of Alaska’s past record such as Point McKenzie dairy project, Big Delta barley farms for shipping grain to the far east, Matanuska Maid Dairy, Valdez grain silos, etc.

Jim Colberg

Palmer