Gas line presentation set for today

Jan. 7, 2007

By RUSSELL STIGALL/Frontiersman

WASILLA - The Alaska Gasline Port Authority will bring its Board of Directors to Wasilla for a public question and answer.

&#8220The Port Authority has discovered that the best response in any form of outreach is a presentation in each community,” said Lori Backes, spokesperson for the Authority.

The Q and A will be at Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building, 101 W. Swanson Ave., in Wasilla. It will begin today at 1 p.m. and will continue until at least 3 p.m.

&#8220We'll stay until everybody has talked it out,” Backes said.

The main thrust of the public meeting will cover how the Authority plans to solve the coming shortage of natural gas in Southcentral Alaska, Backes said. Natural gas production is expected to decline in the Cook Inlet Beluga fields, she said.

The Authority's answer to the possible shortage is a spur-line into South Central Alaska off their proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez.

A project, Backes said, that could be completed sooner than other proposals. The Authority already has permits for its pipeline routes. North Slope natural gas can reach Southcentral by 2013, according to the Authority.

The Authority's presentation will describe how it plans to do accomplish this. And do it three years faster than the Alaska Highway route negotiated by former Gov. Frank Murkowski, Backes said.

After the presentation, the board members will answer questions and listen to comments.

&#8220This is a real interactive opportunity for the public,” Backes said.

The Authority is a municipal entity and is a revenue-sharing project.

The nine board members are representatives of three municipalities. Burt Cottle, Dave Cobb and John Kelsey represent Valdez. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has Jim Whitaker, John Reeves and Luke Hopkins on the board. And Harold Curram, John Ames and Rex Rock round out the board representing the North Slope Borough.

Refreshments will be provided by the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Alaska Gasline Port Authority visit www.alaskagaslineportauthority.com.

Contact Russell Stigall at

352-2267 or russell.stigall@ frontiersman.com.