Is AIDEA for Alaskans?
SHARE YOUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY BY CALLING INTO THE AIDEA BOARD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23RD AT 9:30AM AK.
TO CALL IN, DIAL 1 (888) 585-9008 AND ENTER CODE 212-753-619#. EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO PUBLICCOMMENT@AIDEA.ORG WITH A SUBJECT: RESOLUTION G21-18.
“Projecting two billion dollars in lease sales, that’s not going to happen and they know it from the beginning” said a Kaktovik resident on February 5th, 2019 in a meeting on the lease sales for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Specifically the 1002 area where Kaktovik village is located.
He was right, the lease sales held on January 6th, 2021 brought in less than 1% of that estimate. An inflated estimate was given to gain support for lease sales asserting that it would bring in money for Alaskans. Instead, about $12 million of the $14.4 million dollars that was spent on the leases came from Alaska’s own public corporation Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA).
I am Inupiaq and among the indigenous voices in opposition to AIDEA’s bids on the lease sales in the Refuge, which I urge them to relinquish. In a meeting the board held on January 13, 2021 AIDEA made the claim that the Kaktovik community was in support of development in the 1002 area. Clearly they didn’t read through the publicly available transcripts, the majority of residents had deep concerns or were outright opposed.
“I just want to be on the record saying that I oppose oil development, and I’d rather have it saved for our children’s future” said another Kaktovik resident. Yet another comment criticized the process itself saying “I want to go on the record saying that I think this was fast-tracked too fast, that it wasn’t given enough time for the EIS (environmental impact statement) to come out. Normally these things take more than three months”.
Instead, AIDEA points to representatives of corporations and groups that will have direct financial gain from oil and gas development in ANWR. Corporations like Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation (KIC). While these corporations are vital to have in the conversation, they don’t necessarily represent resident views. KIC has pushed for development in ANWR despite the major concerns and objections from Kaktovik community members.
AIDEA turns a blind eye to these concerns though, which isn’t a surprise considering their history of ignoring public opinions. A great example is the Ambler road project which local communities had significant concerns with. AIDEA denied the blood bank a $2.5 million dollar loan and at the same time approved $35 million for the Ambler road project in 2020.
AIDEA has had many bad investments and showcase a culture of bad practices. For example the Mustang project, on the north slope of Alaska, lost $70 million dollars. They are also being investigated for poor treatment of employees and a toxic work environment. Public transparency is a weak spot for them, AIDEA has abused their use of executive sessions with about 68% of their 2020 board meetings being held in private executive sessions.
How about conflict of interest? Chair J. Dana Pruhs businesses received over ninety thousand dollars of CARES Act grants and Vice Chair Bernie Karl received a hundred thousand dollars for his business. The Chair and Vice Chair terms expire on June 30th, is it possible we will see a much needed change within AIDEA’s board?
Now AIDEA is proposing to spend $1.5 million dollars towards a proposal for seismic testing. After significant public opposition, little industry interest in the lease sales and the Secretary of the Interior identifying significant legal problems with this Coastal Plain program, AIDEA is stubbornly pushing forward.
I ask that AIDEA listen to Alaskans, stop this seismic proposal, and drop the leases they currently hold in the Refuge.
Share your concerns directly by calling into the AIDEA board meeting on Wednesday, June 23rd at 9:30AM AK.
To call in, dial 1 (888) 585-9008 and enter code 212-753-619#. EMAIL your comments to publiccomment@aidea.org with a subject: Resolution G21-18.
Talking Points from Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition >> https://docs.google.com/.../1P6SWGOY07arnq9okRvcRfli.../edit
