Tundra lakes on the North Slope, Alaska, are an important resource for energy development and petroleum field operations. A majority of exploration activities, pipeline maintenance, and restoration activities take place on winter ice roads that depend on water availability at key times of the winter operating season. These same lakes provide important fisheries and ecosystem functions. In particular, overwintering habitat for fish is one important management concern. This study focused on the evaluation of winter water use in the current field operating areas to provide a better understanding of the current water use practices. It found that under the current water use practices, there were no measurable negative effects of winter pumping on the lakes studied and current water use management practices were appropriately conservative. The study did find many areas where improvements in the understanding of tundra lake hydrology and water usage would benefit industry, management agencies, and the protection of fisheries and ecosystems.

Executive Correspondence – Letters dtd 07/27/2005 to Commissioners Gehman and Turner from Ted Stevens, Chairman on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, thanking the Commissioners for their willingness to discuss BRAC recommendations that are important to Alaska and mentioning flaws in the GAO report to the Commission

Executive Correspondence – Letter dtd 07/25/2005 to Chairman Principi and Commissioner Hansen from Ted Stevens, Chairman on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, thanking the Commissioners for their willingness to discuss BRAC recommendations that are important to Alaska and stating that the recommendation to close Eielson AFB completely ignores it’s vital strategic advantage for current and future missions and total force mobilization.

Testimony and Statements Regional Hearing - Fairbanks, AK