Seeking hidden ‘pockets of oil’, BP takes on a massive project at Prudhoe Bay
The 3-D seismic survey is part of the effort to keep the oil field alive for decades to come.
Environmental watchdogs are raising alarms over Pebble and other projects. But is anyone listening?
A Pebble Mine foe found a video she thought would make headlines. It didn't.
Donlin Gold signs major wetland mitigation agreement
The company is trying to develop one of the biggest gold mines in the world in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The mine, if built, would disturb 2,800 acres of wetlands. Because Donlin can’t restore all of those wetlands, it is required to protect wetlands somewhere else.
Company hints North Slope oil field could be larger than first estimated
Oil Search told investors this week that the Pikka development could hold 750 million barrels of oil, increasing its original estimate by 50 percent. Listen now
Murkowski accepts climate change. What will she do about it?
Sen. Murkowski is a Republican who goes out of her way to talk about climate change and says we need to reduce emissions. But climate advocates say her deeds don’t match her words.
Watchdog renews call for tougher training for Prince William Sound oil tanker escorts
Following two minor accidents, a citizens' watchdog group is asking the state's top environmental regulator to require tougher training for new oil spill response crews in Prince William Sound. Listen now
This old growth timber didn’t sell last time. Can it attract a buyer now?
The U.S. Forest Service removed some of the more sensitive watershed areas included in the original Kuiu Island sale, which received zero bids back in 2016. Listen now
As his crime bills languish, Gov. Dunleavy renews the idea of a special session
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, at a news conference Monday, again suggested he could order Alaska lawmakers into a special session unless they start advancing his batch of criminal justice bills.
Less mercury found in Beaufort Sea polar bears; that’s not necessarily a good thing
Melissa McKinney expected to see some fluctuation in the polar bears' mercury levels. But the sudden drop off surprised her. Listen now
State agency could offer public comment period on fracking projects
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) is proposing a ten-day comment period for applications to use hydraulic fracturing on an oil or gas well. The proposal falls in between what environmental groups and the industry say is sufficient opportunity for public input before a well can be fracked in Alaska. Listen now
Murkowski declares ANWR wilderness bill ‘dead on arrival’
A pair of Democratic senators have introduced a bill to designate parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a permanent wilderness area, prompting outrage from Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski.
Judge weighs whether ballot initiative favors salmon over mining, oil
At a hearing Tuesday in Anchorage, the key question was this: does the ballot initiative give the state enough wiggle room to consider projects like the proposed Pebble Mine or Susitna Dam even if they impact salmon streams? Listen now
Invasive species haven’t made the Bering Sea their home… yet
The Bering Sea has kept invasives at bay for now, but warming waters look to make it a more welcoming environment in the future. Listen now
Findings released regarding governor’s bid to fire head of state oil and gas watchdog agency
The report supports some, but not all, of the governor's charges against the chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Hollis French. French believes the report exonerates him from what he calls "the most serious charges."
Alaskans react to Trump Administration’s Roadless Rule rollback in the Tongass
Proponents of the change say that the industry is at risk of disappearing, while environmentalists and Indigenous tribes say that logging threatens the ecosystem.
Alaska’s secret Cold War export? Shellfish toxin for the CIA.
In May 1960, Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union during a high-altitude reconnaissance mission. In his pocket was a modified silver dollar containing a hidden needle loaded with a lethal dose of shellfish toxin.
Donlin Gold to begin drilling program
It’s going to be a busy year for Donlin Gold. The company is gearing up for another round of geotechnical drilling, its first in two years.
Governor’s climate change task force adds science education to draft plan
Governor Bill Walker’s climate change task force has been working this summer to nail down some clear draft policy objectives. Listen now
State fines Hilcorp $20K, cites pattern of violations
Hilcorp Alaska is facing a $20,000 penalty from the state for unsafe use of equipment on the North Slope. It's the latest in a string of violations for Hilcorp, which a state agency says has developed a pattern of regulatory noncompliance.
Kaktovik Iñupiat Corp. misses key deadline for seismic work in Arctic refuge this winter
Before it could get approval for what’s known as a seismic survey, the Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation had to make three flights to search for polar bear dens in part of the refuge. The Interior Department says the corporation did not complete the work.