A Citizen’s Guide

For months Alaskans have been hearing a lot about oil taxes but not so much about the natural gas pipeline agreement the governor has reached with Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and BP, even though oil and gas are tightly joined by that very gas agreement. And for these many months, Alaskans have been expressing themselves on the pages of the Daily News-Miner, in other publications, on talk radio and in comments to their legislators.

But with details of the proposed natural gas pipeline agreement made public less than two weeks ago, there hasn’t been much time for Interior residents to become knowledgeable before Gov. Frank Murkowski’s gas agreement road show comes to town this week.

Residents of Fairbanks, North Pole, Salcha, Two Rivers, Ester, Delta Junction, Tok—anywhere in the Interior—therefore need to invest a little bit of time if it hasn’t been invested already.

Events begin in earnest on Tuesday, with the first of three statewide teleconference hearings at which people can call in their comments and have them put on the record. This first statewide call in runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and can be reached by calling, toll-free, (866) 51AK-GAS.

The two other main events of the week for Interior residents occur Wednesday and Thursday—a formal hearing in Delta Junction followed a day later by a formal hearing in Fairbanks. Information on those and other events, and on other aspects of the gas agreement, is available in Sunday’s and today’s editions of the Daily News-Miner, at the newspaper’s special Web site (www.newsminer.com/oilandgas, and at the state’s Web site (www.state.ak.us).

This region has already demonstrated the ability to recognize subjects that have the potential to reshape communities.

Last year, Fairbanks and North Pole showed themselves capable of coming out en masse in support of keeping Eielson Air Force Base open as an active base. That support was an acknowledgment of the economic impact that the two communities would sustain if the Defense Department were to have its way and essentially gut the base.

The natural gas pipeline agreement is an issue that should demand even greater community involvement. It is admittedly a more complex topic than the proposed closing of an Air Force base, but it’s also a topic that will have a more profound impact on the region.

Make plans to attend the Wednesday and Thursday natural gas hearings. And make time to learn. The Daily News-Miner will provide a special edition on Wednesday to help with your understanding.

It’s that important.